I know this is bordering on the ridiculous but I have noticed that when buying new Leica lenses that the apeture is always on smallest setting i.e. f/16 etc.

Do you think this is to relieve stress on the aperture blade springs? And if so should we be storing any seldom used lenses we may have the same way?

My wife thinks I'm mad and obsessive, I may as well confirm it with this question.

-- terry ashton (mahv@xtra.co.nz), November 02, 2000

Answers

Let me be the first to admit: I'm mad and obsessive about my Leica equipment! Seriously, I've never heard of this being an issue, but maybe one of our resident Leica experts will kick in with some surprising wisdom on this subject.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), November 02, 2000.

Thanks Terry for asking this question; I'm also curious about the correct way of storing leica lenses too, if there is indeed such a thing, and I'm watching this thread closely. OK, now where can I sign up for Obsessive-about-lens-storage Anonymous?

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), November 02, 2000.

Terry,

I think the lens storage theory--with the aperture blades closed to minimum f/stop--originated with the SLR type lenses that have spring-loaded, stop-down aperture mechanisms. I was told years ago that storing these SLR lenses at the minimum aperture releases the spring tension on the stop down mechanism, thereby prolonging the spring's life expectancy and maintaining proper tension. Leicas don't have this, so I would think that's not the reason.

It could be that the aperture blades tend to become coated with lubrication if stored at maximum aperture. I had an older Leica lens CLA'd and it came back with a trace of lubrication on the blades. If I stored it at maximum aperture (wide open), the lubrication seemed to build up on the blades, revealing itself as I closed down the lens. When I kept it at minimum aperture, the trace of lubrication on the blades seemed to disappear and dry out over time.

Just a thought, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), November 02, 2000.

You are all missing the fundamental flaw in this question. NEVER store Leica lenses! Use them! :-) :-) :-)

Seriously though, the main concern when storing camera equipment is humidity, and by extention, fungus. If you are fortunate to live in a dry climate like Tony and I do, then relax a little. If you live in a more humid climate, then building a dry cabinet would be a good idea.

A simple dry cabinet is an box with a light bulb inside and turned on all the time. Make sure that the box is made of non-combustible materials and that the temperature is warm but not hot. There is some thinking that exposing the lenses (and finders) to light can help against fungus formation so incorporating some clear panels in your dry cabinet would be a good idea.

Now that humidity is dealt with, it is important to exercise Leica camera gear at least every three months or less. Work it through all shutter speeds, more all the controls that can move such as aperture, focusing rings, frame selector, etc. This keeps the lubrication where it should be and prevents the works from getting gummed up.

I would like to end by repeating the first statement that Leica gear that is used stays in the top working condition. Always be wary of used gear that has "never been used" or "slight use only" as it will probably need at least a CLA to get working properly.

Cheers

PS: Your wife is right! :-)

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), November 02, 2000.

M lenses- it makes no difference. With R-lenses the apertures always "relax" to the set aperture stop when removed from the camera (they open up when attached). I would hope it should make no difference with an R-lens either, but if I was obsessive I might set the lens to the smallest aperture. I am not, so I don't. It would be a poor outlook for Leica if this aperture twisting did make any real difference.

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), November 02, 2000.

The aperture blade axles of the old type of the lenses have been lubricated. Any lubricant is an evaporative material. It is evaporating and settling on glass surfaces faced on aperture blades during a long time. As a result a muddy efflorescence appears on these surfaces and the lens loses its contrast characteristics. I repaired a lot of these. For example, I have seen the lens (Zeiss Sonnar 2/85, like new, never used) with the exact Boil printB of its (set on f-stop 22) aperture on the surface of the inner element facing to the aperture. This lens was stored about thirty years. Non- AI Nikkors, old Leitz, Zeiss and many others lens have such kind of efflorescence, as a rule, when looking through its aperture (set on 16-22 f-stop) on a light source. The above forced me to keep my old lenses with full-opened aperture blades. But it doesnBt matter for the modern lenses. It is my two kopecks.

-- Victor Randin (www.ved@enran.com.ua), November 03, 2000.