Coding ZM 21/4.5

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noimmunity

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Apparently the flange on the ZM 21/4.5 is a bit different and more complex than the one on the ZM 21/2.8 , so it is not possible (I understand) to simply remove the flange and ask Jon Milich to mill it for coding. I am not sure whether or not he would make a whole new flange and could successfully mount it.

What are users of the ZM C Biogon 21/4.5 doing with this lens on the M8? Not coding it at all and using cornerfix?
 
noimmunity said:
Apparently the flange on the ZM 21/4.5 is a bit different and more complex than the one on the ZM 21/2.8 , so it is not possible (I understand) to simply remove the flange and ask Jon Milich to mill it for coding. I am not sure whether or not he would make a whole new flange and could successfully mount it.

What are users of the ZM C Biogon 21/4.5 doing with this lens on the M8? Not coding it at all and using cornerfix?
Click to expand...



I am also facing this proble. Unless you can change the flange, other you can only use the cornerfix
 
code the lens, then depress the lens selector when taking a shot, and hey presto! "21mm" comes up in the image data.
 
The word from John Milich is that the lens would have to be sent to him through DAG in order to remount the flange.
Hmmm. All the way from Taiwan...
Are there others who are using it without coding or hand-coded?
I've seen some really nice photos with the lens on an M8 on another forum...
 
bottley1 said:
code the lens, then depress the lens selector when taking a shot, and hey presto! "21mm" comes up in the image data.
Click to expand...

Can I confirm:
- 6bit coding only applies the lens fix/EXIF data?
- and a work around is 6bit code using 'pen' and manually hold down the frameline selector when shooting? which framelines would this bring up? or do you use an external VF or use the whole VF?
- otherwise, send whole lens to John M for permanent 6bit & new flange?

does that sound about right?

I'm most interested in the framelines more than the exif/lens fix.

thanks
 
push the frameline selector towards the lens barrel (i.e. 28mm/90mm position), and use the whole v'finder. See Page 103 of the Leica instruction book. The widest frameline is 24mm, so using the whole view is approx 21mm, give or take a mm.
Hope that helps :p
 
boy_lah said:
- otherwise, send whole lens to John M for permanent 6bit & new flange?
Click to expand...

I think the process goes like this: Send whole lens to DAG who would get a coded replacement flange to bring up 28mm framelines from JM, after which DAG is the one who actually mounts the new flange. DAG has a surcharge fee for this service in addition to the fees from JM.
 
From my understanding, Milich cannot replace the mount on the Zeiss 21/4.5 or even DAG. It is not the same as switching out the 18, for which Milich makes replacement mounts, or even the 25. The mount on the 21/4.5 is a bit more complicated. One has to send the lens to Zeiss in Germany to have the mount switched and the lens focussing recalibrated. The lens can only be hand coded. Zeiss will not sell the mount separately. I have tried!

Has anyone out there replaced the 21/4.5 mount by other then Zeiss??
 
wow! what a stubbornly cool and unique gem of a lens!

I'll need to try this out--hand coding + manually shifting the FL preview lever--and then see how that works. Might ultimately influence my search for an M8 wide. Next candidate could be a CV 15. Ironic since I sold the ZM 18, but I'd prefer something smaller/lighter on the wide end anyway (but hold it, doesn't that mean problems fitting a UV/IR filter to the 15?). But I have to try the ZM 21/4.5 first. I've seen some really nice photos taken with it on an M8. It's obviously working for somebody!

OT: I think I could end up loving the M8 for its idiosyncratic niggles more than anything!
 
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Thanks everyone for the feedback :D I think this is why i gave up on it in the first place!

I could perhaps live with the manual depressing of the VF selector option - otherwise being in UK, the sending to zeiss & milich option all just sounds too difficult. My other reservation is what this means on my m7?? does anyone know? what framelines would it bring up if zeiss/milich modified?

noimmunity said:
I'll need to try this out--hand coding + manually shifting the FL preview lever--and then see how that works. Might ultimately influence my search for an M8 wide. Next candidate could be a CV 15. Ironic since I sold the ZM 18, but I'd prefer something smaller/lighter on the wide end anyway (but hold it, doesn't that mean problems fitting a UV/IR filter to the 15?).
Click to expand...

I have the CV 15 and a efov of 21mm on the m8 would be very different to the efov 28mm. I would NOT compare the two.
Having said that, i quiet enjoy the 15mm but do not it is NOT rangefinder coupled ie. you CANNOT meter thru it. I don' t use a IR cut filter on it and it's fine.
 
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bottley1 said:
code the lens, then depress the lens selector when taking a shot, and hey presto! "21mm" comes up in the image data.
Click to expand...

Seems like a bit of a crazy thing to have to do with a $5000 camera combo. It's a shame Leica haven't opened up the coding to be menu driven.
 
boy_lah said:
I could perhaps live with the manual depressing of the VF selector option
Click to expand...
Ha! I do that all the time with my 75/2 on the ZI. Or not. Being able to see around the framelines is more important to me than precise framing, but I do have methods for that, too.

boy_lah said:
I have the CV 15 and a efov of 21mm on the m8 would be very different to the efov 28mm. I would NOT compare the two.
Having said that, i quiet enjoy the 15mm but do not it is NOT rangefinder coupled ie. you CANNOT meter thru it. I don' t use a IR cut filter on it and it's fine.
Click to expand...

On film, I prefer 21/35/75, but of course I also have a 21/28/50. With a lens like the Heliar I would rarely need the precisionof coupled focusing cuz the DOF is so large. I don't understand why you can't meter through it? Of course, TTL average center-weighted metering through super wides is always a little misleading, but is that what you mean? Or does the Heliar flange block the metering cell on your M7?
 
jon,

i think you can buy the 21/4.5 with flange ready for the m8 from poflash, at least... i've been looking into it. that doesn't mean it's got pits & is ready for coding, but it does pull the correct framelines. i think all the zm lenses they sell are m8 ready, or at least that's how it seems from the site. don't know the economics of shipping to taiwan, but it might save some hassles in the long term.

and i did see a coded 21/4.5 for sale here a few months back, so it can be done, though i don't know the method!

ben
 
Afert havng it milled by John Milich, I had my flange modified by Steve's Camera in Culver City, California. He put a tiny pin in the flange face that brings up the correct framelines. Works fine.

If you don't have the lens yet, I believe that Popflash sells them with the correct flange, so all you have to do is coding.
 
Anyway, do you see any color fringes at the pics corner taken by a 21F4.5 with IR Cut without coding???If not, i don't have to seek trouble to seek for coding. For general vignetting, I don't mind
 
I bought the lens with the correct flange from Popflash, removed the flange and sent it to JM who milled coding detents and sent it back - put it back on the lens and it's a gem!
 
rocheung said:
Anyway, do you see any color fringes at the pics corner taken by a 21F4.5 with IR Cut without coding???If not, i don't have to seek trouble to seek for coding. For general vignetting, I don't mind
Click to expand...

I use mine with the UV/IR cut filter but without any coding and the mount brings up the 50/75 lines. Not quite sure what pushing the frameline lever inwards to bring up the 28/90 lines achieves.

Anyway for some reason I never seem to suffer any cyan corners with this lens. It does give fabulous results.
 
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