steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Share #1 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just got my 50mm Summicron back from NJ. It's the early to mid '70's version from Wetzlar. It's been 6-bit coded by Leica. However there's a big screw in the middle of the coding. As a result the coding doesn't work - or at least the lens doesn't show up in info. It seems odd they'd 6-bit code a lens if it's not going to work. Or, is it just me? Since they decided it also needed a thorough cleaning it ended up costing a bunch. Oh, and the new flange has no new red mark for aligning the lens to the camera. I'm going to call them in the morning, but I'm interested if anybody else has run into this? Thanks, John Fulton, Fort Worth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Hi steamboat, Take a look here 50mm Summicron 6-bit coded just back from New Jersey. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
DwF Posted January 21, 2009 Share #2 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Dare I say, that is scary news!!! I hope it's just you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest malland Posted January 21, 2009 Share #3  Posted January 21, 2009 You might want to have a look at:  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/75724-petition-initiating-m8-lens-identification-firmware.html  —Mitch/Potomac, MD Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project - a set on Flickr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 21, 2009 Share #4  Posted January 21, 2009 Could you post a picture of the lens from the side and one of the coding.  Is it the 50mm Cron that has the wide flange like the one pictured below.  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  If it is like the one above I didn't think Leica would code this lens. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  If it is like the one above I didn't think Leica would code this lens. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/74743-50mm-summicron-6-bit-coded-just-back-from-new-jersey/?do=findComment&comment=785286'>More sharing options...
35mmSummicron Posted January 21, 2009 Share #5  Posted January 21, 2009 Hi,  I thought I might share my 50mm Wetzlar Summicron coding experience.  I had the lens coded by Leica NJ. I am told they replaced the mount and since the code runs into one of the screws, it looks like the technician had to drill the pits by hand???  Its not quite as 'clean' as other coded lenses that I own, however the work was done by Leica.  When I got the lens back the head of the screw had paint covering it, and with use it eventually wore off (I'm guessing cuz the screw protrudes VERY VERY slightly). Now I just take a Sharpie marker occasionally and make the screw head black. Seems to work as my files read as 50mm F2.  The red dot on my lens is on the actual lens, and not the mount--maybe you just lost yours?  Hope this helps.  /a  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!   Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!   ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/74743-50mm-summicron-6-bit-coded-just-back-from-new-jersey/?do=findComment&comment=785303'>More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 21, 2009 Share #6 Â Posted January 21, 2009 John-- 1) I take it that your Summicron is one of the three shown in the Leica 6-bit code list as out of production but still codable? Â 2) Like Ed, I understood that lenses with a screw that would interfere with the six-bit code would not be coded. Â 3) It sounds as if Leica messed up by coding something that can't be effectively coded. I suggest a phone call. (Maybe you just need to pile on a gob more paint to be sure that no light sneaks under the screw location to confuse the camera.) Â 4) But then /a says they did the same for his 50/2, which is probably the same as yours, so Ed's and my understanding must be wrong. Â 5) I think /a is probably right that you may have lost the red dot from the lens. Often Leica will send you one of those at no charge if you request it. (It wasn't uncommon for those orange-ish dots to go their own way.) Â 6) As I said, I'd call Customer Service and get details from them. And please keep us posted, since we've all got something to learn here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #7 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wow - all of you are the BEST. "35mm Summicron" pointed to the exact problem with the wonderful photo. The back of my lens looks as yours, except my screw is not painted black. The screw doesn't seem to protrude at all - it just hasn't been painted. Painting it should fix it, right? Hating to go over old ground, it needs to be painted with something "blacker" and more matt than a standard Sharpie brand marker, correct? John Fulton, Fort Worth Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 21, 2009 Share #8 Â Posted January 21, 2009 It's interesting that there's a hole in the middle of the code and that it's in the middle of a run of black segments. Painting the screw matt/flat back should fix it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted January 21, 2009 Share #9 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Interesting, I have two 50mm Summicrons - one with a wide flange and the other a tabbed one with the narrow flange. Leica in the UK told me that the wide flange lens (identical to yours) couldn't be coded so I had the other one done instead. It looks as if Leica USA did a "special" and machined your original flange since I was told no replacement wide flanges were available. Does the flange on your coded lens show the same wear marks as the original? Â Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 21, 2009 Share #10 Â Posted January 21, 2009 John--Â Â 2) Like Ed, I understood that lenses with a screw that would interfere with the six-bit code would not be coded. Â Actually Howard normally if there is a screw in the way of the coding the mount that is replaced is missing that screw. What might be happening is Leica has stopped replacing mounts and now just mills the indents into the original mount or one that was taken off another lens. Otherwise they would have a load of mount laying around and it is more cost effective to mill it themselves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #11 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Mine with the screw in the coding, is a brand new mount. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 21, 2009 Share #12  Posted January 21, 2009 I had the lens coded by Leica NJ. I am told they replaced the mount and since the code runs into one of the screws, it looks like the technician had to drill the pits by hand??? Its not quite as 'clean' as other coded lenses that I own, however the work was done by Leica. /a-- This is fascinating. I didn't know Leica would even attempt to do a lens if it had a screw where the 6-bit coding would go; I've got two lenses that I haven't sent in for that reason, but now I'm thinking I ought to send them in for a try.  You say you 'had the lens coded' by Allendale. Did you send it yourself or have a dealer do it?  Recently or some time ago? (Wondering if the same technician might have handled both your and John's lenses.)  You say 'you were told' that they replaced the mount. By whom?  The thing that most bothers me is that you say the job is 'not quite as "clean"' as that on your other lenses.  That doesn't sound Leica-like to me, and judging from your post, I think it seems a bit strange to you as well.  I don't doubt what you say, and your photos are an excellent illustration. But as I mentioned above, it's really interesting if Leica does do some lenses with a screw in the way but not others. Thanks for posting your experience! This is a good chance for me to learn something.  And it looks as if they at least sometimes do this lens and may or may not paint the screw properly: We live and learn, particularly with Leica! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmSummicron Posted January 21, 2009 Share #13 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Hi, Â Let me try to clear up my previous post with more info. Â John Fulton: Yes, I just use a Sharpie marker to 'paint' the screw head black--the key is to really get in there and cover the '+' phillips head black as well. its not 100% ideal, but it works... Â To others: The work was done by Leica NJ in Allendale about a year ago. It was first sent to my local service center (Kindermann) to address an unrelated back focus issue on the M8. Kindermann does not shim lenses so they sent it down to Leica NJ, where they also coded the lens as a separate charge. The mount is new, and I describe the coding as "not as 'clean' looking" because if you look at the picture, you will see the part that the screw head intersects, the black code (making up 3bits of the code) is essentially a big black blob, as opposed to say my 28mm Summicron where there are CLEAR 6 small bits. Â Personally I don't really care since the work was done by Leica, and it does do the job, I just thought I'd share my observations and experience. Â hope this helps. Â andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #14 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Thanks, Andy. All clear for me. There was another question raised about why they (apparently) cannot do this in UK. That would be out of my jurisdiction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 21, 2009 Share #15 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Another thought on this. Could be Leica is now milling coding indents on all mounting flanges for all Leica lenses. That way they do not have to include a manual lens code selection option in the firmware. If it's a Leica lens it can be coded, so no need to offer the user a menu option for manual input of FL & f/stop. If you're using lenses from some other maker that is up to you how you get the camera to see what lens it mounted. Â The lens I posted pictures of clearly was not codeable when the M8 was first introduced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted January 21, 2009 Share #16 Â Posted January 21, 2009 I just got my 50mm Summicron back from NJ. It's the early to mid '70's version from Wetzlar. It's been 6-bit coded by Leica. However there's a big screw in the middle of the coding. As a result the coding doesn't work - or at least the lens doesn't show up in info. It seems odd they'd 6-bit code a lens if it's not going to work. Or, is it just me? Since they decided it also needed a thorough cleaning it ended up costing a bunch. Oh, and the new flange has no new red mark for aligning the lens to the camera. I'm going to call them in the morning, but I'm interested if anybody else has run into this? Thanks, John Fulton, Fort Worth. I'm interested in knowing if you've noticed any differences in your images since coding. Other than metadata information on the lens used I'm hearing it is a waste of money and time to code anything over the 35 but I'd like to hear it from someone who has actually done it. Coding made a noticeable difference in my 21 but I'm holding back on my 35, 50 and 75 until I hear that it has improved the image quality in some way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #17 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Offshore--I'll let you know if I come up with anything. Understand I've just converted my Leica "system" to digital (M8.2) so any comparisons would be with Tri-X film, which just doesn't compare. I don't think I made any photographs with the 50mm on the M8.2 "before" I had it converted. I'm mainly doing it to keep track of which lens is used for what. Â Shootist--the lens you showed and my lens look to be matches. Mine is a 50mm f2.0 Leitz Wetzlar. S/N is 2331xxx. Â BTW, I've been told they CANNOT do my 2nd gen 28mm f2.8 Elmarit. But, yesterday they said they could do the 90mm f2.8 tele-elmarit. Since there appears to be a screw very near where the coding would be I'm a bit leery of sending off the tele-Elmarit. Â Oh (sorry I'm rambling) the 50mm NOW works since "modifying" the screw with a black Sharpie. The "50mm" shows fine in 'info'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
35mmSummicron Posted January 21, 2009 Share #18  Posted January 21, 2009 Glad I could help  Happy shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steamboat Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #19 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Leica NJ says, about the 90mm tele-Elmarit "The mount for the 90 Tele-Elmarit is special also. The replacement 90 mount eliminates the screw through the six bit coding, so you will not have an issue with a "silver" screw." That's just an FYI for anybody interested. Thanks, again to all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted January 21, 2009 Share #20 Â Posted January 21, 2009 Leica NJ says, about the 90mm tele-Elmarit "The mount for the 90 Tele-Elmarit is special also. The replacement 90 mount eliminates the screw through the six bit coding, so you will not have an issue with a "silver" screw." That's just an FYI for anybody interested. Thanks, again to all! That's good to know. Leica UK told me my 90mm tele-Elmarit couldn't be coded, so I'll chase them up on that. Even if it's only to get the lens info in the EXIF data since coding wouldn't make much difference to this lens. Â BTW the #12575 long hood for the tele-Elmarit works very well with the 35mm ASPH Summicron on the M8. The front entrance pupil of the 35mm must be sufficiently far forward that the hood doesn't vignette. Â Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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