Calling all Voigtlander 90 Apo-Lanthar owners - does the front lens housing wobble?

[leicaAngst]

Hi All,

I recently sold a Voigtlander 90mm Apo-Lanthar lens here, and the buyer says the front lens housing wobbles. Could you check your copy to see if this is normal or if my copy is worn or defective?

I'm asking because I always got excellent sharp images from the lens, and have had other brand lens with 'wobbly' front barrels (admittedly SLR lenses) that have had no discernable effect on image quality.

Obviously if the lens is defective or suffering from overuse (I originally bought it secondhand) I'll give the buyer a refund.


Thanks,
leicaAngst.

 

[-doomed-]

My Nokton 50/1.5 does the same but has never affected image quality.

 

[Tom A]

I checked mine and there is a very slight sideways "wiggle" on it. Having had this lens for many years - I have never noticed it before! It definitely does not affect performance at all and I suspect that it has more to do with the length of the focussing tube than anything else. If it was too tight - it would be tough to focus. I checked the retaining ring at the back and it was solid. Just for the hell of it, I also checked my 90f2.8 Elmarit - it also has a slight "wiggle" in it. Again, you have to look for it to find it. My version II Summicron 90f2 is tight, but I rebuilt that one last year and I probably will have to "back off" the ring on that, as it requires quite a bit of effort to turn the focussing on it.

 

[WalterM]

I'm going to go on a limb and blame either paranoia or buyer's remorse, especially if the problem was something you did not notice while shooting.

 

[kehng]

WalterM,
No I can assure you that it wasn't paranoia or buyer's remorse, as I actually really like the shots that the lens produces. It was only noticed after my first day of using it this weekend with the lovely weather that the front of the barrel just didn't feel solid and seemed a bit wobbly. I took it into a reputable Voigtlander dealer in London on Monday and he explained to me that these lenses do develop this looseness from use over time and would need to be repaired lest the front part of the barrel does fall off one day. Wouldn't you be worried with a diagnosis such as this? I have actually asked LeicaAngst what we should do - ie repair or return. It seems to me that if you had owned and used the lens over a period of time you may be slower to notice the play that had developed, however if you had just received the lens, then it may be more obvious that something is amiss. So I think "paranoia or buyer's remorse" is probably a bit harsh.

 

[leicaAngst]

Thanks for all your replies guys...

Thanks for all your replies guys...

...I'll be taking the lens back and giving a refund, since if I was in Keh's position of uncertainty that's what I'd feel most comfortable with.

I'll check it out on return, and if I don't think the wobble is bad I may relist it here (with additional comment about the wobble).

Cheers,
LA