"Plastic Summicron"

[micromoogman]

Read about the plastic innards of the Summicron IV in a thread in Photo.net. The Horror! I have had the ver. II and was very pleased with the quality of it. I have the chance to aquire a ver. IV now but hesitates because of this plastic issue. My question is if that plastic came right from the start 1979 or somewhere under the production run. This is from the initial batch 1979. Might go for that Summaron 35/2.8 instead.

Thanks for input!

 

[I Love Film]

If the lens worked OK since 1979, chances are it is going to keep working. I wouldn't go into a panic over it.

 

[Rob-F]

I've had my version IV for some years now. nothing's gone wrong yet!

 

[rlouzan]

Forget the V4 and get another V2.

 

[FrankS]

Summaron f2.8

 

[BobYIL]

Any link to the source, please?

 

[Vickko]

I have the "bokeh king" version of the Summicron 35mm, which had plastic innards, especially with the iris ring. The iris ring isn't as smooth and snappy as the lenses which are metal (typically aluminum for that part). I suspect that over the years, the plastic has expanded with moisture absorption or adverse reaction with lubricants, and gotting stiffer. It is usable, certainly, but, the iris has a not-so-nice feel.

When it was made, the plastics were probably leading edge materials and responsibly selected by Leica. But they couldn't have predicted the effects of decades of aging.

There are plenty of other examples of unanticipated effects of aging on plastics, most notably the sealing and mirror dampening foams that turn to glue over the ages.

...Vick

 

[PatrickONeill]

it's why I went for a v3.


and it was much cheaper too 😀

 

[Vickko]

Oh, my "plastic Summicron" 35 was a 1913-1983 lens too. That was what clinched the deal for me. I didn't find out until after, that it had plastic innards. Chances are that they all had plastic innards, and not just the production run for "1913-1983".

The focus tab is also plastic, which has also split in half due to decades of stress due to its attachment screw. That screw is a friction/expansion fit, much like a self tapping screw. To me, that is a particularly nasty cost-savings strategy, so that the tab doesn't need to be tapped with an internal thread, but with dubious longevity due to a permanently stressed plastic part.

Vick

 

[BobYIL]

Summaron f2.8

Right.. I have dismantled two Summaron f2.8's and also a v.1 Summicron 35/2 for cleaning; all bronze or steel parts.

 

[maddoc]

Problem with the "boke-king" is that many use the lens hood as grip to mount or unmount the lens and some plastic parts are not designed for this. I used to have that same anniversary version and it had a slightly tilted hood due to this.

 

[varjag]

Any link to the source, please?

 

[Vickko]

http://www.camapart.com/home/bokeh-king-is-naked-repairing-leica-summicron-35mm-pre-asph

 

[Harry Lime]

It's basically a nonissue.

I've had the v4 for about 12 years now. It has traveled with me all over the world and I've easily shot over a 1000 rolls with it. The lens has been heavily used and traveled in a bag or slung over my shoulder. It has not been abused, but it has also not been handled with cotton gloves and stashed away in a Luigi case.

If you use the square 12526 hood, don't use it to unmount the lens. Unlike the round 12585 hood the square one has a lock pin and will act as a wrench if you twist it. As a result you may unscrew the front ring. That's the biggest problem with the lens, but it's a no-brainer. No lens should be unmounted by the hood.


On a side note any lens is susceptible to wear. I also have a Summilux-M ASPH 1.4/35, which is my most used lens. I've had it for about 7 years and have pretty much shot it only a daily basis. As a result I've managed to wear out the focusing coil to the point where it has developed a slight wobble and will eventually have to be replaced. I'm pretty certain the Lux is all metal inside, but every mechanical device has it's limits.

 

[BobYIL]

Thank you varjag and Vickko..

( Now I am disappointed..🙁 )

 

[varjag]

The lens assembly is not plastic, it's made from Silumin, a silicon-aluminium press powder material. It has no advantages other than cost in mass production. The material is very fragile, and the lens hood effectively attaches to it. Any stress (e.g. from a bump) is transferred to this part and it doesn't takes much to crack it.

tl;dr made from cheap sh*t with poor mechanical engineering

 

[raid]

Right.. I have dismantled two Summaron f2.8's and also a v.1 Summicron 35/2 for cleaning; all bronze or steel parts.

This is good to know.
I have the V1 35mm Summicron, twice. It feels rock solid.

 

[Harry Lime]

Guys you are making mountains out of molehills. No, the v4 is not all brass and steel, but they have been used professionally for over 30 years and are still going strong.

But go ahead; be my guest and create another internet myth. Hopefully you'll drive the prices down on this supposed piece of sh*t and I'll be able to pick up another one or two for peanuts.

 

[Archlich]

This reminds me of the outrage about some part of the MP's frame counter being plastic last year.

 

[starless]

it's why I went for a v3.
and it was much cheaper too 😀

So did I!
After testing a v4 I settled on the v3 because of its size and robustness.