Problem mounting/fiting 35mm f1.4 Asph to M8

[pclee]

Hi,

Just got my M8 several days ago and only managed to test it last nite.

I tested several Leica lenses - 24mm f2.8 ASP, Tri-E 28-35-90, 50mm f2 and 90mm f2 APO. All fit nicely and the love the pictures.

However, my 35mm f1.4 ASPH (s/n: 374819x) is having problem in mounting to my M8. It seems like something is blocking the lense to fit.

I have been using this 35mm f.1.4 ASPH on my M6TTL, M7 and MP without any problem.

I am posting here to seek advice and check if anyone else having the same problem.

Thank you in advance for your inputs.



Best regards,
PC Lee

[POINT OF VIEW]

Hi, My 35 Summilux SR # 3520236 and second generation M8 is in Solms Germany as I type. I had to send the M8 with lens to Leica NJ. This is a problem Leica has not talked about. I will no more when my camera returns home. Bill

[Sailor Ted]

I seem to remember reading about this in a prior post. Some Summilux's ASPPH can mount, some need a slight modification. I'm getting a 35mm Lux ASPH and I have no doubt I'll be able to mount it one way or another on my M8.

[Jager]

That's the first I've heard of this kind of problem. Can't imagine what might cause a problem on the M8 but not the others you have, PC. The physical mount is the same.

My 35 Lux ASPH fits fine.

I'd definitely give Leica a call. Best of luck and let us know what they determine.

Jeff

[Bob Parsons]

Originally Posted by Jager

That's the first I've heard of this kind of problem. Can't imagine what might cause a problem on the M8 but not the others you have, PC. The physical mount is the same.

My 35 Lux ASPH fits fine.

I'd definitely give Leica a call. Best of luck and let us know what they determine.

Jeff

The mount may be similar but the internal "throat" of the camera is different. I have two lenses which will not mount when focused at infinity, a 35mm pre ASPH Summilux and a 35mm f1.2 Nokton. In both cases the problem is caused by a shroud at the rear of the lens fouling one edge of the inside of the internal camera chamber. If you look into the camera each side has a semi circular cutout into which the rear lens cell and shroud may have to fit into when the lens is focused at infinity. In my camera the distance between the cutouts and the lens axis is not the same for each side, they're offset by a fraction of a mm. There seems to be a tolerance, some people have had problems with the Nokton, others not. I solved my Nokton problem by chamfering the shroud, but I haven't been so successful with the Summilux. Leica UK had not heard of the problem when I contacted them.

Bob.

[furcafe]

Yes, but AFAIK, the current production 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH doesn't have any shroud to speak of (don't know about the rarer original 35/1.4 Summilux Aspherical). I do believe there is a range of tolerances in the machining of the camera mounts & lenses, e.g., all of my M mount lenses (& LTM-M adapters) fit much more tightly on my M3 than on my other M bodies.

FWIW, my 35 'lux, #3795*** mounted fine on my M8 (currently in Solms, too).

Originally Posted by Bob Parsons

The mount may be similar but the internal "throat" of the camera is different. I have two lenses which will not mount when focused at infinity, a 35mm pre ASPH Summilux and a 35mm f1.2 Nokton. In both cases the problem is caused by a shroud at the rear of the lens fouling one edge of the inside of the internal camera chamber. If you look into the camera each side has a semi circular cutout into which the rear lens cell and shroud may have to fit into when the lens is focused at infinity. In my camera the distance between the cutouts and the lens axis is not the same for each side, they're offset by a fraction of a mm. There seems to be a tolerance, some people have had problems with the Nokton, others not. I solved my Nokton problem by chamfering the shroud, but I haven't been so successful with the Summilux. Leica UK had not heard of the problem when I contacted them.

Bob.

[pclee]

Hi ,

Thanks all for the valuable inputs. It seems like that's a potential problem with my lense that required Leica's attention.

I am on a month long overseas trip and will only able to escalate this issue when I am back home. I will post any update here once I have contacted Leica agent.

In the mean time, please share any additional info or data on this issue. I have started visiting this excellent forum a few weeks ago and this is a great place to share info.


Cheers!
PC Lee

[Bob Parsons]

Originally Posted by pclee

...................................In the mean time, please share any additional info or data on this issue. I have started visiting this excellent forum a few weeks ago and this is a great place to share info.

Cheers!
PC Lee

Here is another forum which as you would expect is very active with the M8. http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/


Bob.

[Andy Aitken]

For certain some lenses seem to fit differently on my M8. For example, I have a Kobalux 28mm in M mount that fits perfectly normally on my M4-2 but brings up the 35mm frameline. I didn't think this would be much use on the M8 but, hey presto, it brought up the 28mm frame on the M8. Huh? After some investigation it turns out it wasn't locking in and was turning far enough to push the frameline lever (in the mount) all the way to the 28/90 position. Weird but useful.

Also some of my other (non-Leica) lenses don't seem to 'snap' onto the M8 as well as they do on my other film M's.

Wonder what that's all about?

[LeicaM3]

Originally Posted by endustry

Guh...I've been on the fence about the M8 for a long time now and this news is quite possibly the worst yet for me in particular....the 35 Lux ASPH is my favorite lens. So...is this a widespread problem or only specific to a particular product run of the 35?

If I remember correctly this has been reported for some of the 35 Noktons as well.

[Gman]

Could there be a possibility of damaging the sensor with a 35mm summilux ASPH that doesn't mount correctly on the M8? What do you all think?

jeff

[jaapv]

Highly unlikely.It sticks in the lens mount. The problem imo is that the lens mount on the M8 seems to have slightly tighter tolerances than previous mounts. Some lenses with the banjonet lugs slightly out of tolerance or slightly knocked out of line in use may have problems mounting which did not show up on earlier cameras. I had the problem with a Visoflex. Two minutes with a small file solved the problem.Not that I recommend filing down Summiluxes. If you get your lens coded it gets a new flange and the problem is solved automatically.