6-bit coding of a Tri Elmar 28-35-50

[ChipNovaMac]

Have a buddy that is not much into forums and/or the internet. He has the 2nd gen Tri Elmar and is thinking after seeing my M8 of getting his own M8.

The question he has, and I tried searching here and elsewhere - what is the benefit of sending the Tri Elmar for 6 bit coding?Is it coded for the 28mm (the most likely focal length needing correction)?


And I guess the follow-up to that would be my lusting after the WATE, how does coding work with that lens...

Again thanks all

 

[GrahamWelland]

The Tri-Elmar has it's own unique 6 bit code. Unlike the WATE the Tri-Elmar will communicate back to the camera which focal length you have selected (since it changes the framelines). Basically the coding will bring about lens correction for the 28/35/50 settings although arguably only the 28/35 need anything. It will cause the correct EXIF data to be added to the images.

Personally I haven't bothered to get mine coded yet as 28/35 aren't badly affected by the colour vignetting for my kind of shots. I expect I'll get around to removing the spring assembly and sending the ring off to John Milich at some point to get the ring milled for coding though.

I was told a while back that TriElmars are sent back to Solms for coding - which, if true, is a strong reason for getting them coded outside of Leica as you might not see the lens for quite a while.

 

[ChipNovaMac]

Thanks Graham for the help. Any ideas on how long to turn around a Tri Elmar for coding?

Regretting my giving up my Tri Elmar a year ago. Also regretting that I didn't jump on the WATE so long ago also given the new pricing...

 

[GrahamWelland]

John Milich will mill slots into a Tri Elmar lens flange with about a week turn around. $25. You do need to remove the lens flange yourself or get a repair place to do it. There's a bit more complexity with the Tri Elmar due to the spring assembly linking the lens to the movable frame indicator part of the flange. It's really just a spring clip but you'll definitely want to be careful with it.

No idea of the Leica turnaround although consensus is that its still many weeks.

 

[ChipNovaMac]

I have heard of John's services; but also have read Sean Reid's comments in some of his reviews about having caution about perhaps having such mods done. Not sure who to believe. On something like the TE I might suggest to my friend that the time may be worth its weight in gold.

Since I am looking at the Zeiss ZM 25mm 2.8 I wonder just how tight the tolerances are to get the job done right...

 

[davidzapr]

Just to let you guys know, Leica and a lot of the independents are being killed by business, and my MP is still at Leica USA for simply a sticky shutter release - and has been there for over three months with no sign of a return date. DAG has had my M5 for 4 months and my CL for over 3 months. My guess is with digital, a lot of folks are taking the time to have their Leica stuff done.

 

[sunsworth]

The Tri-Elmar has to be sent back to Solms. Not sure if there are any shims etc. between the mount and the lens body. Given the cost and risk of removing the mount and sending it to John and sending it to Leica, Leica would win every time.

 

[harmsr]

Hi Steve,

Actually Leica USA coded my Tri-Elmar in NJ within a week, some time ago. Maybe Leica UK is sending them back to Solms, but NJ did mine in house and it stayed perfectly focused.

Best,

Ray

 

[sunsworth]

Hi Ray, that's interesting. Leica UK coded some of my lenses while I waited, but some - TE, 75mm Summicron and Nocti had to go back to Solms. Maybe there are differences between territories.

Being a ham-fisted sort of person I wouldn't consider removing the TE mount myself - especially given it's more complex mount <grin>