Lasex Posted October 2, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 2, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I took some shots with a pre-asph Summilux 35mm and my M8 today. This Summilux would have been very reasonably priced, but when focused at about 1m distance the true focus in the picture was about 10cm too near (aperture 1.4).... At infinity and about 5 meters it focussed correctly, I think. All my own lenses focus correctly both on my M8 and M2. What is the problem with this Summilux? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 2, 2009 Posted October 2, 2009 Hi Lasex, Take a look here Summilux 35mm pre-asph front focus. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Lasex Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted October 3, 2009 Nearly every second-hand lens I've bought has misfocused, but a service by a reputable technician has sorted always sorted it out. Costs about £100 - and as the Summilux is decades old, a clean, lube and adjustment is worthwhile even without the misfocusing. Thanks, now I wonder if I ought to buy that Summilux and send it in for CLA. But I don't want to send in my M8 at the same time, if possible, too much trouble in that case. Can a technician fix this type of front focus problem when he only has the lens in question and not the body? For sure? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted October 3, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 3, 2009 My experience, unfortunately, was not as easy. I have a 35 pre-asph summilux. Was actually serviced by Leica in Solms. (The mount had to be replaced.) When it returned, the focus was off by several inches on my M8. To get it fixed, I had to send the lens and the camera back to Solms (this was actually all handled by Sherry Krauter in NJ). It was a very frustrating experience, in terms of the wait. But I'm very happy with the results today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ampguy Posted October 3, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 3, 2009 Hi Tim, My 35 pre-asph lux (was Gabriel MAs) also went through the same procedure. I know that Solms has special equipment for collimating 75 luxes, but have also read that all luxes can't be fixed properly with just mount changes like Crons, otherwise the close focus wide open might be fixed, but focus shift not. I'm thinking maybe the 35 lux also benefits from some kind of stuff in Solms. I haven't tested focus shift with my 35 lux yet. Everything is 1.4 or 2 My experience, unfortunately, was not as easy. I have a 35 pre-asph summilux. Was actually serviced by Leica in Solms. (The mount had to be replaced.) When it returned, the focus was off by several inches on my M8. To get it fixed, I had to send the lens and the camera back to Solms (this was actually all handled by Sherry Krauter in NJ). It was a very frustrating experience, in terms of the wait. But I'm very happy with the results today. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted October 4, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 4, 2009 I'd imagine other Leica experts like DAG or Sherry in the US can do this without needing the camera too, surely? Actually, it was Sherry who suggested we send my lens to Leica. She's the one who took it over to Leica in N.J., which sent it on to Germany. The situation was somewhat complicated by the need to replace the mount. But when the lens came back with a new mount - but with a focus shift - that's when Sherry said we should send both the lens and camera to Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsambrook Posted October 4, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 4, 2009 Regarding mis-focusing and older lenses on the M8 ... All my lenses are pre-1970, all were bought secondhand in the past and all focus correctly from infinity downwards, including the 135 Hektor. So do my 35mm CV Nokton and a 135 mm Canon, both used with adapters of uncertain vintages, one of which is only marked 'Germany'. Am I exceedingly fortunate, or are other posters very unlucky? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissah Posted October 4, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 4, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I took some shots with a pre-asph Summilux 35mm and my M8 today. This Summilux would have been very reasonably priced, but when focused at about 1m distance the true focus in the picture was about 10cm too near (aperture 1.4).... At infinity and about 5 meters it focussed correctly, I think. All my own lenses focus correctly both on my M8 and M2. What is the problem with this Summilux? i had the same problem as have many others here. this is your man. he does incredible work, is very timely and nice. please note that hos is a small biz. so email him and go from there. dagcam@chorus.net keep us posted! melissa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robola Posted October 5, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 5, 2009 After some deliberation, I ended up sending a pre asph 35 summilux and a similar vintage 50 summicron to Leica in NJ along with my still under warranty M8. I was unsure whether rangefinder alignment might be a factor, though a new 24 elmar seemed to focus precisely, I sent the camera and two older lenses off to Leica rather than DAG in case there was a warranty issue with the camera. I was quoted 4-5 weeks at the time so I have nothing to report, except curiously they say the old 35 will be covered under warranty, but not the 50. I trust the whole kit will focus properly, and I'm feeling a little short handed without the M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted October 5, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 5, 2009 Thanks, now I wonder if I ought to buy that Summilux and send it in for CLA. But I don't want to send in my M8 at the same time, if possible, too much trouble in that case. Can a technician fix this type of front focus problem when he only has the lens in question and not the body? For sure? Don Goldberg (DAG) has an M8 that he uses exclusively in his shop for just this type of work. I'd highly recommend sending the lens to him for CLA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted October 5, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 5, 2009 I love Don's work. But before you send something off to him, you need to make sure you are ready for a long wait. The guy has just been overwhelmed with work since the M8 came out. Unless you have some real pull with the guy, I seriously doubt he could beat Leica's estimate of 4-5 weeks. Of course (based on personal experience), I also have my doubts about Leica meeting its 4-5 week estimate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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