A lens problem

[douglas k.]

I was recently examining some pics shot with my 35mm Summilux ASPH

lens and they didn't seem any better than similar pics shot with my

Nikon, Konica, and Canon L lenses, so I figured something MUST be

wrong. After all, we all know that Leica lenses are better than anyone

else's, right? And before any of you start telling me how to test the

lens, please note that I was examining some very carefully made 4x6

inch prints made by the good people at Wal-Mart. These were shot on

Kodak Gold 400 film, and since they didn't look any better than any

other pics, I knew something was amiss.<p>

Anyway, I got out the lens and examined it carefully, even placing my

loupe near the front element. I couldn't see any foreign matter in

there, but hey, that doesn't mean the lens is okay. So I took the lens

to the physics department here on my campus and had them examine it

with their most powerful microscope, and sure enough, they found a

dust particle. Just to make sure this diagnosis was correct, I also

took the lens to a radiologist for an MRI. It was a bit tricky, a

lens being made of metal and glass rather than flesh and bone, but

he did confirm the presence of an alien dust particle. (Strangely,

when I called for the appointment and told the receptionist that I

wanted a lens examined, she said "You must own a Leica." What do

you suppose she meant by that?) Anyway, the physicist told me that the

particle is too small to observe with the naked eye, but still, I have

to think it is negatively affecting the lens' imaging characteristics.

Those 4x6 inch prints of my German Shepherd, Ernst, just don't have

that "glow" that should come from a fifteen-hundred dollar lens.<p>

So now I'm wondering how this offensive foreign invader got into my

lens. Naturally, after buying a new lens, I examine it obsessively --

only the best, most perfect lenses will suffice for those 4x6 inch

pictures of my beloved Ernst. And I actually went through six lenses

before settling on this one -- each of the first five had some fatal

defect, like a pre-existing dust particle, or coating marks (or were

those the reflections of my own pupils?), etc. I thought this one was

just PERFECT. And it doesn't seem like that dust particle could have

gotten into there after I took possession of the lens, since I keep

all my Leica gear in a climate-controlled cabinet with a filtered air

supply and only take it out to take pictures inside my scrupulously

clean house, and even then I make sure to close all the windows first,

dust and vacuum thoroughly, and, after taking pictures of Ernst, I

immediately place the equipment back in the cabinet. (And I always

keep two B&W Multicoated skylight filters in place...Two may seem like

overkill, but hey, you can't be too careful, can you? I also wear

three condoms when having sex, but I may cut back to two when the wife

and I reach our tenth anniversary.)<p>

So where did this dust particle come from? I surmised it must've been

a bit of dander from Ernst...I mean, where else could it have come

from? So, though the old fellow has been a faithful companion for

fourteen years, I did what I had to do -- sent him to the Humane

Society, where he'll probably be put to sleep. A guy's got to have his

priorities, right? Can't have my lenses getting all dusty.<p>

Now I'm wondering where to send the lens for a thorough cleaning,

adjustment, and re-collimation. Any recommendations? And also, after

the servicing is complete, and it's sent back to me, how do I ensure

the shipping didn't knock it back OUT of collimation? Perhaps I will

need to send it back in a second time to make sure it's okay? But then

they'll have to ship it back to me, raising the ugly spectre of yet

ANOTHER bump that may induce element misalignment! Oh, dear, what a

dilemma.<p>

Perhaps I should just buy a new lens? If I go that route, I wonder

whether to buy a silver chrome or black lens. Which will produce

better bokeh?<p>

Here's one more question: with old Ernst out of the picture, what

should I take pictures of? Any suggestions?

[alec1]

I think you've got more than just a lens problem.

[fotografz]

4X6s machine prints from my Contax 645 using Zeiss glass

don't look any better than stuff from other run of the mill 35mm

cameras.

 

Move into the darkroom or on to a 4000 dpi scanner and then

make a 11X14 and there's no comparison.

 

I'd hazard a guess that if you put ANY lens to the tests you did

you would give up photography altogether.

[shambrick007]

I think you've just about summed it up!

[james_.1]

Doug, I suppose you're pointing this thread at me, and maybe some others. I can assure you I've been happy with lenses that have had foreign particles in them, and in fact kept them. But scratches, come on man. You're a boob for thinking someone who spends $2500 on a lens should put up with scratches on the front element. And for the record, Douggy, I actually use my equipment. Not endlessly fret about how others opine on newly acquired Leicas. If it bothers you that much I'll be glad to give you my address. ; )

[jay_.]

Douglas if you coated the front and rear elements of your 35 Summilux ASPH with Vaseline your photographic results would be of about equal sharpness to your satire ;>)

[patrick_jelliffe]

There is obviously a plethora of dust clouding your grey matter, so what's a bit in the midst of an otherwise perfect lens? Project chromes as big as a given wall will allow, or get a poster print made at Wall Mart--That will show the true mark of (im)perfection. Cheers!

[carl smith]

This is a joke. I'm sure it is. Cant y'all tell? :)

[kelly_flanigan1]

Darn; I thought the dust added to the glow of the lenses! :)

[kelly_flanigan1]

You all should look inside a concrete contractors dumpy level sometimes; and see all the concrete dust that gets in every pore of the level...The concrete dust will clump up and make bigger "dust/dirt/concrete" particles inside; since concrete is "sort of" :) a cement/glue!

[gerry_szarek]

Douglas surely your lens is BAD, I will trade with you my 20 year old 35mm F1.4 summilux, PLEASE contact me off line to arrange the transfer. My lens is perfect optically, since I want to save you from your horrible fate, I am more than willing to trade my lens for yours. Of course my lens is black.

 

Happy snaps.

[albert knapp md]

This has to be a joke as you cannot put a lens in an MRI

machine as the magnets will either rip the lens apart or make it

fly off the table and smash into one of the magnets. Doug, you

had some of us fooled!

[jerry_lehrer]

Doug

 

I would wager that my neices Argus C3 could produce 4x6 WalMart prints

equal to my Leica with 50mm Summilux.

 

But you know that.

 

Jerry

[mark-j]

Albert:

 

Someone has come up with a new magnet that attracts ALUMINUM, BRASS, TITANIUM or GLASS? What will they think of next?

 

Cheers?

[Rob F.]

Douglas: Your priorities are confused. Go get Ernst back, and send the lens to the humane society.

 

Alternatively, send it to me, and you can have 25 therapy sessions in exchange. You need it! :~)

[jordi_rosales]

Douglas, I miss the pic you made with your pinhole camera, as its lens will be most probably dust free.

[david11]

Absolutely ROTFLMAO

[kevin m.]

Most responses so far seem to indicate the Leica forum is for the hard-of-humor.

[hugh_t]

Doug, everyone knows the black 35 cron has better bokeh than the silver. Geez some of these posts are getting to be a joke and THERE CAN BE NO HUMOR IN LEICA LAND. Don't you people realize this is the LEICA forum????

 

Where is Phil Kneen???

[travis1]

Wow great shot! Doug!

[james_.1]

obsessions on obsessions, who needs the therapy? :D

[ray_moth]

Doug,

 

A sad tale, indeed, and I fully understand your feelings, although I hardly think that it justifies the taking of innocent life. (YMMV, in fact it obviously does). But just think: next time this happens to one of your treasured lenses (and you can bet your left one that it will), you won't be able to blame that poor German sheep farmer Ernst. You've already sent him to that great pasture in the sky, haven't you? So, who're you gonna blame next time, yourself or your wife? Who will be the next unfortunate person with a one-way ticket to the humane society? By the way, what 'humane' method do they use: gas, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, firing squad? Do you get to choose - or maybe they use all five at the same time, just to make sure? As you say, "Oh, dear, what a dilemma."

[lee_shively]

Thanks, Douglas. You got my morning off to a good start.

 

By the way, I just bought a 135mm Hektor complete with a cracked Bakelite case, no caps, lots of scratches, oil on the elements, fog and flaking internal paint. If you want, I'll loan it to you to use to take pictures of Ernst so you can save the 35 'lux and the old dog as well.

[ralph_barker]

<p>I'm shocked, Doug. Clearly this is yet another case of racial profiling in troubled times. Just what lead the physicist and the MRI tech to determine that the dust particle was <i>foreign</i> as opposed to domestic? Its appearance? Its accent? I would respectfully submit that the faith of most dust particles requires that they travel nude. Furthermore, it is well known that dust particles took a vow of silence long ago. </p>

 

<p>Both of these facts cast doubt on the veracity of the supposedly scientific advice you have been given. Thus, I would suggest two possible alternative causes for your lens problem. First, it may be a synchronization problem - photographing a German Shepherd with a German camera on American film? - surely that can't bode well. Or, second, it might simply be a censorship problem. Wal-Mart, in its zeal to protect its clientel from things offensive, may be filtering the glow from the images of your beloved Ernst (who should obviously be retrieved from the pound before it's too late). Buy Agfa film, and have it processed in Germany. Better yet, have it processed in Chernobyl - photos processed there always have a special glow.</p>

[tim_gee]

Douglas, Silly boy. You have the rare Leitz dust model! Did it come in a golden bag with a wand on it?