Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/08/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello folks: Thanks to all who reacted to my earlier posting on the hard-focussing Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8. I must be VERY unlucky, as most of the Leica R gear I purchased between May and July has serious flaws: - - my R8 body is a fantastic photo-capturing device, but its back won't close any longer when you have put a new film inside. You have to manually press the opening button down to make it close (normally the back should click back into closing position when you press on it). Also, I have sometimes experienced strange indications on the back LCD display (Chinese to me) instead of an indication of the frame number. Although the indications in the viewfinder function correctly, the back LCD seems to be sometimes confused (I am sure this is not due to dust on the electrical contacts on the back). - - the Elmarit-R 28mm f/2.8 has the problem I already mentioned in an earlier posting: it won't focus smoothly from 5m to infinity, it becomes so hard to turn the focussing ring that correct focussing is difficult. - - the Summilux-R 80mm f/1.4 has dust and a small hair pressed inside the lens elements (must have happened during lens pressing & manufacturing). Also, when the lens is not mounted on a body, the focussing ring blocks at random on any given lens opening when you turn from the minimum distance up to infinity and vice versa. You feel some resistance inside the lens when turn the focussing ring, and if you decide to push further, it feels as if something has been forced. Strange thing that this does not appear to be happening once the lens is mounted on the body. Everything went back to Leica just some days ago, together with full description of the problems. My dealer has acknowledged the problems and, happily, is supporting me. We'll have to wait and see how Leica is reacting to all these things. I have asked for replacement of both lenses, as they show serious construction flaws. Wonder what will be the decision on the R8 body. So it appears my belief in Leica is seriously tested...:-) I will let the group know of the outcome! Pascal Belgium P.S. My Leica Pradovit P150 slide projector also went back because the AF functions have ceased to function... Speaking of a lucky week :-) - ------------------------------------------ This message was created and sent on a Macintosh PowerBook - ------------------------------------------