advice from 180/2 owners

As stated in my previous post I now have my new lens, I have only seen

the results from 4 pictures, but it is a very impressive piece of

glass and as stated very sharp.

 

however the focusing action is not smooth, it seems to be have tight

spots, is this normal for this lens. I was wondering that it may just

be a little stiff because it is new or maybe it is supposed to behave

like this, some sort of coarse then fine focussing system. However it

was new and expensive so if it's not right then maybe I should get it

replaced or repaired whilst it is still under warranty.

 

My future father in law has a leica 280/2.8 which also has internal

focusing and the action on that is very smooth, just like a normal lens.

 

It doesn't seem to affect it optically and is not really that

noticable when actually using the camera, unfortunately it's not the

sort of lens lots of people have so finding another one to compare is

just impossible.

 

thanks in advance

Ian

A new lens under warranty should function to your satisfaction. If it doesn't don't hesitate to have the manufacturer make good on their product.

 

There are pretty much only two things that might be wrong: (1) The helicoid grease is not evenly distributed, possibly because the lens has been sitting in a box unused for several years; (2) There are minor burrs in the helicoid that need to be polished out.

 

If the problem is the former it's possible that working the focus ring back and forth will smooth things out. If the latter, tho', there's a risk that the burrs will eventually damage the helicoid, causing the focus ring to become sloppy with age.

 

Any factory trained tech can handle either job. If Olympus America no longer does such warranty work on lenses and bodies they may very well send it to John Hermanson, a well respected, factory trained tech who's had his own business near NYC for many years. But Olympus should not charge you for the adjustment if the lens is in warranty.

Several years ago I bought the 35/2.8 new. Optically, it's great, far

better than the 35/2 I bought over 20 years ago. But just like your

180/2 the focusing was not smooth at all, alternately very tight and

very loose. I took it to the service center here in Tokyo and they

said 'just give it time to wear in'! It never did and I returned it

for repairs on the warranty. They improved the action but it's not at

all like my older Zuikos. I have been told by OM fans here that by

the end of OM production, Olympus was clearly not making them like

they used to.

 

I'm not happy with Olympus, but that 35/2.8 is not a very expensive

lens. But your 180/2 is and I would lean on them until they got it

right.

Send the lens to me and I will gladly break it in for you until the focusing is silky smooth. I won't even charge for this service! :-)

thanks for the replies - and offer :-)

 

I am contacting the supplier - lens came from germany to see what his opinion is, then depending upon answer will use it for a couple of months and if its no different send it in for repair. Damn I have waited 18 years to be in a position to get such a lens and then to have to part with it for a few weeks so soon, such is life.

 

thanks Ian