"Plastic Summicron"

[micromoogman]

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Xqaq
Here's that original thread I was referring to. According to that different materials were used. I wonder how many here who would trade metal parts for plastic just to save a couple of grams? Or were they just cutting expenses... They had a ruff time then. Jeez, a rangefinder when there are SLR's!

 

[varjag]

The aperture actuator/detent ball holder part is small but irregular in shape, much cheaper to cast than to pay machinist time.

 

[ian_watts]

Interesting thread here.

 

[surfer dude]

Seriously, people, get a grip. So they used some plastic parts. So what? This is one of the nicest lenses there is. Period.

If you want to panic about it, no-one here's gonna stop you. Get something else.

 

[micromoogman]

I bought it. It had that magical lure that is beyond reason. Like Andy Warhol's stuff. First batch 1979, pretty cool even if it will fall apart.

 

[Paul Luscher]

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.

I've had my V 4 for for 17years now, and no problems. Only thing I don't like about it is that the aperture ring does not have a crisp feel to the detents when you change f-stops. Thought at first it was wear--now I think it's the nature of the plastic.

I think any serious problem with the V4 may be because of what maddoc describes above. I never used the lens hood as a grip to begin with, and once I found out about the issue, I religiously avoid using the lens hood that way.

Otherwise, I love the small size of this lens, and the killer images it produces (really does deserve the "bokeh king" moniker). I'll keeping using the v4 until the day it wears out or breaks down--at which point,I will hopefully have enough money saved up to buy its replacement from Leica.

 

[davidbivins]

I have this lens (Canadian anniversary version) and use it nearly every day, averaging about a roll of film per day for over 5 years. I have never had a problem with it. I bought it in excellent condition from a dealer, practically unused it seemed. It works exactly the same, though the markings are a bit dirtier from constant use. Mine also had the crooked hood, which I fixed by loosening the screw at 6 o'clock on the front ring of the lens (which the hood attaches to), straightening the ring, then retightening the screw. It took less than a minute.
So I would second the idea that if you happen across one, try it! Use it!

 

[braver]

Every now and then this pops up. There have been some issues with the 35 V4, they probably did make a wrong choice of material there.

But the plastic vs metal discussion is just utter nonsense. They put plastics in space shuttles. Really, if you think the words 'plastic' or 'metal' actually describes a material in any useful way (or if you say things like 'the nature of plastics'), you don't stand a chance of having a useful discussion on choices of material beyond the idea that brass feels nice. Would it be nice for marketing if you could say 'all metal'? Sure, of course it would and it would feel nice to buy something 'all metal'. But would that be of any use for an engineer designing a highly technical product? No, it really wouldn't.