WestMichigan Posted April 20, 2011 Share #1 Posted April 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, would folks have a rough estimate for cost to have a 50mm Summicron 6 Bit Coded? Either with DAG or with Leica if anyone knows. Have an email into DAG, but reputedly busy busy man and would like a rough number sooner rather than later. Leica's site seems to say they won't code a 50 Summi of this vintage. Thx Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 20, 2011 Posted April 20, 2011 Hi WestMichigan, Take a look here Cost to code 50 Summi? (vers with focusing tab). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Xmas Posted April 20, 2011 Share #2 Posted April 20, 2011 Hi Try other US repair persons... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/176369-repair-specialists.html or use as is and hack the files on your PC for identification or buy a Dremel, there is a web template - take care though Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted April 20, 2011 Thanks Noel, Have made further inquiries. No new answers yet. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted April 20, 2011 Share #4 Posted April 20, 2011 I am not sure which version of the 50mm Summicron you mean: Version II ("rigid")? If so, Leica won't (can't?) code it. The customer service told me so when I brought one in for CLA and didn't even ask for coding. Personally I'd think twice to code this lens: there is no use to do so for picture quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted April 20, 2011 I am not sure which version of the 50mm Summicron you mean: Version II ("rigid")? If so, Leica won't (can't?) code it. The customer service told me so when I brought one in for CLA and didn't even ask for coding. Personally I'd think twice to code this lens: there is no use to do so for picture quality. HiYa- the lens in question is the 'current' version optically, but the first years of production were with a focusing tab before being redesigned. At least that is my understanding. Corrections are quite welcome! R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted April 20, 2011 Share #6 Posted April 20, 2011 O.k., this can be coded by Leica Customer's Service of course. It's rather expensive: 6 Bit-Coding:140,00 € New Calibration of the lens: 106,16 € Tax: 46,77 € All together: 292,93 €. IMO not worth it for a 50mm lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted April 20, 2011 Share #7 Posted April 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the US you can get the little indentations cut for around $100 per lens. Some technicians will arrange that for you. Others will tell you to go to a machinist. Just ask your favorite technician or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted April 21, 2011 Thanks Everyone! Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted April 21, 2011 Share #9 Posted April 21, 2011 Had a 21mm 2.8 coded by Leica NJ. $175 US, took about 4 weeks. In conversation before I sent it, they do minor adjustments, i.e. make sure it is working properly after they put it back together. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted April 21, 2011 Share #10 Posted April 21, 2011 As to your version, below is the link to Cameraquest: Leica M Lens Users Guide Scroll about 2/3rds down the page. Sounds like you have the fifth version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 21, 2011 Share #11 Posted April 21, 2011 Or do it yourself with a Dremel. First make yourself a coder template BoPhoto.com: M8 coder - simple manual handcoding of M lenses and use a couple of dabs of paint or black marker pen to test that the code will be correct. When you know where the black marks need to go (you don't need the white ones) grind little indentations out with a Dremel (practice first on a scrap piece of metal just to get the feel). Then fill with black paint. To protect the rear element while grinding cover with tape or a combination of tape and paper. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted April 21, 2011 Share #12 Posted April 21, 2011 Or do it yourself with a Dremel. ... I confess that I don't understand for which reasons people would take the risks of damaging the lens just for having a few data in the EXIF of their files. Coding a 50mm lens doesn't give you any advantage for your pictures. Sean Reid has shown that switching the lens detection off might even give the best results for 50mm, though the differences are marginal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted April 21, 2011 Share #13 Posted April 21, 2011 Hi If you have it coded even by Leica it may reduce the 2nd hand value. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted April 21, 2011 Share #14 Posted April 21, 2011 I confess that I don't understand for which reasons people would take the risks of damaging the lens just for having a few data in the EXIF of their files. Well if it costs £125 for Leica to change the mount (they don't take it off and mill the rebates, they just swap it), then its still going to cost £125 if somehow or other you totally mess up the mount and send it to Leica for replacement. Whether its worth coding in the first place is a totally separate consideration. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted April 21, 2011 Share #15 Posted April 21, 2011 I confess that I don't understand for which reasons people would take the risks of damaging the lens just for having a few data in the EXIF of their files. Coding a 50mm lens doesn't give you any advantage for your pictures. Sean Reid has shown that switching the lens detection off might even give the best results for 50mm, though the differences are marginal. Hi Uli Think of it like swapping a red dot for a black dot, & at the very least it saves time on the PC, the black dot won't. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted April 21, 2011 Share #16 Posted April 21, 2011 This is a job for DAG . I had the same lens done by him last year and the cost was around $125-150 including “real calibration” . Contrary to some expectations Leica does not calibrate lenses when doing 6 bit coding ....they do a quick check to verify that the mount has been exchanged properly . Further on an older lens they will sometimes require a CLA to accept anything. It is good if they are offering a “real calibration” rather than implying its included . The advantage of DAG is that he will only do whats absolutely required and the costs will be below $200 . This lens is the current formula and Leica M glass is increasing in value at a record pace. Use DAG and have him calibrate the lens . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMichigan Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted April 22, 2011 Thank You Roger. Great Info. Good Sounding Advice. Much appreciated. R. In Mi. This is a job for DAG . I had the same lens done by him last year and the cost was around $125-150 including “real calibration” . Contrary to some expectations Leica does not calibrate lenses when doing 6 bit coding ....they do a quick check to verify that the mount has been exchanged properly . Further on an older lens they will sometimes require a CLA to accept anything. It is good if they are offering a “real calibration” rather than implying its included . The advantage of DAG is that he will only do whats absolutely required and the costs will be below $200 . This lens is the current formula and Leica M glass is increasing in value at a record pace. Use DAG and have him calibrate the lens . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted April 23, 2011 Share #18 Posted April 23, 2011 This is a job for DAG . I had the same lens done by him last year and the cost was around $125-150 including “real calibration” . Contrary to some expectations Leica does not calibrate lenses when doing 6 bit coding ....they do a quick check to verify that the mount has been exchanged properly . Further on an older lens they will sometimes require a CLA to accept anything. It is good if they are offering a “real calibration” rather than implying its included . The advantage of DAG is that he will only do whats absolutely required and the costs will be below $200 . This lens is the current formula and Leica M glass is increasing in value at a record pace. Use DAG and have him calibrate the lens . Roger, this is correct, the coding does not include a calibration, but Leica will test the lens and will contact the customer, if they see a need for other work on the lens. When I send a lens in for coding, Leica contacted me, that the lens had to be calibrated at additional cost. I approved and Leica fixed not only the slightly off focus, the lens had before, but fixed the rather sticky focus and relubricated the lens. The cost scheme stated above is about right, while all transportation cost had been included in this cost to my surprise. I have been given a 1/2 year warranty on the lens after the work had been done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted April 23, 2011 Share #19 Posted April 23, 2011 I confess that I don't understand for which reasons people would take the risks of damaging the lens just for having a few data in the EXIF of their files. Coding a 50mm lens doesn't give you any advantage for your pictures. Sean Reid has shown that switching the lens detection off might even give the best results for 50mm, though the differences are marginal. It's really not about the 50mm. It's about the other lenses you might be using if you're swapping between lenses often. Ideally you can leave the M9 in "auto" mode to recognise which lens is attached. As soon as you go to manual you can bet you'll forget to switch it back on day. Also on the off chance you need flash the 6-bit also communicates through to the flash. I'm not a profi so I'm not shooting every day or even every week. So I don't have a rhythm and appreciate the coding. Also I'm still learning about which lenses I like when. So to look at the EXIF later in LR 3 is nice to have the learning feedback loop. For me it was worth the 143 GBP (or whatever it is now) even though I did complain about the high prices and lack of calibration at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted April 30, 2011 Share #20 Posted April 30, 2011 I just dropped off my remaining lenses for calibration with my local Leica dealer and the Leica representative happened to be there. The price here in the states just went up from $190.00 to $230.00 a few days ago. There is, of course, shipping, handling, and insurance one-way on top of that to be paid as well. Definitely an increase from the original days when it cost $125.00, and your first two were free with the purchase of an M8. By the way, I've only had one lens cost more than the quoted 6-bit upgrade charge. It definitely pays to be picky when buying second-hand glass. My 90/2.8 needed additional work, and ran $700.00 including the 6-bit coding. Strange thing was there was no external wear or damage, and photos appeared fine according to my untrained eye. As I often say, it's still cheaper than owning a boat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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