6-bit coded Leica flanges

[egrossman]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've had very little success with third party (Chinese) 6-bit coded flanges for my M lenses. As you know it costs $300 plus shipping expense to send the lease to Leica to code with a turnaround time quoted at 4 weeks. The benefit of this is they will check the lens and make sure that it works to factory spec.

However, if you have a lens that is working perfectly, you can order the flange from Leica NJ for $200 and install it yourself. This flange will not be painted with the correct 6-bit code, but the benefit of this is that you should get the part in about a week and save around $150 (assuming $50 to send the lens to NJ).

I ordered a flange for my 35mm Summilux ASPH.

Erik

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaeger]

1 hour ago, egrossman said:

I've had very little success with third party (Chinese) 6-bit coded flanges for my M lenses. As you know it costs $300 plus shipping expense to send the lease to Leica to code with a turnaround time quoted at 4 weeks. The benefit of this is they will check the lens and make sure that it works to factory spec.

However, if you have a lens that is working perfectly, you can order the flange from Leica NJ for $200 and install it yourself. This flange will not be painted with the correct 6-bit code, but the benefit of this is that you should get the part in about a week and save around $150 (assuming $50 to send the lens to NJ).

I ordered a flange for my 35mm Summilux ASPH.

Erik

I have the same lens and had bad experienced the with the Chinese made flange as well.  I wonder how the paint will affect the 6 bit sensor too.  I'm from the bay area too, let's go shoot sometimes. 

[84bravo]

I've had good luck with four out of five Chinese 6 bit flanges. I have 28/35/50/90 lenses that work perfectly with the cheap flanges. The fifth one gave me a lot of trouble. I have less than $100 invested in the five flanges, so I have no complaints. They're so cheap it's worth a try and there's little to lose if it doesn't work for you.

Good to know that OEM flanges are available from Leica, though.

[egrossman]

2 hours ago, Artin said:

I would like to tray this as well, I have a 35, 50,and a 24. Can we order these from a Leica dealer or does it have to be direct from new JERSY 

You order this from Leica NJ directly. Ralph Arias is the parts coordinator and can be reached at 201-962-9940. He's relatively new (the last guy retired after many years with the company).

Erik

[plaidshirts]

10 hours ago, egrossman said:

I've had very little success with third party (Chinese) 6-bit coded flanges for my M lenses. As you know it costs $300 plus shipping expense to send the lease to Leica to code with a turnaround time quoted at 4 weeks. The benefit of this is they will check the lens and make sure that it works to factory spec.

However, if you have a lens that is working perfectly, you can order the flange from Leica NJ for $200 and install it yourself. This flange will not be painted with the correct 6-bit code, but the benefit of this is that you should get the part in about a week and save around $150 (assuming $50 to send the lens to NJ).

I ordered a flange for my 35mm Summilux ASPH.

Erik

So they will NOT paint it for you even if you specify the lens? A $100 more for a CLA and a proper flange seems like a good deal then. 

[egrossman]

10 hours ago, plaidshirts said:

So they will NOT paint it for you even if you specify the lens? A $100 more for a CLA and a proper flange seems like a good deal then. 

They will paint it for you for an additional $25 ($225+TAX) but they need to order this from Germany so it takes a month; considering this is how long it takes for NJ to CLA and code a lens this isn't a good option.

As I stated in my original message, ordering the flange directly is only a good deal if your lens is working within spec AND you don't want/can't afford to be without it for at least 4 weeks (perhaps longer).

Erik

[egrossman]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

FWIW Leica sends the flange UPS 2-day included in the $200 fee which makes it a “little” easier to swallow. I just got my tracking number. 

Erik

 

[plaidshirts]

On 10/27/2021 at 11:29 AM, egrossman said:

FWIW Leica sends the flange UPS 2-day included in the $200 fee which makes it a “little” easier to swallow. I just got my tracking number. 

Erik

 

Any updates?

[egrossman]

1 hour ago, plaidshirts said:

Any updates?

The flange arrived on time and was easy to install. I haven't installed the new screws yet (notice in the picture how the threads are coated in plastic - not locktite; this is to keep them snug once secured) as I'm not happy with the Uni Posca paint pens that I am using. I called Don Goldberg at DAG to ask what he uses and he told me that he has had the most success with a Japanese flat finish model paint called Gaia which can be ordered on E**y which he applies with with an oil paint applicator (see the image below). Once the new paint that I ordered arrives, I'll remove the flange, repaint it and re-install the flange with the repalcemement screws. One more point to mention from Don is that unlike the OEM flanges, the cheap Chinese flanges aren't coated in real chrome; you get what you pay for. lf you do order the flange from Leica, make sure you ask for the screws; they aren't included by default.

Erik

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 November 1, 2021 by egrossman

[plaidshirts]

29 minutes ago, egrossman said:

The flange arrived on time and was easy to install. I haven't installed the new screws yet (notice in the picture how the threads are coated in plastic - not locktite; this is to keep them snug once secured) as I'm not happy with the Uni Posca paint pens that I am using. I called Don Goldberg at DAG to ask what he uses and he told me that he has had the most success with a Japanese flat finish model paint called Gaia which can be ordered on E**y which he applies with with an oil paint applicator (see the image below). Once the new paint that I ordered arrives, I'll remove the flange, repaint it and re-install the flange with the repalcemement screws. One more point to mention from Don is that unlike the OEM flanges, the cheap Chinese flanges aren't coated in real chrome; you get what you pay for. lf you do order the flange from Leica, make sure you ask for the screws; they aren't included by default.

Erik

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!

Good stuff. Thank you for taking the trouble to walk us through the steps.

[1joel1]

I've ordered flanges on eBay for the 28 ASPH, 35 ASPH, 90 Elmarit, and Voigtlander 50 Apo and have had good luck with all on my M9.

It's nice to know that there is a Leica option for sure.

Joel

[egrossman]

Further update: despite Don Goldberg's recommendation, I didn't have any success getting the camera to read the Gaia paint-coded Leica flange. Removed the paint with a toothpick and went back to the Uni Posca paint pens which worked.

Erik

 

[plaidshirts]

On 11/10/2021 at 12:57 PM, egrossman said:

Further update: despite Don Goldberg's recommendation, I didn't have any success getting the camera to read the Gaia paint-coded Leica flange. Removed the paint with a toothpick and went back to the Uni Posca paint pens which worked.

Erik

I've ordered flanges on eBay for the 28 ASPH, 35 ASPH, 90 Elmarit, and Voigtlander 50 Apo and have had good luck with all on my M9.

It's nice to know that there is a Leica option for sure.

Joel

Hello Erik and Joel,

Was the install of the new flange straight forward? Do you have any recommendations for the DIY job?

Thank you,

Dan

Edited November 22, 2021 by plaidshirts

[mmradman]

On 11/10/2021 at 8:19 PM, 1joel1 said:

I've ordered flanges on eBay for the 28 ASPH, 35 ASPH, 90 Elmarit, and Voigtlander 50 Apo and have had good luck with all on my M9.

It's nice to know that there is a Leica option for sure.

Joel

I while back I used model aircraft paint, Humbrol from memory, Matt black worked well.

[egrossman]

1 hour ago, plaidshirts said:

Hello Erik and Joel,

Was the install of the new flange straight forward? Do you have any recommendations for the DIY job?

Thank you,

Dan

The installation was very straight forward. The painting of the flange is a little harder as the target area is tiny. In the end I went back to using the paint pens as it was easier to do.

Erik

[derleicaman]

On 10/26/2021 at 9:00 PM, egrossman said:

You order this from Leica NJ directly. Ralph Arias is the parts coordinator and can be reached at 201-962-9940. He's relatively new (the last guy retired after many years with the company).

Erik

That was Dave Elwell. I've known him for over 35 years and talked to him a few months ago.

[granite]

I sent a query to Leica NJ this morning asking how to go about purchasing replacement 6-bit flanges. I received a reply from a Gloria Ruiz stating that I would need to send my lenses to their facility "to be looked at" by one of their techs and that after that was done I would be contacted by Customer Care. Presumable that means that they would do the work at their prices for parts and labor.

Is there a better way to go about purchasing the flanges and having them shipped to me?

Dave

[egrossman]

4 hours ago, granite said:

I sent a query to Leica NJ this morning asking how to go about purchasing replacement 6-bit flanges. I received a reply from a Gloria Ruiz stating that I would need to send my lenses to their facility "to be looked at" by one of their techs and that after that was done I would be contacted by Customer Care. Presumable that means that they would do the work at their prices for parts and labor.

Is there a better way to go about purchasing the flanges and having them shipped to me?

Dave

Contact the parts coordinator, Ralph Arias, directly. He will sell you the part you need.

T +1 201 962 9940

ralph.arias@leicacamerausa.com

 

 

Erik

 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[granite]

Thanks for the feedback on this. I'm taking a different route but may need to resort to Leica service if this doesn't pan out.

I ordered a set of flanges from a vendor on eBay. When I received them they were 5-screw flanges, not the 6-screw Type I flanges I needed. I didn't realize at the time that there were multiple types for bayonet-mount M lenses. After leaving a bad feedback the vendor contacted me, explained my error, and offered to replace the ones I had purchased with the proper ones (he asked for the catalog numbers of my lenses to ensure that he sent the right ones) if I would return (to Georgia, USA) the ones I had originally purchased at my own expense. He even offered to have the new ones shipped from China at no additional cost to me. This all seemed more than generous, especially since it was my error in the first place.

Long story short, the original flanges have been returned to the vendor and the new ones ordered. I don't expect to see them any time soon, giving the current backlog between Asia and the US and the end-of-year holidays worldwide, but I'm not desperate to receive them so I can be patient.

Edited December 20, 2021 by granite

[granite]

Fair question.  I didn't realize it was my error until later and then I was unable to update the feedback. Perhaps there is a way and I missed it, or maybe there's no way to changed feedback once it's saved.

If I had left good feedback I would have had to eat the bad purchase and start over. At least leaving the bad got the vendor to contact me, where we negotiated a solution satisfactory to both.

Edited December 30, 2021 by granite