Coding lenses

[geoffreyg]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Does anyone know if Leica still offers their service to code older lenses? Do they do it in NJ, or back in Germany?

 

If not, what is the best thing to do?

 

Do the hand-coaters hold up? I seem to recall Millich or someone would mill the flange to make recess so the hand-applied coding inks would stay in place longer.

 

In short, recommendations, please.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Dougg]

Hi - This past Spring I sent my v.1 35 Summicron (which I've had since new in 1967) to DAG for CLA, focus adjustment, and 6-bit coding. The coding was $95, and is just like the factory coding on my new 35 Summilux Asph. I believe Don sends the flanges to John Milich for milling the coding slots.

 

I've had some other lenses coded through this same process, all very professionally done, some a bit less $$, perhaps due to easier flange removal. I also have a Milich bronze thread-to-M adapter that came with blank milled coding slots, which I then filled/coded with black and white nail polish.

[hoppyman]

Geoffrey yes, currently in Solms most Leica M lenses can be coded. There is a list of the codable ones (and a few exceptions) on their website.

Leica Camera AG - Service - M lens coding

 

You can of course email Customer Service and ask about your specific lenses if wanted.

My experience with the hand coding was not good (unreliable, wears quickly). A friend reported that he ended up with particles of dried ink on his sensor. However others report that they are happy.

You will be able to find J Milich with a web search and he does very fine work.

Sorry, it's policy here that we members should not publish email adresses directly.

I have been extremely happy with his work on Zeiss lenses for me in the past.

 

Sorry I can't speak about what is done or offered in Leica NJ

 

 

Does anyone know if Leica still offers their service to code older lenses? Do they do it in NJ, or back in Germany?

 

If not, what is the best thing to do?

 

Do the hand-coaters hold up? I seem to recall Millich or someone would mill the flange to make recess so the hand-applied coding inks would stay in place longer.

 

In short, recommendations, please.

[lct]

...I seem to recall Millich or someone would mill the flange to make recess so the hand-applied coding inks would stay in place longer. ... recommendations, please.

See: Contact John Milich

[john_newell]

See: Contact John Milich

 

Totally, unequivocally agree. He's the best.

[Dougg]

Totally, unequivocally agree. He's the best.

Agreed... But I send my lenses to DAG, and he removes the flange, sends it to John Milich for machining, replaces the flange, and does a focus adjustment as necessary. Mr Milich made the point to me that he's a machinist, not a camera/lens repair technician. So, if the lens needs adjustment or other service, I like DAG in the loop. Also, he has the right skills and screwdrivers to remove the flanges more cleanly than I, and not losing, stripping, or breaking screws in the process!

[J_Thompson]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Dougg, what was the turnaround time for the DAG lens coding? $95.00 is certainly a fair price for all that work.

[Dougg]

Dougg, what was the turnaround time for the DAG lens coding? $95.00 is certainly a fair price for all that work.

Hi John -- I sent a goggled 35/2.8 Summaron for CLA, the above v.1 35/2 Summicron for both coding and CLA, and a 35/1.4 Summilux ASPH went along just for possible focus adjustments. My notes on the Summicron work:

 

3/30/10 Sent to DAG, back on 5/17/10. 6-bit coding to 000110 as older Summicron $95, CLA $135; “Basically, all your Leitz lenses were out of focus & by adjusting the focus, I was able to improve all of them. And the lenses that I cleaned the optics in also improved the sharpness & overall optical quality.”

 

As a point of interest, the 1965-vintage Summicron was bought new in 1967 and got a CLA in 2007 by my local repair tech. He said he found that it had been assembled wrong, with the focusing helix one thread off. So it was mis-focusing by just enough to be visible wide open. But I so rarely used it wide open I never noticed. In preliminary conversation with DAG he expressed doubts about my local tech's adjustment. As I recall he figured one thread change would make a pretty big focus difference. But DAG's commentary on the work didn't mention setting the helix back a thread, so I'll take it my local guy had been right about the assembly error.

[wstotler]

Does anyone know if Leica still offers their service to code older lenses? Do they do it in NJ, or back in Germany?

 

NJ can do it--but only for newer lenses. I learned the hard way that they do have a list of lenses they can and will code. If you want to use them you should check your lenses against this list before shipping them.

 

 

If not, what is the best thing to do?

 

Don Goldberg (DAG) does a fine job. He recently coded my CV 35mm f/1.2, Elmar 135mm f/4 (1960s), and 90mm Summicron, Type II (1960s). Quick, efficient, and did a CLA on the 135mm and 90mm while he was at it. Pricing was quite reasonable. Everything was securely packaged for sending back to me. Very happy.

 

 

Do the hand-coaters hold up? I seem to recall Millich or someone would mill the flange to make recess so the hand-applied coding inks would stay in place longer.

 

Coders are good for immediate gratification and, IMO, a stop-gap measure. It's cheap to use them and others have written it's easy to "recode on the fly" when the coding wears off. But I can say that I'm glad I don't have to carry the coding kit into the field (in case coding goes bad) and also that I won't ever be in a position where I have to tell a subject: "Uh, hold on for a few minutes? I went to change my lens and my coding rubbed off. I have to re-code it before we can continue." Would destroy the flow of the shoot by breaking rapport. Yuck. But that's just me and not you.

 

For permanency--if you can afford the time away from the lenses and also the price--have the lenses properly and permanently coded. I can say that I'm loving the EXIF data I'm getting back from my newly coded lenses and color handling has improved slightly, also.

 

Good luck!

 

Cheers!

Will

[hoppyman]

Geoffrey I can now add that I have had previous dealing with John Milich with perfect results and I very recently emailed him for an updated price list. I got an immediate reply and then sent (internationally) two new lens flanges for machining. Today they came home. They must have been turned around in his workshop in no more than a day or two. The work is (again) perfectly executed to the highest standards. Handling was also meticulous with each flange returning in its individual, labelled zip lock back that I sent.

 

I recommend his work without reservation.

 

As I think someone mentioned, John is a machinist so, if a lens requires some optical adjustment or repair etc you need to deal with an expert in those fields.

 

By the way, that's a nice first name you have there

[zombii]

 

Do the hand-coaters hold up? I seem to recall Millich or someone would mill the flange to make recess so the hand-applied coding inks would stay in place longer.

 

 

I've hand coded a number of lenses with the Match Technical kit. Some lenses are a little harder than others to get the marks in the right spot but overall it's pretty easy. As for the marks wearing off, none of mine have so far. Unless you're rubbing your fingers over the marks, I don't really see why they would. If necessary, you can remove the marks with alcohol in the event you get them in the wrong spot or want to try a different lens profile. I've seen references to lenses that "can't be coded" but I've never seen a reason why they can't be. Even the ones with screws in the space probably can be with a little care.

[wda]

Agreed... But I send my lenses to DAG, and he removes the flange, sends it to John Milich for machining, replaces the flange, and does a focus adjustment as necessary. Mr Milich made the point to me that he's a machinist, not a camera/lens repair technician. So, if the lens needs adjustment or other service, I like DAG in the loop. Also, he has the right skills and screwdrivers to remove the flanges more cleanly than I, and not losing, stripping, or breaking screws in the process!

Please forgive my slight diversion, but who in the UK does comparable quality work on older Leica lenses as an alternative to shipping back to 'Solms?

[jaapv]

I don't know about the UK, but if you send it 80 miles across the North Sea, Will van Manen (Kameraservice) does.

[braeside]

Please forgive my slight diversion, but who in the UK does comparable quality work on older Leica lenses as an alternative to shipping back to 'Solms?

 

I highly recommend:

 

Malcolm Taylor

Upper Lye Farm

Amestrey

Herefordshire

HR6 9SZ

UK

 

01568 770542

 

He did CLA and coding on my 1984 50mm Summicron.

 

Malcolm is a very knowledgeable person and an excellent engineer.

He has all the equipment.

 

Give him a call and I think you will be very pleased by his work.