Bob Michaels
nobody special
Hopefully enough of you will add to this thread to send a message to the good Mr. K at Cosina Voigtlander about sloppy assembly.
I find the engineering and optical design of the Cosina Voigtlander lenses to be very good. Especially so with the Zeiss Ikon products. This is critical since there is no way this can be improved. But the damn bodies and lenses keep coming apart. The Zeiss lenses have a reputation now for the "wobble". There are many reports of the focusing becoming squeaky or rough. While I certainly don't profess to be knowledge about camera / lens manufacture, it appears this is just cutting corners in the actual assembly process. Camera techs tell me it is a simple matter of not tightening assemblies or applying proper grease, in the proper amount, in the proper places.
I use 2 ZI bodies. I have owned 3 ZI and 4 CV lenses. I use them. All have been great except half of them have been in the repair shop because they were coming apart or needed proper lubrication. All easy fixes for me since I have a nearby friend who owns a pro camera repair business. But now I am beginning to wonder each time I set off with one body and one lens.
I realize the Leica level of assembly is not possible at the ZI or CV price point. But I would happily pay $5-10 more to train / manage / QC the assembly line to properly tighten the screws or assemblies and properly apply the grease to helicoids. All to have equipment that not fall apart or develop problems in use. These products are just too good to suffer from sloppy assembly.
If you feel the same, please chime in. Hopefully this message will find it's way to Mr. K who can actually do something.
I find the engineering and optical design of the Cosina Voigtlander lenses to be very good. Especially so with the Zeiss Ikon products. This is critical since there is no way this can be improved. But the damn bodies and lenses keep coming apart. The Zeiss lenses have a reputation now for the "wobble". There are many reports of the focusing becoming squeaky or rough. While I certainly don't profess to be knowledge about camera / lens manufacture, it appears this is just cutting corners in the actual assembly process. Camera techs tell me it is a simple matter of not tightening assemblies or applying proper grease, in the proper amount, in the proper places.
I use 2 ZI bodies. I have owned 3 ZI and 4 CV lenses. I use them. All have been great except half of them have been in the repair shop because they were coming apart or needed proper lubrication. All easy fixes for me since I have a nearby friend who owns a pro camera repair business. But now I am beginning to wonder each time I set off with one body and one lens.
I realize the Leica level of assembly is not possible at the ZI or CV price point. But I would happily pay $5-10 more to train / manage / QC the assembly line to properly tighten the screws or assemblies and properly apply the grease to helicoids. All to have equipment that not fall apart or develop problems in use. These products are just too good to suffer from sloppy assembly.
If you feel the same, please chime in. Hopefully this message will find it's way to Mr. K who can actually do something.