Leica M8 expectations

[felix5616]

I have a leica M6 with the following lenses: 12mm voigtlander,15mm zeiss, 18mm zeiss, 25mm zeiss, 35mm asph summicron, 50mm summilux and 90mm f/2 summicron. I have been thinking about getting a Leica M8. what can i expect if i do not code my lenses or use IR cut filters. The added expense of coding the lenses and buying IR cut filters would add hundreds of $'s to the cost.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well, I've used the 15 Voigtländer, 18 Zeiss and 90 Summicron on an M8 and been happy enough in urban environments, but if you photograph foliage/landscapes you may be much happier with IR/UV filters.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kbg32]

You can expect cyan vignetting in the corners of especially the wide angle lens files, and black won't be black but magenta. If you are good in Photoshop, you can correct a lot of these problems. Corner Fix works great at correcting the cyan vignetting. If you invest, code a lens at a time as you can afford to.

If you just shoot black and white, don't worry about coding or the UV/IR filters. You won't miss them.

 

[rfrangefinder]

i have the cv15, cv28/1.9, cv50/1.5 and leica 90/2 apo.

UV/IR cut is a must for convenience and color fidelity. to post-process rectify color without them is just too hard, and often impossible. overall images just seem far better with the filters. if you do all/almost all b/w, or night-time with strong light sources, then filters might be best avoided (less relevant for b/w, too flaring for night).

If you decide to use IR cut, the i strongly recommend coding for anything wider than 50mm. for my 50 and 90 i get no discernible color casts, cyan vignettes etc. cyan corners on the 15 and 28 are a pita.

i have tried fixes like cornerfix, and they are quite good....but i recently acquired some coded adapters for the 15 and 28, and the in-camera processing on the dngs solves any issue.

my adapters came from john milich. he will produce superb quality adapters with permanent coding. google him.

i have never looked back; far more convenient, much better color and overall result. i say: just do it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

my adapters came from john milich. he will produce superb quality adapters with permanent coding. google him.

As I understand it, the coding is patented. How does he get around this? No-one can do much about DIY solutions but presumably he has come to an arrangement with Leica.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Zero Nakajima]

It's the same as Sigma or Tokina reverse engineering a lens mount.

You can't prevent someone from coding a lens which couples to a device.

 

[swoop]

I have some of those lenses. With the 15mm you can expect high contrast. The 90 'cron has very low contrast. Like the images are kind of grayish.

Both the 90 'cron and 50 'lux are hit or miss. The focus is very tight.


I don't have my lenses coded and they work just fine. You will however want the IR filters. They're mandatory.

 

[jaapv]

The patent covers the dots, not the dents. One is supposed to paint in the code oneself.

Lenses longer than 35 mm need not be coded. There is no danger of cyan drift. 35 mm is marginal, anything shorter must be coded. UV/IR filters are necessary for foliage, anything synthetic and black and Caucasian skin colour. And advisable for any other shot. Not only do they create colour fidelity, the image is slightly sharper too.