Had a look at 2 versions of this lens today. A black one and the titanium version. It was quite obvious the action on the focus and apeture rings were much smoother on the Titanium version. I am told that the optics are identical - can't say the same for the mechanics.

Any ideas?

-- John (johnlktan@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

No magic here. Brass simply machines to closer tolerances.

The upside to non-brass barrels is that they are lighter.

Optically no difference of course.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), April 08, 2002.

John:

I've noticed that focusing smoothness or stiffness in Leica M lenses varies a fair amount even within otherwise identical version of the same lens - I've seen both stiff and smooth 90's, very stiff and slightly stiff 75s, etc.

OTOH the chromes lenses are quasi-limited production, so there may be just a tad more time and/or care taken in their manufacture.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 08, 2002.

At one point, all Leitz lenses were supposed to have the helicals hand lapped. It would appear that a lot of things done in the past are no long being done including using a dust-free room for assemblies.

-- Bud (budcook@attglobal.net), April 08, 2002.

All my M lenses are black, all are current versions, and all have brass helicals, so the focusing mechanics are probably the same between the two versions.

I obviously can't see the aperture ring (without taking something apart), so I can't tell what it's made of.

-- Dick (rchandler2@qwest.net), April 08, 2002.