Jump to content

hand coding lens


peterjcb

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

so I purchased a 6 bit coding ring from China to 6-bit code my lens. I blacked out the corresponding digits with a black sharpee. The code for my 50mm Summicron-M f2 lens was pretty simple....1 0 0 0 0 1 . Going clockwise or counter-clockwise is correct either way.

 

I filled in the first and last indentations...pretty simply. The ring fit perfectly and all the screws are aligned correctly and the indentation seems to correspond exactly to where the sensor is on my M8.

 

The only problem is the my M8 is not recognizing it. It recognizes my 28mm Elmarit with no problem. What am I doing wrong?

Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't need to fill in the white, but as others have said, the more opaque the black the better. The only other external thing that can go wrong is if the adapter and the frame lines it brings up doesn't match a code for that particular focal length, they both need to be in sync.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

thanks guys, I'll pick up some flat black enamel today and try it later.

Do I need to fill in the white also? presently I have left the white spots blank.

 

I used Testors model paint and it works great. Hobby Lobby for one. 1/4 ounce bottle. $1.59

I remember when it was 10 cents.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I used Testors model paint and it works great. Hobby Lobby for one. 1/4 ounce bottle. $1.59

I remember when it was 10 cents.

 

ha...you're probably in my age group, but the lowest I remember Testors paint was 15 cents...in fact I may still have a bottle or two somewhere in a box...:)

 

OK, I got some rustoleum flat white & black and did all the six spots. I'll wait for it to dry tomorrow and try it out.

Link to post
Share on other sites

ha...you're probably in my age group, but the lowest I remember Testors paint was 15 cents...in fact I may still have a bottle or two somewhere in a box...:)

 

OK, I got some rustoleum flat white & black and did all the six spots. I'll wait for it to dry tomorrow and try it out.

 

If,it is per chance a bit too glossy mix it very well and reapply. The flattening is done with a paste that readily sinks to the bottom. If you bought the Rust Oleum you have enough left for several thousand more lenses or a nice wrought iron fence.

 

:D

Link to post
Share on other sites

Using a black Sharpie, I've successfully coded for my m240-

 

1) Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm f/2.0

2) Rayqual adapter on Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm f/2.5

 

In both cases I only did the black bits, and nothing for the white.

 

all working as expected.

 

Gotta say that Color-Heliar 75mm is the perfect partner to my 35FLE for a minimal travel kit.

Link to post
Share on other sites

OK...it still didn't work.

I went back to my Ebay purchase order and noticed one possible problem. Although all the screw holes align and the ring fits perfectly on my lens, the product descriptions says

"6 bit flange adapter for Leica M8 M9 lens 35mm 135mm"

6 Bit Flange Adapter for Leica M8 M9 Lens 35mm 135mm | eBay

 

I just checked and there is a similar ring with the title description

"6 bit flange adapter for Leica M8 M9 lens 50mm 75mm"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141167596330?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Did I simply order the wrong part?

Edited by peterjcb
Link to post
Share on other sites

If you bought the 35mm adapter for a 50mm lens, then yes, it is the wrong one. But in that case I would expect it to ring up the 35mm framelines instead of the 50mm ones - does it?

 

However, regardless of the framelines, you should still get a 6 but code passed through to the camera. Unless of course the location of the code on the lens doesn't match up with the sensor on the camera....

Link to post
Share on other sites

If I remember correctly, which flange you purchase depends on YOUR version of the 50 Summicron. The screw holes are in different positions on some versions and not every flange is available. Besides (don't hang me for saying this but) it is not absolutely necessary to code a 50 mm lens on a M8. Only 35 mm and lower require the code as you are only using a portion of the image circle and correcting for fall-off is unnecessary.

Link to post
Share on other sites

OK...it still didn't work.

I went back to my Ebay purchase order and noticed one possible problem. Although all the screw holes align and the ring fits perfectly on my lens, the product descriptions says

"6 bit flange adapter for Leica M8 M9 lens 35mm 135mm"

6 Bit Flange Adapter for Leica M8 M9 Lens 35mm 135mm | eBay

 

I just checked and there is a similar ring with the title description

"6 bit flange adapter for Leica M8 M9 lens 50mm 75mm"

6 Bit Flange Adapter for Leica M8 M9 Lens 50mm 75mm | eBay

 

Did I simply order the wrong part?

If you want the correct flange, I have one I bought for my Summicron 50. I could never get it adjusted correctly on my lens so that it did not bind the focusing. I gave up and sent my 50 to DAG and he put the correct flange on and did a CLA on my lens. If you will PM me your address, I will mail it to you and you can mail me postage or whatever. If it does not work, just toss it.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

To work both the flange and six bit code must match plus of course you must use the correct hole spacing and correct flange for your focal length. I bought three Jin flanges and all work great on the M9 and not at all on the M240 no matter what I do - go figures

Link to post
Share on other sites

To work both the flange and six bit code must match plus of course you must use the correct hole spacing and correct flange for your focal length. I bought three Jin flanges and all work great on the M9 and not at all on the M240 no matter what I do - go figures

 

thanks for the info...the hole spacing is spot on, no problem. I lined up the existing flange that was on the lens with the 35 /135 flange that I purchased and upon very close examination I noticed some very slight difference in the construction. It is not very obvious but still there. So I"m guessing that the flange that I have is incorrect and even though the coding that I did is correct, it still will not recognize because of the difference in the flange construction.

 

Bill is sending me the extra correct flange that he has and in the meantime I still ordered the 50 75mm flange from China but that will take 2-3 weeks to get. I'm hoping that I can make Bills flange work. If it is correct then I'm sure I'll get it working as I'm very good fixing mechanical things and figuring out problems.:)

Link to post
Share on other sites

I downloaded an M8 manual and was reading through it a bit this evening and found something quite interesting that I don't quite understand....

 

The below excerpt is taken from page 20 of the Official Leica M8 manual:

 

"Leica M lenses

 

Essentially, most Leica M lenses can be used with the

LEICA M8. Details on the small number of exceptions

and restrictions can be found in the following notes.

Important:

• Cannot be used:

Hologon 15mm f/8,

Summicron 50mm f/2 with close focusing.

Elmar 90mm f/4 with collapsible tube (production

period 1954-1968)"

 

"When using a lens without 6-bit coding, the recognition

function of the camera must always be turned off,

to prevent malfunctions."

 

My lens is a 50mm Summicron-M f2 is this possibly the reason why it won't recognize? Also, do I have to turn of lens recognition when using it on my M8. So far I haven't had any issues with taking photos.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Unless you gave the specific Summicron lens from the 50s with the close focusing adapter, no this is not the reason. This particular lens has physical restrictions that make mounting the lens not possible. More details at http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-f2-dr.htm

Link to post
Share on other sites

To work both the flange and six bit code must match plus of course you must use the correct hole spacing and correct flange for your focal length. I bought three Jin flanges and all work great on the M9 and not at all on the M240 no matter what I do - go figures

 

When the M8 was released a 'Sharpie' was good enough to code the lens. When the M9 came out it needed a much more opaque black than the standard Sharpie to recognise the lens, so paint. When the M240 came out it needed a very dense flat black, and for some people the white filling in as well.

 

To the OP, there is no reason at all your Summicron should not work if everything is fitted correctly and painted correctly. The Chinese manufacturer isn't going to set up a production run that leads to all the adapters coming back as faulty, they can make things accurately. So it is down to choosing the correct hole pattern, choosing the correct paint, and eliminating any other possibility, so try an alternative 50mm code to see if that is recognised, and even colour in the white segments in matt white just in case. A process of elimination.

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

Unless you gave the specific Summicron lens from the 50s with the close focusing adapter, no this is not the reason. This particular lens has physical restrictions that make mounting the lens not possible. More details at LEICA 50mm f/2 SUMMICRON with Near-Focusing Range (1956-1968)

 

thanks for the clarificatrion!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...