Does anybody know where the Summilux 75mm is made? Is it made in Canada?

I have noticed on my 90mm and 50mm Crons that when you are making fine focus adjustments they focusing ring is tight and skips or jerks a little. I have a 50mm Noctilux. The focusing is SO MUCH MORE smooth. It is silky.

I was wondering if the 75mm Summilux was made in Canada to see if the place on manufacture and method of manufacture is the cause of this kipping or jerking action.

Any further comments on how to fix my Crons would be great.

Thanks

-- Rob Schopke (schopke@attbi.com), January 29, 2002

Answers

Depends on the vintage of the lens. Many of the 75's were made in Canada, while current production is German. Read what it says on the underside of the lens. To my knowledge production of the 90 Summicron-M was almost exclusively Canadian. The E-55 ones made up until the introduction of the 90 AA certainly were. The current 50 Summicron is German, but the previous version, with the focusing tab, was Canadian until late in production when manufacture was transfered to Solms (this is the same with the pre-ASPH 35 Summicron). I believe that production of the 50 Noctilux has been exclusively Canadian.

As far as fixing the lenses, if they're out of warranty, send them to Sherry Krauter or Don Goldberg.

-- Robert Schneider (rolopix@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

The Noctilux (current) is made in Canada. I am considering the 75mm Summilux for my next lens, since I have the 35mm Summilux and figure this would be a great 2 lens set-up.

I have read extensively the question regarding the 90 vs. 75, and feel the 75 is my way to go due to the f/1.4 speed!

Anyway, I know I didn't relate my response to your questions, but I will say that my 35mm does skip around a bit, but have found this to be workable in use. But, I am exchanging it for another tomorrow since the one I received in the mail looks like a previously returned item. I will post how the two focusing rings compare mechanically.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I've never encountered jerky or skippy (weren't they cartoon characters on The Simpsons?) focusing rings on Leica lenses, but in comparison to other lenses my 75/1.4 needed a pipewrench to focus.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

I use the 75 Summilux (German) as well as the 90 SAA. Both lenses have a tighter focusing action compared to the smaller lenses of wider focal length. I don't find this at all objectionable; they neither skip nor jerk. It does take a degree of familiarity.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), January 29, 2002.

That 50 'cron should be smooth as silk and need a very light touch, like your Noctilux. Have it serviced. The Teles are always stiff. Practically useless for follow-focusing, even disregarding the fact that the rangefinder makes that kind of hard...

Others may well disagree, just IMHO.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), January 29, 2002.

The only high-friction Leica lens I've known was a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar (uncoated) which my dad fixed with a drop of machine oil in 1951 or so.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 29, 2002.

My 90SAA, when it was new, was also a bit stiff (and "jerkey") on the close-focus end, but eventually worked its way smooth. Now its perfect. Years ago I had a 1st version chrome 35/2 which was really stiff, which I held over my hot woodstove for awhile, as I worked the focus. Worked like a charm after that! But I don't recommend this approach!

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), January 30, 2002.

Actually John, I remembered your efforts and tried the same this wekend with a Nikkor 85 cm f2 LTM-- very carefully. Worked wonderfully-- much smoother.

-- Marke Gilbert (Bohdi137@aol.com), January 30, 2002.