summicron-c difficult to turn/focus?

[gflan]

Hello everyone,

I've been using a summicron-c 40 on my Leica CL for the past few months, and I'm wondering if the lens needs to be serviced -- I find it slightly difficult to focus, or, perhaps better said, slow to turn.

As I've never had a different m-mount lens, I'm not sure if this is typical. My experience with manual SLR's is that they focus quickly and smoothly, whereas my summicron seems to take twice as long to push from one end of the distance spectrum to the other.

Is it possible to have the shims lubricated to make focusing smoother and easier? (Please excuse my use of terminology). Or is this typical for such small lenses?

Thanks! gregory

 

[monster]

i've these lens too, i think you feel its truns focus ring too tight did you?

but it still give a sharp focus, so i leave them on and use them as is.

 

[oscroft]

I've been using a summicron-c 40 on my Leica CL for the past few months, and I'm wondering if the lens needs to be serviced -- I find it slightly difficult to focus, or, perhaps better said, slow to turn.

The focus on mine turns very smoothly, so I suspect yours might benefit from re-lubrication.

 

[EmilGil]

Yes, the grease used in the Summicron-C is known to stiffen up, mine has the same problem. A quick CLA should get you back in working order.

Where are you located?

 

[gflan]

Yes, the grease used in the Summicron-C is known to stiffen up, mine has the same problem. A quick CLA should get you back in working order.

Where are you located?

Paris, France -- do you know of a good place to do this? I imagine I could just go to Leica France, but something tells me it could cost a pretty penny there 😉

Do you have an idea on what I should expect to pay for the lube job?

 

[Photog9001]

my 40 is stiff, and it's not helped by the silly thing on the focus ring that's practically impossible to use to turn it...

(and i seem to be located in the same little town as emilgil, do you have magic hands to make it good ,.. ??? ,-)

 

[ferider]

If you have a lens spanner, a screw driver and some grease it's not too difficult to do yourself. Unmount the lens barrel from the helix (using the spanner), and you can access the screws that hold the helix together from the front.

Roland.

 

[EmilGil]

I sent a price inquiry to Will van Manen in the Netherlands last November on this job, he quoted me €65 + VAT for a normal lens CLA. I know several members here use his services but unfortunately I haven't done it yet. Mine is still pretty stiff and since I'm not using it very often, I doubt that it'll get any better with time. I'm thinking of selling it but I don't think I'll be able to recuperate the cost of a CLA (€100 incl. shipping).

Thorirv, I don't know if Antonio Stasi near Flöybanen will do anything like this but he's the only one I can come to think of. He's more of a retailer so I doubt it.

 

[Palaeoboy]

This particular lens does have a trait of being stiffer than other M lenses with conventional cams. As long as the focus is still smooth then it is generally fine. They are naturally stiff but if gets really hard to move then its time for a service.

 

[gflan]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for your advice -- I found this explanation on how to do one's own lubrication of a summi-c.

And what kind (size?) spanner wrench would I need to buy?

I asked around to various camera shops in Paris, and was quoted between 80 and 100 euros to do the cleaning/lubrication, plus two weeks wait. I'd rather do it myself if it is as easy as the above website seems to make it.

 

[ferider]

Good choice, again, it's not too difficult.

I recommend a generic spanner like the one with the needle points here (on the right):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-Sp...ryZ79000QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you use old lenses a bit, sooner or later you will need it anyways.

Roland.

 

[gflan]

Good choice, again, it's not too difficult.

I recommend a generic spanner like the one with the needle points here (on the right):

http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-Sp...ryZ79000QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you use old lenses a bit, sooner or later you will need it anyways.

Roland.

Hello Roland, thanks for the info, I've since bought a cheap spanner from ebay and am waiting to have it delivered to France. I'll post here on how it goes re-lubing the lens.

What kind of grease should I use?