felix5616
Established
What is the least expensive method available for coding lenses to be used on a Leica M8? I am considering a purchase of a Leica M8. I have the following lenses; 12mm, 15mm, 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses.
Coding lenses for Leica M8
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Photon42
burn the box
Felix,
for lenses lenses with a screw mount you either need an adapter with enough material at the right place or you buy an an adapter with recesses already milled in from John Milich (recommended).
For lenses with the M mount (or an appropriate LTM adapter), use a permanent black pen to code the lens. Double check with the info button with a photo taken after the coding, if the lens is recognized.
My suggestion here: if you have more than one lens to code, get the M-coder. You already have then two correct pens and a stencil which works.
Once your coding is proven to be recognized correctly, you can then get a dremel and create the (to be black) recesses yourself. Then fill the recesses with paint / nail varnish. It's a small job, but has to be done properly. Make sure the lens is shielded correctly against metal dust.
Keep in mind that lens coding relies on
a) the correct code
b) the proper lens flange bringing up the correct frame lines
Especially with earlier Zeiss lenses the lenses from 24mm on sometimes don't have the proper flange (that's OK for film cameras). The frame lines of course do not matter with regard to the view finder. Look at it just another part of the code. Leica may have introduced because of their lenses with variable focal length (WATE and MATE).
Some non-leica lenses have their flange screws at the wrong place, just right in the coding area. Usually, this is not a big problem, though.
Cheers
Ivo
for lenses lenses with a screw mount you either need an adapter with enough material at the right place or you buy an an adapter with recesses already milled in from John Milich (recommended).
For lenses with the M mount (or an appropriate LTM adapter), use a permanent black pen to code the lens. Double check with the info button with a photo taken after the coding, if the lens is recognized.
My suggestion here: if you have more than one lens to code, get the M-coder. You already have then two correct pens and a stencil which works.
Once your coding is proven to be recognized correctly, you can then get a dremel and create the (to be black) recesses yourself. Then fill the recesses with paint / nail varnish. It's a small job, but has to be done properly. Make sure the lens is shielded correctly against metal dust.
Keep in mind that lens coding relies on
a) the correct code
b) the proper lens flange bringing up the correct frame lines
Especially with earlier Zeiss lenses the lenses from 24mm on sometimes don't have the proper flange (that's OK for film cameras). The frame lines of course do not matter with regard to the view finder. Look at it just another part of the code. Leica may have introduced because of their lenses with variable focal length (WATE and MATE).
Some non-leica lenses have their flange screws at the wrong place, just right in the coding area. Usually, this is not a big problem, though.
Cheers
Ivo
RLG
Established
I'm using the M-Coder and it works, but have to add that I do not change very often the lenses (usually use the CV 28 2.0 as my standard lens).
All my other CV lenses have the type II adapter, exept the collapsible Heliar 50 2.0, I could not code it due to the fact that a screw is in the way.
Best
All my other CV lenses have the type II adapter, exept the collapsible Heliar 50 2.0, I could not code it due to the fact that a screw is in the way.
Best
