Hi, I know, I know I ask a lot of questions. This one deals with a 35mm Summicron I'm considering. It's a good price($800) and in mint condition but there is a pronounced squeak as you move the aperture ring, mostly between f/2 to 2.8. I've been toying with it, slowly working it out to move some oil about but it's just not getting any better. The ring also feels a little loose, a slight wiggle is felt and if you put a little pressure on the ring as you turn it the squeak goes away. I'm used to my 50mm 'cron which is nice and stable. I'm figuring just a CLA but that's time consuming and I'm not sure of the price, seems I could just invest that money in a perfect one but....a bird in the hand and all that. I suppose my question is should I give it some time to get used to being worked (which commits me to the lens)- reject it-or immeadiatly get a CLA? Or ??? I got this can of WD-40 and I was gonna.. Ha... just kidding!

Thanks again for your patience with my elementary questions, Warren

-- Warren Allen (whatrix@home.com), December 21, 2001

Answers

Warren,

Skip that sucker. After a CLA you might as well buy new.

Just go to Delta International and order a new one for a thousand bucks. Go here:

http://www.deltainternational.com/store/Item.asp?ItemNo=LCLM35F2A

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.con), December 22, 2001.

Warren- WD-40 should never be underestimated! However, you might be able to find one without a squeak. Like the other responder says, skip that one. Leica lenses do not squeak. If they do, it is most likely in need of CLA. I splashed Gatorade on my 50mm Elmar-M and by the time Leica NJ sent it back to Deutschland and then back to me, I was $167 poorer. (They did a great job, I must say, even getting what I thought was a permanent stain out of the B+W UV filter I sent along for lens protection.) (BTW- AMSOIL MP blows WD-40 out of the water!)

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), December 22, 2001.

A wise man once said "why buy trouble when you can find it for free on every streetcorner?"

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 22, 2001.