Please offer your suggestions. After four years of using an M6 with only a 50mm summicron I just purchased a Summilux 35 and a Summicron 90. Got them both in the mail today- and can't feel content after this big investment:

-The Summicron's focusing is very stiff especially through a certainly section- at first it seemed locked but then eased enough to turn. I spent a minute or two workingit gently back and forwards- but yikes still no better.

-The summilux's metal lens shade has cracking and chipping paint- I don't mind much but would this affect resale value- although yes I do hope to never have to sell a Leica.

-Both lenses had quite a bit of dust on the outide- not big deal- but also a bit on the inside- not speckles but fibers as a carpet might release. The lux also has a small black speckle in the center- as if a piece of paper.

Please give your advice as what to do. Purchased from KB Camera- non Leica USA. Should I return the 'cron? And what about the 'lux shade? Doing something about the dust might be futile- as removing it may just cause a new piece.

This make me think of the decline in Leica quality control- although manufacturing quality is still decent.

-- Silas Larsen (slarsen@mail.colgate.edu), October 29, 2001

Answers

Good grief man, send them back!!! New equipment should work properly and look new! I can't help but wonder if Leica is purposefully dumping junk or "seconds" on the gray market...

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 29, 2001.

All the current Leica 90mm lenses are on the stiff side. Dust sometimes gets into lenses. A new lens should be clean inside, but a few specs of dust with have absolutely zero affect on image quality. I have heard a few other complaints about dust in the new lenses.

Have them swap out your hood if it bothers you, and the same with the lenses. I personally would live with the dust. Take some pictures with the lenses, and you'll forget about the problems when you see the results.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 29, 2001.

I just read your post again, and if the 90 isn't uniformally stiff, then I would be suspect that it isn't quite right. Have you told the place you bought this equipment from the same information you posted here? Did they offer to exchange for new stuff?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 29, 2001.

Good money should buy quality; isn't that why we spend what we do on Leica products? Regardless whether or not a minute speck of dust degrades image quality, if you bought new, you should expect to receive pristine products. Return the lenses along with admonishment to your supplier that this level of quality is NOT acceptable.

-- David (pagedt@attglobal.net), October 29, 2001.

It sounds as though you bought demo lenses that were loaners! New Leica lenses come in a plastic bag which is inside a leather case which is inside a box which is sealed in plastic. A few minor dust specs in the lens is normal but the exterior should be clean and sparkling. Send them back!

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), October 29, 2001.

By the way, who are KB camera? I just checked and there isn't even one comment about that outfit in the Photo.net camera store recommendation section. What country are they located in?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 29, 2001.

I have not contacted the supplier yet, as I first examine them right around closing hours. The lenses were in a plastic bag, in the lether case, in the box. The box had no plastic wrapping. IS ANYONE CERTAIN THE BOXES SHOULD HAVE A PLASTIC WRAPPING? The lenses had no evidence of handling. KB Camera is in California and also call themselves "The Leica Gallery". www.kbcamera.com. Their service was prompt, polite and they answered questions well via email. It is definitely not one of those NY sketch places. They give a three year warranty on the lenses.

-- Silas Larsen (slarsen@mail.colgate.edu), October 29, 2001.

I would send these examples back as unsatisfactory, immediately. No way I would accept buying a pair of new lenses at Leica prices and live with these kind of imperfections.

I have purchased 35mm, 90mm and 50mm lenses brand new in the past two years. All are flawless, and that's all I would expect from lenses that cost $800-1400 each. Nothing else is acceptable to me.

-- Godfrey (ramarren@bayarea.net), October 29, 2001.

The new Leica M gear I've purchased during the past year did not come shrink wrapped as was the case with my purchases years ago. My local Leica sales rep advised me that Leica USA no longer shrink wraps the boxes, so it's possible you did receive demo items. I agree with the others who suggested you return them if you're not completely satisfied.

-- Ken Prager (pragerproperties@worldnet.att.net), October 29, 2001.

I have never seen new Leica equipment come with plastic wrapped boxes, just plastic around the item inside the box. The stiff focussing on 90 M lenses seems to be the norm. My 90 Apo focussing is mildly stiff from infinity to 8 meters and slightly stiffer from there down to 1 meter. It sure is one sharp lens. I handled a fairly new 90 Elmarit recently that was extremely stiff to focus.

Buying a new lens and finding small things wrong with it is extremely irritating. You tend to forget about them after a little while though especially when the results are so good as I'm sure will be the case with the lenses you have bought; both of which have high reputations.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.

Note: KBCamera aka Leica Gallery has a website you might have visited: www.leicagallery.com

Question: Did you buy the lenses as NEW or as DEMOS/Used/Other??? LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

Dude! KB Camera you say?!? If that stuff was sold as new, I'd send it back and never do busines with them again. Totally bogus. There are too many excellent Leica Dealers (US and gray) to be jacked around with stuff like that.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), October 30, 2001.