Jump to content

Coding a vintage Noctilux...


jaques

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am not sure where questions about lenses should go- so I am putting it here...

 

I have a Canadian v1 f1 Noctilux dating from 1977. I asked Leica about sending it to Solms for a service and coding. They replied and said the following:

 

"The noctilux can be modified but we will need to transform the index ring. Means it will not look like it was."

 

Does anyone know anything about this? I am not sure what the index ring is? Would having this work done reduce the value of the Nocti- or increase it? Should I go ahead or no? Finally I would love to see what a Modified Nocti like this looks like- does anyone have one or a link to an image?

 

I also have a chrome Summilux from 1961. Leica said it cannot be coded. I am not sure why though: it doesn't have any screws visible on the rear of the mount...

Link to post
Share on other sites

x

Lens matters are normally discussed in the Customer Forum. But, here we go:

 

Like the pasta cook in Lady and the Tramp, the Gnomes of Solms are not always very good vit ze English language. So the meaning of 'index ring' is obscure. The code is 011111, i.e. when you hold the lens with the coding at 12 o'clock, looking at the bayonet, all positions except the first (leftmost) are black. And as far as I know, there are no screwheads in the way. So doing it should be a cinch. A third party lens serviceman with the facilites could do it. Will van Manen (index.html) has done a good coding job for me.

 

As for the v.1 Summilux, there is no official code for it, so Leica won't do the job, but I imagine that the v.2 code would do. It is 000101.

 

This said, there is normally damn little optical reason for coding a 50mm lens. Just slap in on your M9 with lens recognition still at Automatic, and all will be well. The Nocti may be an exception, because of its heavy vignetting, which may well be partly corrected for by the camera. EXIF data are just a convenience.

 

The old man from the Age of the Enigma Code

Link to post
Share on other sites

Does anyone know anything about this? I am not sure what the index ring is? Would having this work done reduce the value of the Nocti- or increase it? Should I go ahead or no? Finally I would love to see what a Modified Nocti like this looks like- does anyone have one or a link to an image?

 

I also have a chrome Summilux from 1961. Leica said it cannot be coded. I am not sure why though: it doesn't have any screws visible on the rear of the mount...

 

For a collector a Vs II or III modified is loosing value.

The modification is based on changing the rear rear ring by a coded one. (usualy 6 Phllips head screw are holding it)

on old lenses where the rear ring was machined from the plain it is obviously that it is not possible.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for your information. I went through my lenses and found that I do own one (1) with a bayonet without any screws. That is a Elmar 1:2.8/50mm from 1960.

 

Do you know when the switch was made, i.e. which M lenses were made with bayonets machined directly from the rear ring? I know that with several old designs, e.g. the v.1 35mm Summilux, the M bayonet was actually a bayonet adapter, factory fixed to what was basically a LTM lens. So the total number of lens models with solid bayonets must be quite small. Would a 1977 1:1 Noctilyx really be one of them?

 

The bleary-eyed old man who does miss things

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for your information. I went through my lenses and found that I do own one (1) with a bayonet without any screws. That is a Elmar 1:2.8/50mm from 1960.

 

Do you know when the switch was made, i.e. which M lenses were made with bayonets machined directly from the rear ring? I know that with several old designs, e.g. the v.1 35mm Summilux, the M bayonet was actually a bayonet adapter, factory fixed to what was basically a LTM lens. So the total number of lens models with solid bayonets must be quite small. Would a 1977 1:1 Noctilyx really be one of them?

 

The bleary-eyed old man who does miss things

 

Lars, cannot tell when the change was made, may be searching in this page(s) you will find your answer.

Objectifs Leica M

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...