Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/07/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> >A year ago I got the newest Summicron 50mm with the integrated sun shade >and the new lens cap. As far as I can tell the sun shade is really too >small and collapses too easily when pushed offering not enough >protection of the front lens element. And rain and snow (I live at 70' >North) reaches the front lens element too easily. > >In addition, the lens cap falls off all the time due to a locking >mechanism made from weak plastic. When I grab the M6 from the bag, and it >comes up without the lens cap, I am never sure if its in the bag or on >the ground. > >Optically it is a great lens. But I want the old sun shade and cap back. > > >Otto >Tromso, Norway > >Interesting information. I bought last year a Summilux 1.4/35mm ASPH which >has a solid, lightweight sunshade. The thing is badly engineered and gets >off the lens very easily. I complained with Leica who gave me a new sunshade >but this did not resolve the problem as it is structural. > >As there are already many adjustments to be made at the M6 before making a >picture (as compared to an everything automatic SLR) more time waisted, by >reinstalling the sunshade before being able to push the releasebutton, is >not really contributing to informal, candid pictures. > >But the Summilux 1.4/35mm is a really e x c e l l e n t lens. > >Gerard Captijn, >Geneva, Switzerland. I agree with you, Otto, that the design of the cap and pull-out shade on the latest Summicron 50 is poor. The worst part is the new design prevents you from fitting an older model clip-on shade to it if you wanted to. Gerard, they must have heard your complaints: the very newest shade for the 1.4/35mm Asph has a rotating lock-ring on it which secures it to the lens. I had an earlier serial number of the lens with the sunshade you describe: yes, pretty shoddy. The one I have currently has the new locking design shade and also a wrap-around rubber shade-cap that covers up the viewfinder cutaway when it's on. I will see if it has an order number on it. Perhaps you can exchange it. Adrian Tanovic Tokyo