Leica 90 f2.8 Elmarit-M - latest version loose aperture ring

menos

menos

Veteran
Local time
11:31 AM
Joined
Sep 13, 2009
Messages
2,639
Location
Shanghai
View My Gallery
I have a wonderful sample of the latest, now discontinued Leica 90 f2.8 Elmarit-M.

I intend, to keep this lens, although I use the Canon 100/2 LTM and old Leica 90/2 more.

This Elmarit has only one little annoying flaw, which keeps me from using it more:

It's aperture ring is slightly loose, which allows it, to have slight play along the axis of the lens' optical path.
This makes for less clicky, slightly mushy aperture settings with a bit more strength needed, than normal.

I was able, to cure a similar effect on my Canon 100/2 LTM (which possibly is of entirely different mechanical design of course).

Has anybody any idea, how to fix this issue with the 90 Elmarit-M?
I really do not want to send the lens away for months for this little issue and am eager in learning a way, to get more familiar with the lens' interior.
 
Yes Brian, The aperture ring has three set screws around, which do show already track marks of the former owner.

The barrel on which the aperture ring rests does show three set screws as well just in front of the aperture ring.

The focus ring further back shows one hidden screw - I suppose (under black sealing).

The only Leica lens, I opened so far has been a 35 Cron ASPH, where the aperture ring could be adjusted not by set screws, but by a small bracket, which is held by two screws, fitted in direction of the optical patch.

One has to remove the complete focus mount and dig through the back of the lens to come to the aperture ring setting.

I was fearing, this is similar with the 90mm?
 
I had that lens and the aperture ring was also to my feeling, loose and a bit sloppy. I found the same thing true of several of the recent vintage Leica lenses. I was told by a couple of Leica repair folks that it was how it is and nothing could be done to really improve upon it. I'm pretty good with little tools and small, precision parts and have delved into Leica lenses to do certain repairs successfully, but the more modern ones are, IMHO, a nightmare best left to people who have prior knowledge of each lens' internal construction. A lot of threaded components are fixed in place with some kind of compound (cyanoacyrilate, lacquer, whatever it is) versus the transverse grubb screws of older lenses. Where there are the grubb screws, the female threads in aluminum are much easier to strip than the older brass fittings. Also since it appears someone of questionable expertise (judging from the fact that evidence was left behind) has taken a stab at DIY fixing your lens before, it's impossible to say what you're going to get into if you fiddle around with it. Some of those screws could be cross-threaded, or over-tightened to the point where if you try to tighten them the slightest bit more they'll suddenly start to turn around and around without grabbing, leaving you the task of re-tapping the threads and procuring oversized screws. My honest assessment based on experience, is that if you feel the lens needs servicing, to send it to DAG and let him go over it. I think he charges around $100 for going through a lens, and since this is a lens of not-inconsequential monetary value, well worth it.
 
Thanks for the thoughts Ben - it sounds actually a bit scary - bound adjustments and threads - shudder.

The sample, I have is not coded, and as I explore the convenience, of coded mounts, I even might ship it to Leica for coding and adjustment. If the costs are similar to my 50 Lux, they did, it could even turn out, to be less costly in total as the crazy going rates of these nowadays.
Is there any end to this price jacking, that happens at the moment of ALL things, one could remotely place near to a Leica body?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom