Leica coding kit

[IWC Doppel]

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I have two lenses I won't code, one cant be coded easily and Leica won't do it (35 Summilux Aspherical) and on is a little old 35 f2.8 Summaron, all my others are coded, so I use Auto and don't want to manually adjust (I forget to turn this back to auto, so play safe and leave alone)

 

Does anyone know where I might buy one from in the UK ?

[IWC Doppel]

PS, Does anyone know if their is a manual code for the 35 Aspherical, I know I can program the camera, but not sure if the mechanical code exists ?

[250swb]

You can make your own

 

BoPhoto.com: M8 coder - simple manual handcoding of M lenses

 

and you will find a list of codes at the same time.

 

But using a permanent black pen worked OK for the M8, then the M9 and M240 got more picky about the opaqueness of the black (white isn't needed). Pen also rubs off pretty quickly if you can find one that works, matt black paint (Humbrol) which does work is too thick and lasts only for one or two lens changes.

 

Steve

[dugby]

I used a black Sharpie pen on a Zeiss ZM Planar 50mm

 

The ink dries to a very solid black and does not rub off that easily (good). If you make a mistake, a tiny drop of solvent on a tissue will easily remove the ink.

 

I found it is unnecessary to code the white bits.

[tobey bilek]

Use a coder and mark the location with extra fine Sharpie. Try on camera. If it works, use a Moto tool and small round bit to grind down .3 mm and fill with GM universal black.

 

Buy a new mount from GinFinance on Ebay. Same black pact + artic white.

 

Send to Leica and let them do it all correctly. I have not listed all the pitfalls to the cheap fixes, but check the archives.

[StephenPatterson]

I agree with IWC, it's a PITA to set a manual code and then have to remember to change back to Auto Lens Detect when mounting a 6-bit coded lens. It's also nearly impossible to get the M240 to recognize black marker pen codes.

 

I think this could easily be changed.

 

The 6-bit code reader is on whenever the camera is on, so even when you have a manual lens code entered the processor is smart enough to recognize that a coded lens has been mounted. A simple screen query, "Leica (insert lens name here) lens detected, override manual lens selection? YES/NO" would solve the problem.

[IWC Doppel]

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Typical the aspherical is coded in camera but no 6 bit sequence available only your ASPH 11874. There must be difference or why would Leica bother to add for such a limited number

 

Also nothing older than MkIV 35 Summicron and given i have one I can't quickly separate by lens between Summaron and Summicron if I code both the same

[250swb]

The actual lens code used isn't always critical, something close is usually good enough and there is no reason not to experiment with alternatives. For telling the difference between a Summaron and Summicron couldn't you do what people have always done and remember which lens you used? Or if it is that critical a photographers notebook?

 

Steve

[IWC Doppel]

The actual lens code used isn't always critical, something close is usually good enough and there is no reason not to experiment with alternatives. For telling the difference between a Summaron and Summicron couldn't you do what people have always done and remember which lens you used? Or if it is that critical a photographers notebook?

 

Steve

 

I tend to find pictures by remembering the day and lens I used so a useful route to a picture, I should be much better organised with my pictures to be honest and tidy all and not just some

[Dougg]

I'm coming to suspect it makes a difference to choose a coding for a non-coded lens that is for a lens of the same maximum aperture. The difference may only be in the camera's estimate of the aperture used, as reported in the EXIF, and it may or may not affect the actual exposure suggested or set by the metering.

 

Any ideas on this, confirmation or refutation?

 

Perhaps by coincidence, there's this issue with the Leica S when using a non-native lens that does not communicate with the camera... One needs to set the Leica S lens to the max aperture of the adapted lens before changing to that lens. So if you remove an f/2.5 Summarit-S and put on an f/4 adapted lens without first setting the S lens manually to f/4, then there will be a 1 1/3 stop underexposure using the on-board meter... regardless of the actual aperture used.

[stevesurf]

I did not see it mentioned in this thread, but for those of you that have Leica Digital M8 or M9 series, I've been using the Match Technical Coder successfully with non coded Leica lenses like the 90 Elmarit-M and with various Zeiss lenses like the Zeiss 50mm f/1.5 ZM and

Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Biogon T* ZM.

 

The specific Sharpie I use is the more durable Sharpie Extra Fine Industrial Permanent Markers, available here. I've tried the standard and industrial markers and there is a difference.

 

The forum's great overview on lens codes is here and Match Technical Coder available from Popflash is here and also has the codes for the most popular Zeiss and Voigtlander lenses.