6-bit coding in UK

[adamduckworth]

I recently bought a Zeiss 18mm ZM Distagon lens (latest one) for my (not used enough) M8.

Is there anyone in the UK that can code it for me?

I have read many posts where everyone seems to say I need to have it done. But do I really? I shoot RAW, and it had a B+W IR filter on it.

So far, everything looks pretty good to me on my results.... apart from no EXIF which is hardly a pain.

I usually process RAW in Lightroom but use Capture One 4 Pro when I'm feeling a tad more righteous.

Many thanks
Adam

 

[Broughsup]

Don Morley

Don Morley

Hi Adam, I have the Leica 18mm but previously used such as the voigtlandar 15 and 21mm lenses uncoded without any problems at all. The bottom line as I see it is use a IR filter for correction and forget coding UNLESS you have any big problems with your specific lens vignetting badly (Which I doubt!) Beyond that keep using that M8 its worth it. Best wishes, Don.😛

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Adam,

It's far from essential unless, as Don says, you're really unhappy with the image quality. I use an 18/4 on both an M8 and M8.2 and am not unhappy (though I like it even more on film).

Speaking from the perspective of 40+ years photography, an awful lot of the lens advice handed out on the internet is based on hysteria, hearsay and photographing test charts. If a picture is any good as a picture, the technical quality has to be pretty bad before anyone but an obsessive starts to notice.

Cheers,

R.

 

[RichC]

If you want to get it coded, Malcolm Taylor (One of the top Leica technicians in the UK) will do it (he doesn't have a website nor use email - but googling will bring up his contact details).

 

[sfokevin]

I recently bought a Zeiss 18mm ZM Distagon lens (latest one) for my (not used enough) M8.

Is there anyone in the UK that can code it for me?

I have read many posts where everyone seems to say I need to have it done. But do I really? I shoot RAW, and it had a B+W IR filter on it.

So far, everything looks pretty good to me on my results.... apart from no EXIF which is hardly a pain.

I usually process RAW in Lightroom but use Capture One 4 Pro when I'm feeling a tad more righteous.

Many thanks
Adam

You might check out a free application called Cornerfix...
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cornerfix/
This can remove a good amount of any vignetting...

I had the Distagon (And coded it) before I got the new SEM 18/4...

Depending on which flange is on your lens (It has been sold with 2 different flanges that bring up different frame lines) you can try to hand code it as a WATE or the new SEM 18 and see how it performs...

 

[adamduckworth]

Thanks you sensible people.
It's nice to know the net is not solely full of scare-mongering heretics, but some useful advice from helpful, grown-up people.
And an answer from one of the most famous action photogs of them all... Mr Don Morley.
Formerly of the parish of AllSport I believe?
Taker of many legendary pics including Kenny Roberts on the banking at Daytona. A lesson in composition, timing and more.
And book writer Mr Hicks, too...
What elusive company.
Thanks
Adam

 

[Broughsup]

Absoluteley all true - And first class idiot to boot!, but its still very nice to be remembered occasionally, Thanks Adam, and you were MCN's best editor too, havent taken it since you left. Don😛

 

[Jerrold]

if you wanted to test out if there are differences between coded and non coded: http://www.digital-leica.com/lens_codes/ is the website that has the codes, you don't need a kit to code with a sharpie, just mount the lens and put a dot on the mount edge either side of the M8's lens detection sensor. Remove the lens and using those dots as a frame the correct code can then be done by eye.