Help with older M lenses and M8

[kzooleica]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

 

I'm seriously considering a used M8 but want to get a sense of what I would have to do to get all of my old equipment working with it.

 

The lenses:

Summilux 35 mm 1.4

Elmarit 28 2.8

Elmarit 90 2.8

 

I assume I need to get everything coded. How do I do that? And how long does it take?

And I need to get the filters. How much will those cost?

 

Finally, I also have an SF20 flash. Can I used that with an M8 or M8.2?

 

Thanks for your collective wisdom.

[stunsworth]

You will need the filter for all the lenses. Either Leica ones or B+W 486 filters - I'm sure there'll be Hoya equivalents, but I don't know the code.

 

Coding is not absolutely necessary with the 90mm.

 

Leica can't code the 35mm Summilux - I assume it's the pre-ASPH version. However there are third party repair shops that will mill the necessary coding pits for you to fill with black ink/paint etc. Malcolm Taylor in the UK can do this and I'm sure there are similar people in North America who can provide the service. It may be worthwhile trying the lens before sending it off. I have the same lens and I've found no problems when using it uncoded.

 

The 35mm takes a Series VII filter in the lens hood. If you find that difficult to filnd you can also use a normal 49mm filter.

 

I've no experience with the older 28mm I'm afraid.

[jaapv]

You will have to get your 28 coded, the 35 is debatable, The 90 is no problem without coding. You can have it done by Leica, but there are plenty of services offering to mill the mount to enable you to code yourself, and you can hand-code, but that meets with varying success. The SF20D flash will work on M and A.

Edit: one minute slower than Steve:(

[Jark89]

Hello, I've read that 35mm is the borderline for lens coding. And indeed, I have not seen any problems with my older 35 Summicron.

[chris_livsey]

This link will tell you about coding and has a link on the RHS to a pdf file listing the lenses which vary by age as to coding possibilities.

I did send an Elmarit 90mm SN 380**** off for coding, just for the exif data and I felt like it but Leica wanted to charge as much to service/calbrate the lens which I hadn't asked for before coding as I paid for it so I had it sent back. Several weeks delay for coding.

You can use the SF20, as stated, but read the threads on that and the SF24 as it's lots of fun getting results that are predictable.

Look for S/H filters, quite a few about now as M8 users have gone to M9 and are selling off filters. Often dealers only list the big ticket items on line and if you ring they have lots of small stuff they can't be bothered to put on.

 

http://en.leica-camera.com/service/service_and_repair/6bit_code/

[archi4]

The 35mm summilux has a black anti reflection shroud around the rear element.

On some examples of this lens it prevents focusing to infinity on the M8. A technician can modify the shroud.

If you mount the lens on the M8, set the focus well away from infinity and when mounted focus carefully to infinity without forcing. If it won't focus all the way, you have to have the shroud grinded down.

The two examples I have owned previously didn't have this problem so I was lucky.

I never had them coded, and never had a real problem.

Maurice

[etp095]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

This link will tell you about coding and has a link on the RHS to a pdf file listing the lenses which vary by age as to coding possibilities.

I did send an Elmarit 90mm SN 380**** off for coding, just for the exif data and I felt like it but Leica wanted to charge as much to service/calbrate the lens which I hadn't asked for before coding as I paid for it so I had it sent back. Several weeks delay for coding.

You can use the SF20, as stated, but read the threads on that and the SF24 as it's lots of fun getting results that are predictable.

Look for S/H filters, quite a few about now as M8 users have gone to M9 and are selling off filters. Often dealers only list the big ticket items on line and if you ring they have lots of small stuff they can't be bothered to put on.

 

Leica Camera AG - Service - M lens coding

 

chrisL

how much did leica want for the calibration/service the lens?

 

i called leica in New Jersey a few weeks ago about 6bit coding,they told me $175 bucks.

[chris_livsey]

chrisL

how much did leica want for the calibration/service the lens?

 

i called leica in New Jersey a few weeks ago about 6bit coding,they told me $175 bucks.

 

Coding has increased since I had it done, I was a fairly early adopter, from memory the service was around £400 ie $600 then plus coding. I have no issues of lens casts with the 90 without coding. It is my least used lens I'm a wide man at heart but have use it for sons soccer shots, yes with a Leica. He has one as a screen background. I do use a filter and although B+W are excellent and the only choice I think for some non Leica glass I would stick to Leica as there are subtle differences. Again search for threads. You have the advantage coming to the party later of accumulated knowledge gained, sometimes painfully, on the M8 since launch. Don't be put off though the results are excellent.

[luigi bertolotti]

Warning on the Elmarit 28... is a lens that had many variants and some of them (the oldest ones) CANNOT be factory coded... my one (3.168.146 - 1982) is such... and hand coding works bad, for there is a screw along the "bit stripe".

[epand56]

Hello, I've read that 35mm is the borderline for lens coding. And indeed, I have not seen any problems with my older 35 Summicron.

 

My Summilux 35mm f:1.4 Aspherical is uncoded. Never had a problem with it. You only see a very light vignetting when taking pictures in very light landscapes such as in winter with snow. But nothing that can't be fixed in any DNG-RAW application.

The Elmarit 90/2.8 is perfect even uncoded. A great lens if I can say.

[kzooleica]

Thanks very much to all of you! I look forward to - hopefully - sharing my experience and images with you.