M8 lens coding recognition question

[gurtch]

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Hello all:

I have one Leica lens and several CV and Zeiss lenses. I have a lens coding device for self coding. Several Zeiss lenses have screws in the flange, and coding must be done over the screws. How can I determine if the coding is actually working, and identifying the lens correctly? I may be missing something, but I can't seem to figure it out.:confused:

Thanks in advance.....

Dave G

Beach Haven, NJ

[ChrisC]

Dave - Code a lens, make an exposure, press INFO button; if the code is being recognised - the focal length of the lens appears in the top right hand corner of the screen. To check that you have coded the right type of Leica lens code [i.e. Summilux, Elmar, Summicron etc.]; open a downloaded file in Photoshop, go FILE, FILE INFO, and CAMERA DATA, and the lens's maximum aperture will be shown thereby confirming the actual Leica lens-type you have coded your lens.

 

........... Chris

[jaapv]

You only need to do the blacks, and maybe fill the screw with Tippex.

[gurtch]

Thanks guys. I just tried a 24mm Leica ASPH where the black marks are quite dark, and there are no screws to interfere (have not rubbed off). I took a shot, hit PLAY then INFO, and there is nothing noted in the right hand corner. Does this mean the camera is not recognizing the lens? I had ON plus IR/UV selected..

Thanks again, both

Dave

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Hello Dave,

 

Hit those spots with the sharpie again, get them good and black.

 

you said the UV/IR is on. Im guessing you also did turn on the Lens recognition.?

 

.

[RobertW]

Thanks guys. I just tried a 24mm Leica ASPH where the black marks are quite dark, and there are no screws to interfere (have not rubbed off). I took a shot, hit PLAY then INFO, and there is nothing noted in the right hand corner. Does this mean the camera is not recognizing the lens? I had ON plus IR/UV selected..

Thanks again, both

Dave

 

If you're using a coder, ah correctly , and

- there aren't any screws where the coding marks go, and

- you've got the correct bayonet mount pulling up the correct framlines, then,

- the only problem must be the Black Pen.

 

Try a "Sharpie", that brand of marker works 100% of the time.

 

Best Rob

[stunsworth]

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Not all black pens will work. I had to try a couple. In the end I found a CD marker pen that worked fine.

 

It's also worth saying that with non-Leica lenses the lens/adaptor has to bring up the correct framelines in the viewfinder. If it doesn't the lens won't be recognised.

[gurtch]

Thanks all. I will remove the black marks (I will try Elipse lens cleaner), and start over again trying several pens. I have a sharpie rub a dub, and the pen that came with the kit.

Dave

[thompsonkirk]

DAG/Don Goldberg can code just about anything, no matter where the screws are. He can also code some of the lenses that Leica claimed were too old to be coded. (Leica is not willing to mill the older lens mounts, & only wants to do those where they can easily swap out the mount without any milling.)

 

Kirk

[gurtch]

I got the Leica 24mm lens recognition to work. At first it showed 35mm, but I removed the marks and re-did it and it showed 24mm. I was not so lucky with the Zeiss 21mm. There is no recognition at all. My Zeiss brings up the 50mm/75mm frames. Does the Leica 21mm also bring up those frames? If not, that may be the problem.

Thanks again for your help.

Dave

[cbretteville]

You need a 28/90 bayonet to code it as a Leica 21. My ZM21/2.8 was delivered with the 28/90 bayonet and codes fine with a Sharpie as a Leica 21/2.8ASPH. Test it by pushing the frame selector to bring up the 28/90 lines when you take a shot, if its done correctly you'll get "21mm" when pushing the [info] button.

 

- Carl

[gurtch]

You need a 28/90 bayonet to code it as a Leica 21. My ZM21/2.8 was delivered with the 28/90 bayonet and codes fine with a Sharpie as a Leica 21/2.8ASPH. Test it by pushing the frame selector to bring up the 28/90 lines when you take a shot, if its done correctly you'll get "21mm" when pushing the [info] button.

 

- Carl

 

WOW never thought of that! I will try it. I was resigned that the lens would not code and removed the IR filter. If it works I will reinstall the IR filter. Thanks for the tip!

Dave

[gurtch]

Hi all: I was not able to get my ZM 21mm lens to be recognized as the Leica 21 mm ASPH....it recognized my marks as a 28mm lens, no doubt because of a screw to the left of my two marks. I tried white out but that did not work. I WAS able to get the lens recognized as a Leica 21mm Elmarit f2.8 (1980-1997 vintage), which uses just one mark on the lens mount. Hopefully this will reduce the cyan corners produced with the IR filter. I will post results when I use this combo. Thanks again all for your prompt help.

Dave :)

[RobertW]

Hi all: I was not able to get my ZM 21mm lens to be recognized as the Leica 21 mm ASPH....it recognized my marks as a 28mm lens, no doubt because of a screw to the left of my two marks. I tried white out but that did not work...

Dave :)

 

If you lens is being recognized as a 28mm, then either:

1. your coding is being read as 011011
   
2. rather than 011000
   

which means your attempt to paint over the screw did not work.

 

or

 

The camera is not reading your 1st 2 black marks and is reading:

• 000011 rather than
  
• 00110000
  

 

This is all assuming you have the correct mount on the Zeiss lens to pull the appropriate framelines or your moving the frame selector to the right selection when you take the picture.

 

Best Rob

[nikolas]

Hi all. i coded the elmarit 21mm f2.8. In the camera info and in file info in photoshop I can see the lens, but i can not see the aperture i have used. is that normal? i am not also happy of the colours ,aren't vivid as i was expecting, has that something to do with coding?

thanks.

[Nicoleica]

Hi. Yes, the aperture is not recorded in the standard exif data. An estimated aperture is available though, and that can be accessed by some software. As for the colours, are you using a UV/IR-Cut filter on your lens? This can have an effect on colours if you don't use one.

[nikolas]

thanks for the prompt replay Nicole. the filter i have on the lens is a B+W 60E 010 1x. Is that the correct one or i need the UV/IR-Cut filter?

[Nicoleica]

Hi again. You really should have the IR-Cut filter on an M8. The M8 sensor is very sensitive to IR light, and this can cause strange colour effects (Purple blacks, washed out looking vegetation etc.) if there's a lot of IR in the light.

 

Oh yes, and welcome to the forum.

[nikolas]

Thanks again. So the coding has been successfully done and what i need is the IR-CUT filter, i will trty to find it.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Nicoleica]

You can get the IR-CUT filters under several brands including Leica and B+W. The B+W filter type is 486. If you bought your M8 new, then you can get 2 free filters when you register the camera. (Possibly even if you bought it used, if the original owner didn't register it.)