[Leica] Re: Specks in new Leica Lens

[Jim Brick <jim_brick@agilent.com>]

How did you see them? did you shine a flashlight through one end while
looking though the other? Or did you hold the lens up to a bright light?
I'm curious.

One thing being old has taught me is that these things have absolutely no
significance what-so-ever.

If you hold "almost" any lens up to a bright light source, you will find
something in there.

Of course, you can send the 90 back to Leica and have it cleaned. This
means dismantling the lens. I personally would rather ignore it than have
the disassembly and re-assembly cause a problem. Since tiny specs are
insignificant.

Think about it. What kind of tasks do they give the neophyte repair
persons? CLA's. The heavy duty tricky stuff goes to the seasoned old codgers.

IMHO,

Jim



At 08:49 AM 2/3/01 +1300, matt wrote:
>Recently when buying a new Leica 90 APO Summicron M lens I noticed that it
>had a couple of small black specks on one of the inner lens elements. I
>asked to see another one, as the dealer had two in stock, and this too had
>the same black specks. As I was offered either lens at a price slightly
>under $1300, I bought one of them. The lens has on closer inspection in a
>addition to the above small specks about four other very, very small almost
>invisible specks as well. Does anyone know where these black specks are
>likely to have come from, i.e. the aperture blades or black paint from the
>inner barrel? If it is paint flecks, can I expect to get more of them as
>more paint comes loose? Is this common with some Leica lenses or is it a
>problem with this particular model? I have two other Leica lenses, a 35
>Summicron Asph and a 50 Summicron and they don't have debris inside of them.
>
>I would of thought that Leica quality control should be able to detect these
>type of things and rectify them before sending them out. Perhaps they don't
>deem it important because irrespective of these specks (flecks?) my 90 APO
>is one razor sharp and contrasty lens.