Hello,

My misadventures with off-examples of 75 luxes has ended today, happily. I got a 75 lux in today from B&H that is as near-perfect as I'll see from mail-order. I had to clean the rear element as it looked as if a minor scratch were on it, but ended up being grime. Let me tell ya, if you ever need to clean that rear element have some patience, it's really hard to clean it esp. the circumferential area. Anyway, had to use a nice cotton lens cloth, kodak lens cleaner, and the handle of a pair of finger-nail clippers (improvisation). So after spending a darn hour getting it as perfectly clean as possible, I really don't notice any defects. I see just a tiny slight haze around a small area on the periphery, and a micro size bright area (looks like a nano-scratch, but is so small as to not factor in I don't think). Anyway, the front element was cleaned too, and looking through the lens is a fairly clean experience. One thing though, there's a tiny fiber on the periphery of an inner element. So what's wrong:

1. micro-scratch (hate to use that term, no I didn't do it) 2. tiny little fiber 3. slight slight weird haze in a small area around periphery of rear element

OK OK so I'm picky, but just had to let you guys know I now have a 75 I am willing to keep. And put to good use. Will maybe post some results later on. Have a fun weekend, and let's run some rolls through.

PS: those who are bothered reading this, flame away!

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002

Answers

Well Snoop, you ain't getting no doggidy dogs no more huh. Now it's time to show us what you and that lens can do!

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.

Hehehe...yes indeed. The fun part!

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

James, Glad to know you finally got a good one. I finally decided on the 75 lux myself and I am glad I did. Yeh, it might be a bit on the beefy side, but not too much, especially if you are only going with a two lens kit, and the results are exquisite. I got mine from KB Camera. Richard was a great help and the lens was perfect. Post some of your results. I plan to with mine when I return from Asia. Cheers, Ted

-- Ted (zenspector@aol.com), March 02, 2002.

if you spent ONE hour cleaning a lens, you should rethink your method! and beware: never ever leave the sterile environment of your home lab. other nano-scratches might occur by fierce sunlight hitting the front element.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), March 02, 2002.

Do not do that! It is precisely by wiping coated elements with various qualities of tissues, cloth and fluids during hours that you'll end up ruining them. Minute glitches and dust specks have no imaging consequences. Leave that rear element at peace...

The 75mm will be one of your best companions ever. It does not need to be pampered, it needs to be used...

-- Jacques (jacquesbalthazar@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

Hmn...I guess I exaggerated on the duration part. More like 15 mins., but seemed like an hour! Anyway, yes the rear element is probably more vulnerable than the front (I wonder if Leica makes this element as scratch-proof?). Thanks for the advice. Anyone have info on the coating differences (scratch-proofing and otherwise) of the rear vs. the front element?

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

Hey Ted, glad to hear you finally decided on your choices. The 75 lux is a nice lens huh! I will be looking forward to seeing your photos as well! If only I had similar upcoming plans (I should make some). Hey Stefan, yah I'm babying my equipment a bit now, but I really wanted to make sure the example I got by mail-order was worth the 2500 bucks. Now, it's ready for some use. Cleaning that rear element is like operating, takes 2-3 times the normal time. Spent probably 20-30 mins. on it just making sure the periphery was cleaned and buffed, trying to take care not to over-clean or scrub.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

The light haze around the periphery that I though I saw was actually reflections from the internal lens barrel, since it's narrowing in diameter from the rear element as it goes towards the eye. So, in fact, the haze I talked about is actually just a reflection *whew*! I am relieved, I know I truly have a nice example finally.

-- James (snodoggydogg@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

James: When I need an "extender" to reach the rear element (I assume that's what the nailclipper handle was for), I wrap the lens tissue over the end of a Q-tip. The ones with paper handles help ensure there won't be damage from a hard object.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 03, 2002.

I finally "cleaned" the front element of my 75 'lux today--I blew on it to get rid of some excess lint. I did clean off the barrel with some 409, though; I was shooting in the rain Saturday, and it got nasty. ; )

Good to hear you got one your happy with. Now get out there and start generating your own flaws . . .

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), March 03, 2002.