D&A
Well-known
It's sort of ironic I happned to unexpectedly stumble upon this thread a few minutes ago. I was just about to post an observation with an aquantences 50mm Lux asph and the "play" or wobble I've noticed in his lens. The wobble is the front half of the lens relative to the rear half. It can be felt whether the lens is on the camera or held in hand (all external screws are tight). This is the second 50mm Lux asph sample I've noticed this in. It has a floating elemt (or grouping) and thought for a second that maybe it's just in the design of the lens but havn't heard from others who own the 50mm Lux asph.
On a seperate issue regarding Hexanon-M lenses and whether they mis-focus on a properly adjusted Leica body or not, I will have to respectfully disagree with those that say the initial run of Hexanon-M lenses focused just fine on Leica bodies.
I happend to have strong contacts with a Photographic equipment distributer when the Hexar RF and lenses were first released in the U.S. I was able to test samples of the 28, 50 and 90mm lens (the first focal lengths to be released) during the course of the 1st years run. I can tell you emphatically that most of the lens mis-focused on virtually every single properly adjusted Lecia film body at the time...in carefully controlled experiments. Yet those same exact lenses focused perfectly on the Hexar RF. It was reported to Konica and ultimately they acknowledged that this was the case. After that approx 1st year, I was no longer involved with this RF or lens line, so I cannot say what if any changes or adjustments were made. It's possible things changed after a period of time.
Just recently I sold a brand new Hexanon-M 28mm f2.8 and it focused perfectly on a M8.2 and M9. My guess based on my knowledge when it was purchased, is that it was manufactured a few years after the initial run of Hexanon-M lenses...if that says anything.
So each time I read that that there was no differences regarding flange to film plane differences in those approx 1st year run of Hexanon-M lenses relative to Leica M lenses, is just a somewhat mis-informed statement. What I absolutely don't know, is if Konica decided to change things or not. So often stopping down and increased depth of field covered up the focusing anaomoly and/or people either were printing small prints and didn't notice focusing errors or assumed they mis-focused.
Anyhow, I'll be interested to hear if anyone with a 50mm Lux asph also experienced or detects some lens wobble in their lens. Thanks!
Dave (D&A)
On a seperate issue regarding Hexanon-M lenses and whether they mis-focus on a properly adjusted Leica body or not, I will have to respectfully disagree with those that say the initial run of Hexanon-M lenses focused just fine on Leica bodies.
I happend to have strong contacts with a Photographic equipment distributer when the Hexar RF and lenses were first released in the U.S. I was able to test samples of the 28, 50 and 90mm lens (the first focal lengths to be released) during the course of the 1st years run. I can tell you emphatically that most of the lens mis-focused on virtually every single properly adjusted Lecia film body at the time...in carefully controlled experiments. Yet those same exact lenses focused perfectly on the Hexar RF. It was reported to Konica and ultimately they acknowledged that this was the case. After that approx 1st year, I was no longer involved with this RF or lens line, so I cannot say what if any changes or adjustments were made. It's possible things changed after a period of time.
Just recently I sold a brand new Hexanon-M 28mm f2.8 and it focused perfectly on a M8.2 and M9. My guess based on my knowledge when it was purchased, is that it was manufactured a few years after the initial run of Hexanon-M lenses...if that says anything.
So each time I read that that there was no differences regarding flange to film plane differences in those approx 1st year run of Hexanon-M lenses relative to Leica M lenses, is just a somewhat mis-informed statement. What I absolutely don't know, is if Konica decided to change things or not. So often stopping down and increased depth of field covered up the focusing anaomoly and/or people either were printing small prints and didn't notice focusing errors or assumed they mis-focused.
Anyhow, I'll be interested to hear if anyone with a 50mm Lux asph also experienced or detects some lens wobble in their lens. Thanks!
Dave (D&A)