Jump to content

6-bit Coding of lenses in New York?


Pessoa1

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi folks,

 

I am in New York for a 10 day period which falls over the thanksgiving holiday - 20th-30th November and I need to get a lens coded.

 

I called adorama and they said that all the people they tried in NY offer a 10 working day turnaround which would not work for me.

 

Does anybody know of anyone that can carry this out in a shorter time frame?

 

Best.

Edited by Pessoa1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica Service is in Allendale, NJ, about 25 mi. outside the city if you have transportation and can call ahead to confirm. Sherry Krauter is also good, but she's farther out. Perhaps one or the other could accept it by mail and express it to your NY location.

 

Jeff

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica Service is in Allendale, NJ, about 25 mi. outside the city if you have transportation and can call ahead to confirm. Sherry Krauter is also good, but she's farther out. Perhaps one or the other could accept it by mail and express it to your NY location.

 

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff, will give it a shot. If anything springs to mind closer to or in Manhattan then let me know :) Have a good day.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I would make sure to call Leica NJ first because they may not be able to accomodate your schedule. This is unpredictable as it depends on their workload.

 

You might also want to give John Milich a call. His machine shop is located in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard. While he will not code, what he can do is take off the mount and mill the proper indentaions. If you PM me, I will give you his contact info. I don't feel comfortable posting someone else's information.

 

There are also sellers of pre-machined mounts on that auction site. I tried one for a 135 APO Telyt. I used matte white and black model paint and so far it is fine.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I would make sure to call Leica NJ first because they may not be able to accomodate your schedule. This is unpredictable as it depends on their workload.

 

You might also want to give John Milich a call. His machine shop is located in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard. While he will not code, what he can do is take off the mount and mill the proper indentaions. If you PM me, I will give you his contact info. I don't feel comfortable posting someone else's information.

 

There are also sellers of pre-machined mounts on that auction site. I tried one for a 135 APO Telyt. I used matte white and black model paint and so far it is fine.

 

Hi weinshelA - I have emailed leica NJ and will see what the outcome is - they'll get back to me tomorrow hopefully. If it's not favorable, then yes I will contact J.Milch and am about to PM you for his details, that would be very kind of you. I do plan a visit to Gleason's boxing gym in Dumbo so I could kill 2 birds with one stone with a visit to Mr Milch.

 

Best.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If the lens you're coding is the 90 Elmarit you mentioned in another thread, be aware that the only real benefit will be to gain EXIF info; otherwise no real need for lenses 50mm and beyond.

 

 

 

Jeff

 

 

Unless you're like me and continually forget to change the lens setting from manual to automatic after you finish using the uncoded lens ;) I have used the ebay adapters from jinfinance http://stores.ebay.com/rjcameraaccessorystore with success. If you have a small screwdriver then this is the cheapest way, in my opinion.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Unless you're like me and continually forget to change the lens setting from manual to automatic after you finish using the uncoded lens ;) I have used the ebay adapters from jinfinance adapter rings step rings, DSLR RIG ETC items in RJ camera accessory store store on eBay! with success. If you have a small screwdriver then this is the cheapest way, in my opinion.

 

Ditto. Had my Lux 75 coded for that reason alone.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jeff - yes it was for the elmarit-m 90 and I didn't know that about 50mm lenses and upwards that the coding was not actually necessary so thanks for that info.

 

But, due to being part of Jennifer and Simon's Forgetful Persons' club I shall proceed forth with the coding in this case - if I can't pull it off in NY for whatever reason while I'm there I'll try the ebay version :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica NY take a good couple of weeks to do the coding apparently. Didn't ask how much when they told me it would take some weeks. Said would said an email too but didn't get it.

 

WeinschelA gave me the details of Mr Milch, I contacted him and he can do it for $50 USD - same day. For somebody from out of town and on a limited time scale it's good for me. Will be seeing him on Monday.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica NY take a good couple of weeks to do the coding apparently. Didn't ask how much when they told me it would take some weeks. Said would said an email too but didn't get it.

 

WeinschelA gave me the details of Mr Milch, I contacted him and he can do it for $50 USD - same day. For somebody from out of town and on a limited time scale it's good for me. Will be seeing him on Monday.

I think it's Leica NJ but they would probably charge around $225 I believe to do the coding. But they would also make sure it is calibrated correctly.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ah I didn't know that. Looks like I'll be picking up a can of enamel paint and a brush while in town also - unexpected!

 

Converting to a Coded M Lens Mount | La Vida Leica!

 

A small can of Rust Oleum flat black and a couple of toothpicks will suit you just fine. If you get just enough paint on the toothpick to fill the code pit, wait til it dries and re-fill, you are in business. Make sure you mix the paint or shake the can very well as the flattening of the paint comes from a paste that settles quickly.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

So, John did the business. I dropped off the lens in the late morning and picked up in the late afternoon same day.

 

I asked very nicely if he wouldn't mind painting the code on the indented divots that he milled and paid a little extra.

 

So, total, $ 70,00 USD.

 

I recommend him as he's quite the gentleman. As WeinschelA can no doubt point out, this is not John's main job (runs an architectural product and design company and an expert on metals) so it's something to bear in mind when asking if he could do a job.

 

Ask politely, and you may receive :)

 

Thanks very much for your help guys. Especially WeinschelA.

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thats a nice outcome. Congratulations!

 

I have been following this thread as I have an Elmarit 90 that needs six bit coding... I thought I would get away with it, but I keep forgetting to switch from manual to automatic on lens selection on my M-P 240 and I am anal enough to worry about it...

 

The number of times my Summicron 35 has been sitting there set as an Elmarit 90 is embarrassing.

 

I phoned Leica Mayfair in London (local - and where I bought my M-P) and was quoted 300€ for an upgrade and to expect 6 weeks plus waiting.

 

Given that I bought the Elmarit 90 a little while ago for £745, its more than I was expecting by some margin, despite the fact they will check it over and loan me a lens during the time it is away (nice service).

 

Does anyone know anyone in the UK who can offer a similar service to John Milich, but in London, and, if not, anyone had any experience using the Coder Kit from Match Technical... or any comments on the flanges you can buy on eBay for pennies and do it yourself... (slightly nervous of this, not because I'm not capable of removing and replacing the lens flange myself, I'm just worried about changing it and upsetting any calibration or damaging the value or integrity of lens itself in the longer term...).

 

If you all think the best option is to just bite the bullet and send it back to Leica and get everything done properly, then I will... Its just I was so pleased at getting such a great example of the Elmarit 90 for such a reasonable price...

 

Thanks for everyone who commented on this thread... it has been useful for me, too!

Edited by Livingston
error in text
Link to post
Share on other sites

I went the ebay route and am very happy with the results. I looked at the mount of the lens after I had removed it, and didn't see any obvious vulnerability that could cause miscalibration, and mine is still accurate after the new flange is attached. It is important not to over tighten the screws though. The replacement flanges are the same thickness (visually, I didn't check with a micrometer as I have no reason to expect they are any different) and you can keep the original one in case someone wants the original should you choose to sell the lens on.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I received the coded flange from China this morning... The flange looks very nicely made and the milled out areas were very neat.

 

Filled them with some matt white and matt black enamel paint after a little care under a fluorescent lamp and my optivisor, I now have a coded (and working!) 90mm Elmarit.

 

It was actually VERY easy...

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited by Livingston
added text
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...