Leica Lens Marking Colours

[Lee S]

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I’m really not liking the red markings on my lenses and would like to infill them with something more modern and visible.

Does anyone know the RAL / Pantone and paint type used for the modern Leica lens markings? It’s kind of a mustard yellow.

Photo below for reference:

P.S I don’t want to send them to Leica for six months if they offer such a service!

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Edited March 3 by Lee S

[rogxwhit]

Noooo ... leave them alone, don't mess about with them!  You'll just make a mess ... 😞

[Lee S]

7 minutes ago, rogxwhit said:

Noooo ... leave them alone, don't mess about with them!  You'll just make a mess ... 😞

Oh too right, I can’t be trusted with a crayon.😂

I would defer it to a specialist to carry out the infill 

Edited March 3 by Lee S

[dkCambridgeshire]

57 minutes ago, Lee S said:

Oh too right, I can’t be trusted with a crayon.😂

I would defer it to a specialist to carry out the infill 

Easy to fill in using a fine tip Staedtler pen. I could not see the 'white on titanium plating' engravings on my M6 Titanium – so I filled them in with a fine tip black Staedtler permanent marker pen – and when I eventually PX'd the camera at a well known Leica dealer, they did not notice until I mentioned the 'modification' – and after they'd agreed a PX price. The Staedtler 'ink' can be removed with Iso Propyl alcohol if/when necessary and does no permanent harm. BUT .... apply at your own risk!   Staedtler offer a variety of colours. 

Edited March 3 by dkCambridgeshire

[rogxwhit]

Black may be one thing, but yellow is a rather translucent pigment so even if the handiwork was correct the result would likely be a muddy orange ... :-(((

[Lee S]

10 minutes ago, dkCambridgeshire said:

Easy to fill in using a fine tip Staedtler pen. I could not see the 'white on titanium plating' engravings on my M6 Titanium – so I filled them in with a fine tip black Staedtler permanent marker pen – and when I eventually PX'd the camera at a well known Leica dealer, they did not notice until I mentioned the 'modification' – and after they'd agreed a PX price. The Staedtler 'ink' can be removed with Iso Propyl alcohol if/when necessary and does no permanent harm. BUT .... apply at your own risk!   Staedtler offer a variety of colours. 

Thanks for the suggestion, I have reservations a thin layer of marker ink will be able to hide over the dark red lettering of the lens. 

[PhotoCruiser]

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I had to black ink the white lens data writings on the inside of front of some lenses as they created a reflection on the inside of the front glass of my underwater housings. I used a black Sharpie for that and it worked well, same as a Staedtler pen and as already mentioned i can be removed with alcohol. But in your case you can't read the makings ...
Honestly i don't know another system to paint the tiny markings with yellow, except you find someone who is really good in overpainting the red ones without making a mess.
Chris

 

[adan]

I've used cadium yellow medium (high-opacity) acrylic paint on Voigtlanders, to match them to Leica lenses. Not this specific mixture, but this color:

https://www.liquitex.com/products/professional-spray-paint-cadmium-yellow-medium-hue

"Overfill" the engraving a bit with paint, and then wipe off the excess with a paper towel or similar, leaving the fill-paint only in the engraved depressions. Fine-tuning once dry can be done with a fingernail.

(Basically the way ink is applied and then wiped off in intaglio etching: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intaglio_(printmaking) )

Leica's own paint has varied over the years (once upon a time more lemon yellow, now a bit more orange). So there is a certain amount of leeway.

[AndreasG]

I made good experiences with acrylic model making paints from Revell and Tamiya.

[Lee S]

On 3/4/2025 at 10:27 AM, adan said:

I've used cadium yellow medium (high-opacity) acrylic paint on Voigtlanders, to match them to Leica lenses. Not this specific mixture, but this color:

https://www.liquitex.com/products/professional-spray-paint-cadmium-yellow-medium-hue

"Overfill" the engraving a bit with paint, and then wipe off the excess with a paper towel or similar, leaving the fill-paint only in the engraved depressions. Fine-tuning once dry can be done with a fingernail.

(Basically the way ink is applied and then wiped off in intaglio etching: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intaglio_(printmaking) )

Leica's own paint has varied over the years (once upon a time more lemon yellow, now a bit more orange). So there is a certain amount of leeway.

Thanks for that they look close although I find it difficult sometimes matching the screen colour to real life.

Do you have any pictures of your voigtlander lenses with the paint applied?