QC of ZM-lenses by Cosina

[yoyo22]

I've just finished packing my brand new Biogon ZM 2.8/28 for it's journey back to Zeiss. The problem: a rather huge white fiber resting on the first lens behind the front lens. I know it probably won't affect the photos taken with it, but I hate to spend 700 EUR and live with such a rather obvious imperfection.
The procedure of packing reminds me of the Sonnar ZM 1.5/50 I got last year. It had scratches on the dirty front element. I also had to send it back. And the one I received then - brand new again - had old fingerprints on the front element, which took me ten minutes to clean away.

Am I the only one having these kinds of troubles with Zeiss lenses? They are all produced by Cosina. I got a classic Heliar, a 50 Nokton, the 15mm Heliar and the PII 35er from Voigtländer and they were all perfect out of the box.
Could it be that QC for Zeiss lenses made by Cosina is being done without less effort than for Voigtländer lenses?

 

[kbg32]

Did you buy them mail order or from a shop? Could be a sales person with less then perfect grooming.

 

[kshapero]

hardly....I have had no problems with maybe 7 Voigtlander and 3 Zeiss products all coming from Cosina. Sorry about your woes.

 

[amin_sabet]

I've just finished packing my brand new Biogon ZM 2.8/28 for it's journey back to Zeiss. The problem: a rather huge white fiber resting on the first lens behind the front lens. I know it probably won't affect the photos taken with it, but I hate to spend 700 EUR and live with such a rather obvious imperfection.
The procedure of packing reminds me of the Sonnar ZM 1.5/50 I got last year. It had scratches on the dirty front element. I also had to send it back. And the one I received then - brand new again - had old fingerprints on the front element, which took me ten minutes to clean away.

Am I the only one having these kinds of troubles with Zeiss lenses? They are all produced by Cosina. I got a classic Heliar, a 50 Nokton, the 15mm Heliar and the PII 35er from Voigtländer and they were all perfect out of the box.
Could it be that QC for Zeiss lenses made by Cosina is being done without less effort than for Voigtländer lenses?

The most likely cause of fingerprints and scratches on the front element is your lens having been bought, used, and returned by someone else prior to resale to you. Lots of internet sellers resell returned lenses as new.

 

[goo0h]

That's why I stick with either CameraQuest or PopFlashPhoto. I haven't bought that many lenses (so far), but never have had a problem with either.

 

[amin_sabet]

Anywhere that has a great return policy will probably resell returned lenses.

 

[thomasw_]

Any ZM or Leica product I have purchased from Popflash has arrived in excellent shape. Tony Rose at Popflash is a man of his word -- he will stick to any price he quotes -- and you can rest your worries knowing that he will stand behind the products he sells. I would recommend dealing with a seller who is highly recommended by others; that is, a Popflash-like dealer.

Thomas

 

[yoyo22]

The most likely cause of fingerprints and scratches on the front element is your lens having been bought, used, and returned by someone else prior to resale to you. Lots of internet sellers resell returned lenses as new.

The first Sonnar was not in stock, but the store I bought it from had to get it from the distributor. That was the one with the scratches.
The replacemend Sonnar with the old fingerprints on the front element was a direct replacement from Zeiss Germany (I sent it there directly).

That's why I am wondering. As with the Biogon, which has this white linen-fiber inside.
Perhaps I'm just not lucky with Zeiss lenses, whereas all the Voigtländer lenses came out of the box in perfect condition.

 

[Avotius]

my zeiss 50 planar came new with three little specks of dust in it, I didnt bother returning it, they have since dropped away I think, didnt bother me enough to check again if they were there or not since most of my lenses have dust in them in some form or another due to use.