Simon Baker Posted August 29, 2009 Share #1 Posted August 29, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all, I think the following info will be most useful to those in the UK, maybe Europe too, but could equally be informative to those elsewhere in the world. I recently sent two Leica optics and one Zeiss to Malcolm Taylor for six bit coding and have over the past two days received them back. For those who are not familiar with Malcolm, he is an independent Leica specialist who can carry out many repairs and mods to an extremely high standard. The three lenses were ( are ) :- 28mm 'cron ( for 6 bit coding ) 135mm APO ( for 6 bit coding and frame line modification ) 18mm Zeiss ( for 6 bit coding ) I can inform you that the work carried out is of the highest standard and everything works perfectly. The milling of the slots for the coding is as accurate as Leica's own, Malcolm "coloured - in" the slots as part of the service too, so all I needed to do when I got them back was pop the lenses on and away to go. With regard to the 18mm Zeiss, you will note in the picture that the "offending" mount screw has been covered with a carefully machined disc before the milling took place, in Malcolm's words it was not necessary but makes for an all together more professional finish. The lens has been coded as the new Leica 18mm elmar ( the lens already had the correct mount fitted ). With regard to the 135mm APO, as well as coding the lens ( to 135mm F2.8 "goggles ) the mount had to be modified to bring up the correct framelines for the coding to work. A little extra metal ( possibly bronze ? ) has been added to the mount so that this is achieved, it has also been done in such a way ( Malcolm's own decision, not a request ) that it can easily be reversed should I wish to use the lens on a film body or a FF RF when it arrives. As I have already said the standard of workmanship / craftsmanship is of the highest order and I am thoroughly impressed and pleased. With regard to the cost for this service, I offer one word .... BARGAIN . When I enquired, Leica UK quoted £120 per lens to code ( they will also only code Leica optics... understandable ) , Malcolm coded my three lenses, modified the 135's mount, and machined a disc to cover the screw on the Zeiss all for "considerably" less than Leica would have charged for "coding work only" on two lenses. If you would like to get a lens ( Leica or other brand "M" mount ) professionally code then I can thoroughly recommend Malcolm Taylor. His contact / business details are:- Malcolm Taylor Upper Lye Farm Amestrey Herefordshire HR6 9SZ UK +44 (0) 1568 770542 Regards Simon 135.pdf 28.pdf 18.pdf 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 29, 2009 Posted August 29, 2009 Hi Simon Baker, Take a look here Proper milled coding of M lenses in UK. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted August 30, 2009 Share #2 Posted August 30, 2009 Thanks for the information, I have an ageing 50mm Summilux which Leica will not code, so I'll get in touch with him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Baker Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted August 30, 2009 Thanks for the information, I have an ageing 50mm Summilux which Leica will not code, so I'll get in touch with him. Hello Mark, I am sure he will indeed code your aging summilux for you, something which as you say Leica will not do, and for a very fair fee too. Turn-around is quick too, within a few working days. Simon 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljclark Posted August 30, 2009 Share #4 Posted August 30, 2009 I gotta admit I'm impressed with the little disk over the lens mount screw. Good to know there are a few repair shops willing to code non-Leica and older-Leica lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted August 30, 2009 Share #5 Posted August 30, 2009 Malcolm's the business - I've recommended him elsewhere on the forum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 30, 2009 Share #6 Posted August 30, 2009 I too have used Malcolm in the past with excellent results. My only reservation has been, that his work though impeccable, could take a long time. Simon's experience shows that that may no longer be the case. I will now get my 135/4 Tele-Elmar done and my 90 Elmarit. Thinking about it, my M4 could also do with the VF being de-fungused. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Essemmlee Posted August 31, 2009 Share #7 Posted August 31, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) My 35 lux Pre-ASPH is with Malcolm as we speak. I hear nothing but good about his work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted August 31, 2009 Share #8 Posted August 31, 2009 I too have used Malcolm in the past with excellent results. My only reservation has been, that his work though impeccable, could take a long time. One thing to remember is that Malcolm is a one-man operation so it's really sensible to check with him on timing before sending a lens in. My experience is that he delivers on time when he has notice of the job - he has (quite reasonably) less scope for dealing with urgent jobs, however great his courtesy and good will.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 31, 2009 Share #9 Posted August 31, 2009 Simon, that is good news about a fine British craftsman. One thought, Leica MK told me that after the coded flange is fitted the lens has to be recalibrated using very expensive test equipment. In fact, certain lenses have only to be sent to Germany because they alone hold one extremely expensive calibration unit. I wonder how Malcolm deals with this post-modification aspect? This question is academic for me at present, but nonetheless of possible interest to our wider community. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 31, 2009 Share #10 Posted August 31, 2009 David, Malcolm has been taking lenses apart and putting them back together again for years. I don't think there will be a problem. Malcolm can talk the hind legs off a donkey by the way. If you start talking about Leicas expect a long telephone call. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Baker Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted August 31, 2009 Simon, that is good news about a fine British craftsman. One thought, Leica MK told me that after the coded flange is fitted the lens has to be recalibrated using very expensive test equipment. In fact, certain lenses have only to be sent to Germany because they alone hold one extremely expensive calibration unit. I wonder how Malcolm deals with this post-modification aspect? This question is academic for me at present, but nonetheless of possible interest to our wider community. David, Malcolm is to my knowledge fully equipped to calibrate most lenses, he has been servicing Leica lenses and bodies for decades, he can even provide vacuum coating facilities if required ! There may be some lenses that can only be calibrated in Solms, but I cannot answer that, however Malcolm will know if that is the case and will tell you so in advance, so be assured you will get nothing but top notch service from him. The beauty of having someone like Malcolm around is that he will carry out almost whatever you want done so long as he feels the work can be done. Leica would have coded my 28 'cron ( for £120, Malcolm charged less than half that and the work was just as good ) , they would not have coded my 135 APO nor "modified" its mount ( however they may have been prepared to change the mount to a new 28/90 ) and certainly would not have coded my 18mm Zeiss. He even modified the 135 APO mount in such a manner that the mod can easily be reversed (by himself at least ) for use on film body or FF RF, this mod he undertook without instruction from me because in his words "the mount can easily be returned to 35/135 F/Lines thus making it usable on the FF M9" . When it comes to all things Leica, Malcolm is a fountain of knowledge, his work is of an impeccable standard and his fees are very reasonable, I thoroughly recommend him, one phone call to him with your question / request and I am sure you will be too. Simon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 31, 2009 Share #12 Posted August 31, 2009 Simon and Steve, not for one moment did I question Malcolm's expertise or integrity. As I also said in my posting my question was purely academic! All the lenses that I needed coding have been done by Leica. Had I known about Malcolm he would probably have got my order. My TriElmar had to go to Solms because more than a flange needed calibration as part of the coding process. (So I was told) I repeat, I have never questioned Malcolm's ability or integrity! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted August 31, 2009 Share #13 Posted August 31, 2009 My understanding from my old friend Stuart Bean, now sadly no longer with us, who used to run H.A.Baker, the Leica dealer in Lewes and who had been the service manager at MK, was that Malcolm did work for MK on some of the older more delicate historical lenses. He did a superb job on a total rebuild of my Zeiss 35-70 Vario Sonnar, including recoating external and internal elements and getting the focus consistency on zoom even better than when it came new from Zeiss. However as I posted above, this did take 5+ months, against an estimated time of 2 to 3, which was a little inconvenient. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyril Jayant Posted February 26, 2012 Share #14 Posted February 26, 2012 I have 3 Summicrons 50mm / 35mm / 90mm which need coding . Can someone tell me the cost at Malcolm's please! Thank for the reply:D Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWatts Posted February 26, 2012 Share #15 Posted February 26, 2012 One other thing that no body has mentioned is that Malcom buys and sells all forms of Leica equiptment.I have bought two lenses from him and they were correctly priced and like new. D. Watts Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOUG66 Posted February 27, 2012 Share #16 Posted February 27, 2012 Cyril, I sugest that you phone Malcolm and ask him the cost of doing the work. be prepared for a long but interesting chat!. I have had lenses coded by him, superb work and quick turn round.at aprox half of Leica price. You will be pleasently surprised. Doug. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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