A question for Leica Summilux ASPH owners...

[krishilife]

Hi everybody,

I want to buy a used Leica 50/F1.4 Summilux ASPH lens online. If you own this lens, have you noticed any imperfections inside the glass?
I mean, even if you bought brand new, was it perfect inside-out?
Some lenses have very slight imperfections, even if they just came out of factory. My concern is about such an issue. If I buy used, and I will notice "something" inside the glass, should I complain, or some samples come like that?
I know that used means used, but my question is about last Leica quality control. I remember that a year ago, I ordered Rollei 40mm from B&H, and I got brand new lens with some imperfection inside glass element. So I replaced with another sample, and the other one had the same issue, just in different place.
Is this acceptable with a lens this value (ASPH)?

I know that very slight dust, or a tiny bubble doesn't have any impact on the final results, but...

Kris.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I bought one, new, and even though it looked 'perfect,' testing revealed performance that was decidedly 'substandard.' Three other lenses were better, including an old Jupiter-3. The lens was returned to Leica twice, before they finally just replaced it. The eventual replacement turned out to be the sharpest 50mm lens i've ever tested.

The entire process with the back and forth with Leica took four or five months, if memory serves. It was painful — Leica service, between New Jersey and Solms, was horrible. But, whatever. The point is, if you buy 'new,' you should see NO imperfections in the construction, and you should have a lens that performs at the highest possible level. If you buy used, you should avoid any issues on the glass, as there's no reason to pay so much and not get pristine glass. Either way, used or new, TEST the thing, as there are 'lemons' and/or wide-ranging sample variation.

 

[sherm]

Kris,

First and foremost I challenge you to find a 50/1.4 Summilux ASPH on the used market.. good luck with that. Secondly, the Rollei lens you mentioned isn't made by Leica so I don't think this is a good example either. And lastly with the two lenses that you bought if you kept the second copy were you able to notice any problems with the final imaqe?

In my humble opinion if the image quality doesn't suffer, then there's no issue.

Good Luck with your search!

 

[Tonaility]

Leica Quality Control

Leica Quality Control

Kris, I bought a 50mm f1.4 for R Leica, big dust mark on the internal element, Leica Australia replaced it (well their agents), the replacement had a 2mm scratch on the back element, again I asked for a replacement, the 3rd one was okay. Also bought a 75mm f2 for M, the focussing was not that leica silky smooth, leica replaced it. I actually think it was a prodotype lens as it had a unique serial number (two digit) parallel with the lens barrel just past the infinity focussing. Also, my M7 was replaced. So if you buy new make sure you inspect it very very well as soon as you get it. Good luck.

At the end of the day none of the marks on my 50mm R lens would have effected the performance of the lens at all but when you pay that price why in the hell should you not have a perfect lens?

 

[thomasw_]

hi, if you buy it new, it ought to be perfect. that's how mine came, and it is the finest all-round 50 if it is a solid copy.

 

[john_s]

Kris, I bought a 50mm f1.4 for R Leica, big dust mark on the internal element, Leica Australia replaced it (well their agents), the replacement had a 2mm scratch on the back element, again I asked for a replacement, the 3rd one was okay. Also bought a 75mm f2 for M, the focussing was not that leica silky smooth, leica replaced it. I actually think it was a prodotype lens as it had a unique serial number (two digit) parallel with the lens barrel just past the infinity focussing. Also, my M7 was replaced. So if you buy new make sure you inspect it very very well as soon as you get it. Good luck.

At the end of the day none of the marks on my 50mm R lens would have effected the performance of the lens at all but when you pay that price why in the hell should you not have a perfect lens?

I wonder what happens to the lenses that are rejected. Maybe they just go out again, perhaps to be rejected again or perhaps accepted. I am not criticising the Australian Leica agent as I have found them to be very good with returns. But really, how could you have received a lens with a 2mm scratch on the rear element? There's something wrong somewhere.

FWIW, my 50/1.4 ASPH is perfect: pristine glass, smooth focus, sharp results.

 

[grahmjordan]

Question..

What are the ways to tell the difference between ASPH and non on the 50mm sumi?

 

[Tuolumne]

Who inspects new lenses that closely? I certainly don't. If the lens works and takes good pix, that's all I ask for. I used to be very persnickety with audio equipment. I listened to the equipment, not the music, to see if anything was "wrong". What a way to waste a life. I stopped being an audiophile years ago for that very reason, and I try not to carry that attitude over to my photography.

/T

 

[x-ray]

My 50 asph mount was improperly manufactured and assembled. At closer distances and wide apertures images were soft plus the lens would not focus to infinity on any of 7 bodies. I honestly don't think the lens was tested before shipping to the dealer. Total lack of QC.

 

[krishilife]

CK Dexter Haven,
If you bought new, why did you go with the whole return process with Leica? Isn't your legal right to ship it back to the store you bought it from? It shouldn't take more than a few days, and you have another sample to play with. (Unless you're a dealer and cooperate with the source).

Thomasw,
I agree, if I buy new. But I'm not going to do this, rather used, mint condition to save a few hundred $.

sherm,
I didn't keep either copy of Rollei. I simply couldn't accept that paying the full price for the lens with some imperfection. Instead I bought used Summicron-C 40mm, and even being an old lens, it's perfect inside.

Of course buying new is out of question, should be perfect, but some experience teached me that we're not living in a perfect world.
Now you say that some samples have different wide-open performance? Man!, where is the quality control nowadays? I think that different people have different standards when it comes to the products. That's why we get some lemons.

One more question, how much sharper should it be @F2 comparing to F1.4?
If it's sharp @F2, but much less sharp @F1.4, should be rejected?
If I get one, I need to try it fast, and I have to be prepared.

Kris.

 

[pfoto]

Question..

What are the ways to tell the difference between ASPH and non on the 50mm sumi?

The standard ASPH lens has a tab and the characters "ASPH." scripted on the front rim. The LHSA ASPH has the script but no tab. It looks identical to the pre-ASPH version 1 lens but comes in both chrome and black paint versions.

 

[Livesteamer]

My 50mm Summilux ASPH has been optically wonderful. The focus was tight but loosened up nicely after thirty rolls or so. My Tri Elmar has had trouble from new so I would either try before you buy a used lens or ask for some kind of warranty. Joe