Archive 2011 · Leica Elmarit 28mm asph extra aperture click

GRM
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Leica Elmarit 28mm asph extra aperture click

On Friday I received from B&H a Leica 28mm 2.8 asph which was rated a "9" in their used dep. While the lens looks like almost new and draws beautiful, crisp pictures the aperture ring goes one extra click below the max aperture and it doesn't spring back as I think it should. I have a few R lenses and none of them behaves like this. For people that own a new Leica asph design lens, is this normal? I'm tempted to send it back thinking it might have some mechanical issues. Same time the $1599 price for the lens itself, rear cap and hood (no front cap I was sent, though i was told it is included) is attractive enough to make me keep it if nothing is wrong with the lens.
Any ideas? Am I concerned for no reason?

Nov 13, 2011 at 05:54 PM

denoir
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Leica Elmarit 28mm asph extra aperture click

Yes and no. It is normal that you can rotate the aperture ring a bit beyond max aperture. How much and if it springs back seems depend on the sample. My lenses behave like this:

28 Cron ASPH - goes a bit beyond but springs back
35 Lux ASPH - goes a tiny bit beyond but doesn't spring back
50 Lux ASPH - stops at max aperture
75 Cron ASPH - goes a bit beyond but doesn't spring back
90 Cron ASPH - goes a bit beyond doesn't spring back

All except the 35 Lux were purchased new. So it doesn't have to be a problem. My 75 Cron however originally went quite a bit beyond (more than half a stop IIRC) until it one day broke and the aperture ring rotated freely. Leica fixed it and now it goes back a bit but not nearly as much as it did originally before it broke.

Essentially it's not a problem unless it breaks. I don't know if that is related to how far back it goes or not - I have an old pre-ASPH 90 Cron which goes almost a full stop back and it hasn't been a problem.

Nov 13, 2011 at 06:17 PM

GRM
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Leica Elmarit 28mm asph extra aperture click

Interesting. I'm not sure what to do now. B&H already send me a prepaid label. Being an used lens it doesn't come with any warranty and any future mechanical problems would come straight from my own pocket. Not sure anymore that the extra saving is worth dealing with problems in the future.

Nov 13, 2011 at 07:02 PM

Bijltje
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Leica Elmarit 28mm asph extra aperture click

Same as Denoir.

18 super elmar goes a tiny bit beyond and springs back.
28 cron goes a bit beyond and sometimes springs back, and sometimes doesn't
50 cron (not asph) goes a tiny bit beyond and springs back

The 28 cron's aperture feels quite rough compared to the 18's and 50's. Also you can move the ring a tiny bit up and down.

I have send my lens to leica for calibration witch the camera, and to have them look at the 28's aperture ring. Got it back with the note that its normal for the 28's aperture ring to have some movement and to behave like mine does.

If it doesn't affect the image quality and the working of the lens. I myself would keep. You might can email leica with this question to?

Nov 14, 2011 at 04:17 AM


FM Forums \| Leica & Alternative Gear \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.