Lens Coding

[t0tor0]

Hi all:

I am thinking about the lens coding issue with the M8.

From what I have gathered, it seems to be a rather long wait to send M-lens, get it coded, and back again.

Isn't possible for Leica to code just the mount of the various M-lenses and sell these mount? We can then just replace the mount ourselves.

I guess it would only be slightly more expensive as compared to sending the lens and back again. Most importantly, I guess (or hope) that this would be faster.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

[carstenw]

The lens mount is a part of the total system, and for accuracy, there is some adjustment needed after it has been replaced. This cannot be done at home.

It is possible that, with a bit of care, one could remove the mount, send it away to have it coded, and then reattach it, but I am not familiar enough with the tolerances and the construction to say if adjustment would still be needed. John Milich has offered such a service (except for the code's paint, which you would need to apply yourself).

[sisoje]

Originally Posted by t0tor0

Hi all:

I am thinking about the lens coding issue with the M8.

From what I have gathered, it seems to be a rather long wait to send M-lens, get it coded, and back again.

Isn't possible for Leica to code just the mount of the various M-lenses and sell these mount? We can then just replace the mount ourselves.

I guess it would only be slightly more expensive as compared to sending the lens and back again. Most importantly, I guess (or hope) that this would be faster.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

I did what you suggesting... Only with my Zeiss ZM lenses. With help of John Milich my Zeiss glass works like a charm... Leica lens in NJ for coding? After more than a month I am still with out my 21mm/2.8....

P.S. I did change the mounts on Zeiss ZM at my kitchen table. Still sharp...

[xrogers]

John Milich does excellent work, send him your lens flanges.

I sent John three lens flanges (35 cron, 21 elmarit, and 90 cron) last Friday, priority mail. I got the flanges back yesterday (Thursday) priority mail, so a six day turnaround including shipping.

The flanges are exactly as before, just with six small pits milled into them. The pits are very cleanly and uniformly cut. The ends of the pits are semicircles, while the Leica pits are more squared off. Otherwise, they look just like the Leica pits.

I filled in the pits as described in Carsten's guide with flat black and gloss white paint last night (it's what I had on hand), let it dry for an hour or so, and scraped off excess with a box cutter blade. I used trimmed down 29 cent paintbrushes to apply the paint. I let it dry overnight, and reinstalled the flanges.

One point---on many lenses, if you just tighten down the flanges, you get some slight binding on focusing. Tighten the flange snugly, and back of each screw a quarter turn or so. Focus the lens through its travel several times, and without touching the flange, snug up the screws, and then tighten them fully. No more binding.

Anyhow, all the lenses are recognized just as if they had Leica flanges. The coding is clean, professional looking and effective. Coding for three lenses cost me $75, plus $20 for insured priority return shipping (regular mail shipping costs nothing extra), and took exactly one week start to finish. It was almost too easy.

And to top it off, my 55 IR filter arrived while I was writing this message. My 21 is very happy.

Email jm at milich dot com for details. He's responsive, and his work is highly recommended.

--clyde

[ttriolo]

Originally Posted by xrogers

John Milich does excellent work, send him your lens flanges.

I sent John three lens flanges (35 cron, 21 elmarit, and 90 cron) last Friday, priority mail. I got the flanges back yesterday (Thursday) priority mail, so a six day turnaround including shipping.

The flanges are exactly as before, just with six small pits milled into them. The pits are very cleanly and uniformly cut. The ends of the pits are semicircles, while the Leica pits are more squared off. Otherwise, they look just like the Leica pits.

I filled in the pits as described in Carsten's guide with flat black and gloss white paint last night (it's what I had on hand), let it dry for an hour or so, and scraped off excess with a box cutter blade. I used trimmed down 29 cent paintbrushes to apply the paint. I let it dry overnight, and reinstalled the flanges.

One point---on many lenses, if you just tighten down the flanges, you get some slight binding on focusing. Tighten the flange snugly, and back of each screw a quarter turn or so. Focus the lens through its travel several times, and without touching the flange, snug up the screws, and then tighten them fully. No more binding.

Anyhow, all the lenses are recognized just as if they had Leica flanges. The coding is clean, professional looking and effective. Coding for three lenses cost me $75, plus $20 for insured priority return shipping (regular mail shipping costs nothing extra), and took exactly one week start to finish. It was almost too easy.

And to top it off, my 55 IR filter arrived while I was writing this message. My 21 is very happy.

Email jm at milich dot com for details. He's responsive, and his work is highly recommended.

--clyde

Does anyone know what Leica charges for coding and the current turn-around time? Sending flanges only is not an option with Leica I'd imagine. Correct? Are any adjustments included with the service?

[marknorton]

For most lenses, the bayonet ring is mounted directly on the back of the lens. 5 or 6 screws (P000 to remove) and it's off and the ring is replaced.

It's a 5 minute job. I've never really understood why Leica make such a big deal of it. It's said the lens is put on a test rig - lens mount with lens sensor and (presumably) some PC interface to verify the recognition of it. It's also said the lens is cleaned, externally, and the dozen or so lenses I have sent for coding have come back in good order.

So why don't Leica allow do-it-youself lens coding, or at least coding outside Solms/Leica UK/Leica NJ? Lost of theories...

- No test rig
- Incorrect mount will be fitted
- Mashed screw-heads
- Original mounts in "free" circulation
- Lens checks not carried out.

Who knows? There's talk here about lens "shimming", meaning the adjustment of the lens to focal plane by fitting spacing disks under the lens mount. I've never seen any evidence of them,

It's a mystery.

[carstenw]

I suspect that Leica may modify the mounts themselves directly, since they don't code the existing mounts after removal, but simply replace them.

[marknorton]

Carsten, I'm not sure what you mean "may modify the mounts directly".

[pekem]

Originally Posted by marknorton

So why don't Leica allow do-it-youself lens coding, or at least coding outside Solms/Leica UK/Leica NJ? Lost of theories... It's a mystery.

If I were Leica I would not want to underwrite any warranty if modifications were undertaken outside of my control. And it is conceivable that Leica could have a legal liabilty for a product beyond the period of a standard warranty so again it would be wise to insist that repairs are undertaken by an approved workshop.

[marknorton]

Maybe, but the coding could be entrusted to a wider pool of qualified trusted agents to reduce turnaround times.

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by marknorton

There's talk here about lens "shimming", meaning the adjustment of the lens to focal plane by fitting spacing disks under the lens mount. I've never seen any evidence of them

I did.
My Summilux 75, still under guaranty, was send to Solms to have the M8 backfocus adjusted.
As i noticed that the focus adjustment has to be done on the body itself, i asked the lens to be coded, so it didn't make the journey in vain.
It cames back with a spacing disk, about 0,3mm thick.

[marknorton]

Interesting, just checked my 75/1.4 and, sure enough, there one is. But I don't see why that would change with a replacement lens mount.

[Philippe D.]

Originally Posted by marknorton

Maybe, but the coding could be entrusted to a wider pool of qualified trusted agents to reduce turnaround times.

I think they do.
A Leica repair shop in Paris/France (Procirep) is able to encode some lenses, but not all, at this time.
That's the list of lenses to be coded they published last June:
Elmarit Asph 2,8/21 mm (ref 11135 & 11897)
Elmarit Asph 2,8/24 mm (ref 11878 & 11898)
Elmarit 2,8/28 mm (ref 11809)
Summicron Asph 2/35 mm (ref 11879 & 11882)
Summicron 2/50 mm (ref 11826 & 11816)
All other lenses have to be send to Solms.

[gravastar]

Originally Posted by Philippe D.

I think they do.
A Leica repair shop in Paris/France (Procirep) is able to encode some lenses, but not all, at this time.
That's the list of lenses to be coded they published last June:
Elmarit Asph 2,8/21 mm (ref 11135 & 11897)
Elmarit Asph 2,8/24 mm (ref 11878 & 11898)
Elmarit 2,8/28 mm (ref 11809)
Summicron Asph 2/35 mm (ref 11879 & 11882)
Summicron 2/50 mm (ref 11826 & 11816)
All other lenses have to be send to Solms.

That looks like the same list I managed to gleen from Leica UK. They managed to do all of them without sending to Solms except for an early 50mm tabbed Summicron. Ooops... they managed to do a 28mm ASPH Summicron as well.

Bob.

[howard_cummer]

Coding is also done at the Leica Store repair facility (second floor) in the Ginza in Tokyo Japan with the exception of lenses like the 50mm Summilux Asph, the 75 Summilux and one or two others which are still sent to Solms.
Cheers
Howard

[stunsworth]

The Nocti, 75mm Summicron and 28/35/50 Tri-Elmar are also sent to Solms.

[HetDraakje]

Originally Posted by howard_cummer

Coding is also done at the Leica Store repair facility (second floor) in the Ginza in Tokyo Japan

Do you know if one can just walk in and wait for them to finish the coding? I will probably be in Tokio for a couple of days in the beginning of November.

Boen

[gabriel]

In the UK I have found that if you call Leica service in Milton Keynes beforehand and check the availability of the coded mount and arrange a time suitable to them they will code while you wait..

[stunsworth]

Gabriel, that was my experience too - though in my case I arrived with some lenses and they offered to do them while I waited. It's probably a good idea to call in advance though.

MK can't change the mounts on all lenses though - those identified above for example.