Lens coding costs etc.

[Peter turner]

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Wrote to leica enquiring about cost of coding couple of lenses.

 

Had a very quick reply, which I am showing here.

 

Think might get one of them done.. As I did hear that they practically recondition the lens for you at same time .

Anyone know if that is correct. ?

 

Anyway here is the information/letter I got from them, in case useful to anyone.

 

 

Thank you for your inquiry about the coding of your Leica M lenses.

Not all of the older lenses can be coded. As for the Summicron M 1:2/50mm, if the serial number of the lens is higher than 22692551 it can be coded.

The Tele Elmarit M 1:2,8/90mm should have a higher serial number than 2585501.

The upgrade of the lenses with the 6-BIT code will cost € 240 + VAT per lens.

If you like, you can bring the lenses to our Mayfair store, or you can send them directly to our customer care office here in Germany (address as mentioned below).

 

 

Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Kind regards

Andrea Frankl

Leica Camera AG

Customer Care

Am Leitz-Park 5, D-35578 Wetzlar / Germany

 

 

 

Peter

[marknorton]

No, they do not recondition the lens, I think they will perform a basic check and give it a clean but it's a long way from a full CLA.

 

Andrea Frankl is a star and you can rely on her to be helpful though I don't think you should show her email address in your post. Interesting that her address is now in Wetzlar so she has obviously made the move from Solms to the big donuts.

 

As for the cost, Leica has its own inflation rate which is more reminiscent of a Banana Republic, that €240 cost is about double what it was when the lens coding was first introduced in 2006.

[Peter turner]

No, they do not recondition the lens, I think they will perform a basic check and give it a clean but it's a long way from a full CLA.

 

Andrea Frankl is a star and you can rely on her to be helpful though I don't think you should show her email address in your post. Interesting that her address is now in Wetzlar so she has obviously made the move from Solms to the big donuts.

 

As for the cost, Leica has its own inflation rate which is more reminiscent of a Banana Republic, that €240 cost is about double what it was when the lens coding was first introduced in 2006.

 

 

Have taken your advice and removed contact info. Thanks.

[250swb]

Considering that Leica just replace the flange (and give your lens a quick check) you might consider the replacement flanges available on Ebay for a tiny fraction of that price. If it works you saved a lot of money, if it doesn't you didn't loose much and can still send your lens off to Leica, or an alternative technician who would charge less.

 

Steve

[tobey bilek]

The cost has doubled because they have found simply coding does not always leave a lens so it focuses to the tighter digital tolerance.

 

As far as E bay flanges, some times they work, sometimes not. The coding works, but many of the ones I bought were to thick by around .001" causing front focus. I ground them down. You will see if you have a micrometer. GM universal black and Artic white paint seen to work fine. Thin with MEK. Use #2 brush for oil. Gin Finance is the Ebay dealer.

 

No skills & no tools, Pay to have it done correctly. Or you might get lucky. 20% chance of lucky.

 

If the lens has sticky focus or dirty elements, they will charge more.

[Bill W]

I tried the ebay flange and it did not work out for me. The focus became very stiff and I could not get the flange seated I guess despite many attempts at tighteneing the screws various criss cross methods. You might get lucky.

[250swb]

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I tried the ebay flange and it did not work out for me. The focus became very stiff and I could not get the flange seated I guess despite many attempts at tighteneing the screws various criss cross methods. You might get lucky.

 

A long long time ago when I first used the 'eBay flanges' I did have to slightly enlarge the screw holes, just a tiny fraction, and then they worked ok. After measuring it seems the Leica holes are a miniscule amount bigger than the screw and the countersink of the screw holes centres the flange, whereas the Chinese flanges follow typical Chinese practice of literally making the hole the exact size as the screw.

 

Steve

[lawman]

I have 3 Jin flanges on 35/2, 50/2 & 90/2.8. All focus well and codes read on M9 but not at all on M240.

[Peter turner]

Had a message from J&M

Basically asking for following info.

 

"what's the thickness of the original leica flange ? I can have this measured with a caliper, and let you know........"

 

JM

 

So if there is an engineer on here who can help. ?

[250swb]

I have 3 Jin flanges on 35/2, 50/2 & 90/2.8. All focus well and codes read on M9 but not at all on M240.

 

Try a different paint.

 

Steve

[Peter turner]

I have 3 Jin flanges on 35/2, 50/2 & 90/2.8. All focus well and codes read on M9 but not at all on M240.

 

Does the 90 tele-elm 2.8 take same flange , do you know. ?

[Bill W]

A long long time ago when I first used the 'eBay flanges' I did have to slightly enlarge the screw holes, just a tiny fraction, and then they worked ok. After measuring it seems the Leica holes are a miniscule amount bigger than the screw and the countersink of the screw holes centres the flange, whereas the Chinese flanges follow typical Chinese practice of literally making the hole the exact size as the screw.

 

Steve

Its worth a try. I will need to see if I have a drill bit that small. Wish I had a press as well. The coded flange must torque what it is screwed into just enough to make the focus stiff. I will also make sure it is absolutely flat as well.

[lawman]

Try a different paint.

 

Steve

 

 

Steve - what paint do you suggest - have you had success with Jin flanges on the M240? Larry

[lawman]

Does the 90 tele-elm 2.8 take same flange , do you know. ?

 

 

My 90 is a Canadian tele Elmarit-m. It uses a different flange from the 35 and 50, but all are 5 screws.

[tobey bilek]

It is not just x tightening, but making about 3 rounds of the pattern tightening a little more each time. If you try to tighten one at a time fully, the focus ring may distort and bind.

 

I do the same with lug nuts on the car as I can not emulate the factory where they tighten 5 or more all in one go with special fixture. I have never warped a rotor in 40 years of doing this and do not let mechanics touch them with the impact guns.

 

I have found flanges I removed to be .039 to .040". Evidently Leica matches to actual lens.

The Chinese ones need to be ground down to match original as they come at .040 or .041.

 

Use 100 grit emery on a glass plate and little pressure. Rotate 1/8 turn for each pass. It takes 8 passes to remove .001. with light pressure and even pressure with all 5 fingers spread evenly around the edge.

 

One that Jin sent was even .041 on one segment only. I had to hang it over the edge to even it out and then reduce it.

 

My 35 V 4 somehow came apart too far. It took me hours to get it back properly as it was not taken apart properly and thread leads marked. Careful.

[thighslapper]

Steve - what paint do you suggest - have you had success with Jin flanges on the M240? Larry

 

The M240 'problem' is with the flange not properly actuating the frame selector switch ...... affects 50/75 lenses.

 

If you have other lenses that don't work apart from these it is probably mis-registration due to paint/position issues as Steve says ....

[Frase]

I changed all my lens mounts with ebay ones and all work well focus is still spot on, but as said in previous post you have to tighten the screws like you do on a car wheel or the focus will bind.

[Bill W]

I have finally given up on my ebay flange. I made sure it was absolutely flat. I slowly tightened the screws in a cross pattern but it takes so little tightening to make the focusing stiff. I think that the lens needs some adjustment I am not able to do. Off to DAG tomorrow.