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Lenses: confused by talk of coding and 6-bit.


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Hello:

 

I'm going to buy my first lens for my Leica M7... a Zeiss 25mm soon or an Elmarit 24mm later, but I'm apprehensive ...

 

When the terms "coded" or "6-bit" are used does that mean that such lenses can only be used on the M8 and that I should avoid such lenses for the M7?

 

Do I need a "factory-fresh" (unmodified) lens to work on an M7?

 

Converely...

 

It's possible that one day I will buy an M8 or its successor. Can a "factory fresh" lens be used directly on an M8?

 

Thanks,

 

John

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While a coded lens is not neccesary for an M7 if you know that you are going to buy an M8 eventually then it would make sense because an M8 should be used with a coded lens.

When buying lenses for my Pentax SLRs (K1000, P33t) which were manual focus cameras I bought autofocus lenses because I knew eventually that I was going to go there.

I now have an MZ3 and all my lenses work on it.

 

Yours,

R. Morrison, M4-P, etc.

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Thank you RM.

 

If coded, does a lens lose any integrity when used with a non-M8 camera?

 

John

 

6-bit coding on lenses have no adverse effect what so ever on non-M8 bodies. It's simply nice to have in case some day you do get a M8. 6-bit coding is nothing more than 6 notches on the mounting plate which are colored white or black. The code tells an M8 what the focal length of the lens is. Having this feature on a brand new lens does make it attractive to a slightly wider audience in case you wish to sell it someday.

 

Cheers, Andy

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Can non-Leica lenses have 6-bit applied them?

Absolutely.

 

 

Perchance do any non-Leica lenses come with 6-bit applied?

 

No, they don't. I suspect this would be considered a patent violation.

 

Read here for an intro into the whole story.

 

Regards

Ivo

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