Lens coding? Really?

[kshapero]

Is Lens coding? Really? needed for the M8. Aren't I just getting the EXIF data? Anything else it is for?

 

[Ken Tanaka]

Lens coding only provides two features.

1. It allows the focal length of the lens to be recorded in the image EXIF. (Aperture is never accessible.)

2. It enables the camera to make edge corrections for certain wide lenses while recording JPG images. It has no effect whatsoever on DNG images.

 

[Richard Marks]

Hi Ken
I suspect thirdly it might be used for flash exposure data with an SF24 in the 'lens dependant mode'. No great shakes though!
Richard

 

[Ben Z]

Lens coding only provides two features.

1. It allows the focal length of the lens to be recorded in the image EXIF. (Aperture is never accessible.)

2. It enables the camera to make edge corrections for certain wide lenses while recording JPG images. It has no effect whatsoever on DNG images.

I would imagine the cyan corner correction required with IR-cut filters and wide lenses, will be applied to the DNG images if the lens detection is enabled.

 

[barjohn]

Yes and I think one of the features to be added in the new firmware is the ability to tell it if you have a filter on the lens or not.

 

[Ben Z]

...though it's not been made clear if that requires a coded lens. It oughtn't, because the firmware evidently makes changes to the WB based on whether a filter is present, and shouldn't require a coded lens. If Leica makes too many things require a coded lens in the hopes it will discourage use of non-Leica lenses or older Leitz lenses and coerce people into buying new ones or paying for coding, the tactic is sure to impact the M8 sales negatively.

 

[eon]

How can Leica impair sales of M8 by improving the picture quality with coded lenses?
Shouldn't it make for more sale, of lenses, as the user get better image quality compared to without a firmware update of this type.

/Erik

 

[Ben Z]

How can Leica impair sales of M8 by improving the picture quality with coded lenses?
Shouldn't it make for more sale, of lenses,

The biggest market for the M8 are folks who already are heavily invested in Leica M and/or compatible glass for the film bodies, a great deal of which Leica does not offer coding for. Forcing them to suffer poor image quality without coded lenses will undoubtedly turn away more potential customers than it will convince to buy new lenses--especially at their current prices. Self-coding using the existing algorithms is only viable if they happen to correct the cyan perfectly. If any post-processing is necessary, may as well do it all in post, it's the same extra step, just stronger correction settings.

 

[grduprey]

I don't see how firmware could detect a IR filter on the lens, you would have to tell the camera it is there. And using an older lens , if not on the codeing list will not help either. My 35 Pre-Asph Summilux is not on the list so the codeing is useless to me.

 

[Andy Aitken]

Gene, a bit of fakery and experimentation with the coding will most probably bring your 35 lux "up to date": http://www.digital-leica.com/lens_codes/index.html

The codes are so easy to fake I really can't see it hurting sales of M8's or of competitors (Zeiss/CV) lenses. My only problem was finding the right pen (!) and finding old style adapters for my LTM lenses. Of course I'll have to wait for the filters and 1.10 firmware to see exactly how well they work with the new anti-magenta programme...