Bought a used Summicron, have a question for the experts

[hteasley]

Got a 35mm Summicron IV on ebay. 1986 vintage according to the serial number. Loving shooting with this lens. But (despite the claim in the auction) it's not mint condition, and I'm wondering if any of this would rise to "Send it to Solms" level for anyone here, or if this is stuff folks live with, with their own 24 year old 'crons.

The main thing I'm noticing is some looseness to the aperture ring. The stops click positively, but the ring itself is a bit sloppy around each stop, and especially at the wide open end, where it can turn several mm past f2. It does make it a bit more difficult to find each stop turning the ring.

A minor thing I noticed is some apparent overall looseness. I don't want to say I'm flexing or bending the lens, but I can grip it in both hands and feel a slight amount of play in the body of the lens. That's not something I've noticed when I'm shooting: I only noticed it removing it from the camera.

Optically, I can't really say there's anything wrong. I'm like the images I'm getting with it, and feel like it focuses well. If I had to compare it to the C-Biogon 35/2,8 that I got new, I would say the Zeiss is a hair sharper in the center, if I'm pixel-peeping. The feel of the loose aperture ring bothers me, though, and I'm just wondering if that is something folks would see as reason to send the lens off.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It's a 25 year old lens, and will benefit from a CLA. That's kind of a stock answer.

If there is no internal haze, and the looseness is only slight and not affecting the images, I would leave it alone. The fact that you got a lens without scratches and wipe-marks, described as Mint on Ebay- consider yourself lucky.

 

[nobbylon]

Personally I would leave it alone. If the glass is clear and it's focus is smooth then it's minor. Mine is nowhere near as good as my other Leica glass either. The barrel looseness you describe is probably drying of the lube on the focus threads, nothing more. Most have unless they've just been lubed. The main issue with the v.4 is that the front lens and aperture module tends to unscrew from the focus mount. More than likely caused by mounting and dismounting the lens by using the hood and not the mount because of it's small size. If it does, just unsrew it out, clean the threads and screw it back together. The v.4 has become my favorite 35 due it's creamy look and size.

 

[hteasley]

Thanks for the replies. I think it's a great lens, and I believe that I got a good deal on it. Just wanted to know if any of what seems like minor issues are more serious than they seem at first.

 

[andrewtansj]

Got a 35mm Summicron IV on ebay. 1986 vintage according to the serial number. Loving shooting with this lens. But (despite the claim in the auction) it's not mint condition, and I'm wondering if any of this would rise to "Send it to Solms" level for anyone here, or if this is stuff folks live with, with their own 24 year old 'crons.

The main thing I'm noticing is some looseness to the aperture ring. The stops click positively, but the ring itself is a bit sloppy around each stop, and especially at the wide open end, where it can turn several mm past f2. It does make it a bit more difficult to find each stop turning the ring.

A minor thing I noticed is some apparent overall looseness. I don't want to say I'm flexing or bending the lens, but I can grip it in both hands and feel a slight amount of play in the body of the lens. That's not something I've noticed when I'm shooting: I only noticed it removing it from the camera.

Optically, I can't really say there's anything wrong. I'm like the images I'm getting with it, and feel like it focuses well. If I had to compare it to the C-Biogon 35/2,8 that I got new, I would say the Zeiss is a hair sharper in the center, if I'm pixel-peeping. The feel of the loose aperture ring bothers me, though, and I'm just wondering if that is something folks would see as reason to send the lens off.

I think for the aperture ring to go slightly over the F2 mark is quite normal. mine does that and so does some of the copies I've tried.

 

[Mister E]

The way the aperture ring feels is normal. I can't comment on the rest. For some reason both my 35/2 IV and 35/2 ASPH both turn a few mm past f/2. I think this is normal.

 

[menos]

Don't worry about the two points.

My 35 Cron and 50 Lux, which I bought used both has exactly these characteristics.

The aperture ring feel was something, I did not understand, when starting with Leica and paying almost 10 times as much for some lenses, as for Nikon lenses.

It seems to be normal though and I don't bother anymore.
Even some new lenses, I tried go a 3rd click over max aperture.

The looseness/ play of the lens mount vs the barrel seems to me, what has been suggested above.

My second hand 35 Cron ASPH was a bit loose feeling and started, to slightly feel tight around minimum focus, when I had it relubed.
After relubing (very tiny amounts of special grease), it feels like new, buttery smooth and slightly more damped, than dry - no play anymore as well.

I would find a good Leica repairman, who does a CLA for you at a reasonable price and then use it for the next decades ;-)

I have my 50 Lux ASPH now in Solms for exactly that - peace of mind for until I will retire.

 

[kipkeston]

I would get it CLA'd anyway. DAG did mine and I'm quite happy with it 2yrs later.