6-Bit coding

[Ivar B]

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I am sure this question has been asked before, but I have not been that active in the M-lens forum.

A friend of mine owns an uncoded lens and would like to have it coded. I asked Leica and was quoted Euro 360 + tax + shipping.

Not what I would call cheap - does anybody know if other repair shops do this?  

[wda]

Ivar, there has been much discussion of this subject and the best alternative solution seems to be DIY with a template. I have no experience of this method. However other members wii have.

[Ivar B]

5 minutes ago, wda said:

Ivar, there has been much discussion of this subject and the best alternative solution seems to be DIY with a template. I have no experience of this method. However other members wii have.

Yes, I know of this. I think I bought a Leica M coder kit a while ago - will see if I still have it. 

[wizard]

vor 57 Minuten schrieb wda:

... and the best alternative solution seems to be DIY with a template.

Judging from my own experience, self-coding a Leica lens with a template does not work too well, as Leica lens flanges, unlike Voigtländer lenses, do not have any depressed section which would more or less keep the applied markings from contacting and rubbing on the camera flange during mounting and dismounting a lens. In practice this means that any self-applied markings will quickly be rubbed off from the lens flange.

From what I have heard Will van Manen does code Leica lenses as well, and I would think he will do it for less money than Leica.

[Photoworks]

Once Leica gets the lens in hand they will clean the lub and calibrate the lens. 

But others can do it too. I don't know about Norway.

an alternative in Germany could be https://schwarzweissistfarbegenug.net

 

I don't recommend the mount replacements for the different lenses that you can find on eBay, I have tried a few and they were off-spec, and had hard edges that could cut you.

 

[Jean-Michel]

To Ivar,

It depends, I no longer have any uncoded M lenses, except for a 135 Elmarit. Before reducing my camera and lens inventory I had a 50 mm Siummicon' Rigid' and a 35 mm version 1 Summicron with goggles, neither could be coded by Leica. Not a problem: I simply chose the lens in the menu when using it. It would only be an issue if I wanted to change lenses frequently, but at the time, I pretty much had a lens on one M and another one on a second or even a third M. If you friend mainly uses the encode lens, it may be simplest to just choose it in the menu and be done. If he or she wishes to frequently switch lenses, the a properly coded  mount would make sense. The self-made template route probably would lead to more frustration than not as the markings get worn off bit by bit as the lens is mounted/unmounted.

[lct]

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Last time i asked was 10 years ago but Van Manen used to quote 85 EUR + VAT for 6-bit coding then. Does no harm to ask them for an updated quotation.

[wizard]

vor 13 Stunden schrieb Jean-Michel:

I had a 50 mm Siummicon' Rigid' and a 35 mm version 1 Summicron with goggles, neither could be coded by Leica. Not a problem: I simply chose the lens in the menu when using it.

Since I also own those two lenses you mentioned, I am interested to learn how you managed to choose those lenses from the camera menu, as to the best of my knowledge, they are not included in the menu. Did you choose a similar lens instead?

[Jean-Michel]

2 hours ago, wizard said:

Since I also own those two lenses you mentioned, I am interested to learn how you managed to choose those lenses from the camera menu, as to the best of my knowledge, they are not included in the menu. Did you choose a similar lens instead?

If I remember correctly, I chose the 11310/11311 for the 'goggled' 35 Summicron and 11817 for the 50 Summicron. I don't think it matters much as long as you pick a focal length and f stop that matches your lens.

By the way, I am often sorry to have let these two lenses go - I am quite happy with the current model replacements, but there really was no need to let the old ones go, especially after decades of good use! I mostly miss the goggled 35 as I wear glasses and find it easier to frame the 35 via the 50 frame.

[lct]

3 hours ago, Jean-Michel said:

If I remember correctly, I chose the 11310/11311 for the 'goggled' 35 Summicron and 11817 for the 50 Summicron [...]

Same for LTM 35/2 v1 & 50/2 v1 here.
• 35 f/2 11310/11311 (000110)
• 50 f/2 11817 (010111)

[LocalHero1953]

I had my Summilux-M 75 coded by Skyllaney (UK) for £148 last year. 
Unfortunately most people who deal with them (including me) have sung their praises and they are taking no new business till 2025……..

[52K]

I can only speak from my personal experience having successfully coded a number of Leica lenses and also some non-Leica (Voigtländer) lenses. 

I was able to purchase a metal coding ring on eBay for both a 50mm Summicron and also a 90mm Elmarit which needed coding. You have to manually add the code, by using black and white paint which is very easily done with something like a cocktail stick. Once complete, both lenses worked flawlessly.

I more recently bought the DIY coding device from Akarabs.com which is a simple 3D printed template. I applied codes to 3 Voigtländer lenses using a black sharpie.

These also work flawlessly. I've tested all three lenses on 3 different cameras, M11, M11M and SL2-S with Leica L-M adapter. I thought these might fade over time with use, but seem to be working very well. I've never had to re-code any of them. 

I know some people have had problems with coding, but my personal experience is actually very good and the cost has been minimal. You can of course send your lenses straight to Leica and they will do it for you but expect to pay a premium and be without the lens for some time. Current delays are quite excessive at Wetzlar.

The only reason I bother to code my lenses is so I can later see what lens I was using in the EXIF data and it works for me. I guess there are also some in-camera profiles which correct lenses too.

Hope that is useful.

[Gavin G]

Recently just received mine from here https://www.ebay.com/itm/293636207322. Easily to replace

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[Jean-Michel]

On 8/21/2024 at 3:40 AM, Gavin G said:

Recently just received mine from here https://www.ebay.com/itm/293636207322. Easily to replace

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Unfortunately, the 50 'Rigid' Summicron and the 35 Summicron version 1 do not have a removable flange, at least mine did not.

[lct]

LTM versions can use LTM to M coded adapters.