TS ISAAC
Established
Like many of you, I tried self encoding (M-Coding) a few of my M lenses. It worked! But after several lens changes, when the ink wore off, I tried to mark them again. I found my thin paper code template was wrinkled and torn. I made another paper template but became frustrated cutting the paper holes with my Exacto knife.
Above: my second rather delicate template printed and cutout from an internet document
Hoping to find a better technique, and looking at the damaged paper template, the beginnings of a design started to fall into place. A good coding template needs to seat well on the M-lens base, and index properly on the M lens locking groove. My original thin paper template was difficult to fit around the bayonet mounts, so I figured an open ‘C’ shaped design would simplify locating the template on the lens base. An open ‘C’ design allows the template to be snapped into place from the side. Putting these ideas together I have the results here, my M-Coder Ring concept model.
Above: First M-Coder Ring 3D CAD model
Please have a look at this design concept and advise me of your concerns and ideas. The M-Coder Ring fits like a Circlip and snaps around the lens with a little nudge. Then, when rotated using the single tab, you can fully seat it on the surface of the M-lens mount base, and mark the appropriate template holes. The M-Coder should be molded from plastic to have some spring like flexibility and be low cost.
Above: First M-Coder Ring 3D model mounted on a 50mm Summicron model
Above: First paper M Coder Ring prototype in the works
Of course the best route for lens coding is to have the Leica professionals complete this process. But if you are like me, the time without the lenses and the overall advantage of the code, when weighed against the cost of Leica coding, make self coding rather appealing. With the M-Coder Ring I hope to make the outcome of self coding, simple and accurate for us frugal types with many older M lenses in our equipment inventory.
Above: Paper M-Coder Ring prototype mounted on a real 50mm Summicron
Above: My first M-Coder Ring paper model showing indexing tab that locks in the lens lock groove. The M-Coder Ring holds the lens around the outside circumference of the lens barrel M mount. The tab also orients the M-Coder so you dont install it backwards
Playing with colors
I look to the experience and clear thought that this group might bring to bear on this idea, so critical comments and supportive ones are most welcomed.
Above: my second rather delicate template printed and cutout from an internet document
Hoping to find a better technique, and looking at the damaged paper template, the beginnings of a design started to fall into place. A good coding template needs to seat well on the M-lens base, and index properly on the M lens locking groove. My original thin paper template was difficult to fit around the bayonet mounts, so I figured an open ‘C’ shaped design would simplify locating the template on the lens base. An open ‘C’ design allows the template to be snapped into place from the side. Putting these ideas together I have the results here, my M-Coder Ring concept model.
Above: First M-Coder Ring 3D CAD model
Please have a look at this design concept and advise me of your concerns and ideas. The M-Coder Ring fits like a Circlip and snaps around the lens with a little nudge. Then, when rotated using the single tab, you can fully seat it on the surface of the M-lens mount base, and mark the appropriate template holes. The M-Coder should be molded from plastic to have some spring like flexibility and be low cost.
Above: First M-Coder Ring 3D model mounted on a 50mm Summicron model
Above: First paper M Coder Ring prototype in the works
Of course the best route for lens coding is to have the Leica professionals complete this process. But if you are like me, the time without the lenses and the overall advantage of the code, when weighed against the cost of Leica coding, make self coding rather appealing. With the M-Coder Ring I hope to make the outcome of self coding, simple and accurate for us frugal types with many older M lenses in our equipment inventory.
Above: Paper M-Coder Ring prototype mounted on a real 50mm Summicron
Above: My first M-Coder Ring paper model showing indexing tab that locks in the lens lock groove. The M-Coder Ring holds the lens around the outside circumference of the lens barrel M mount. The tab also orients the M-Coder so you dont install it backwards
Playing with colors
I look to the experience and clear thought that this group might bring to bear on this idea, so critical comments and supportive ones are most welcomed.
Last edited:
JohnL
Very confused
Brilliant!
garethc
Established
Excellent idea. No real critical comments to add...sorry!
Last edited:
BJ Bignell
Je n'aurai plus peur
The only thing I'll point out is that the holes in your coder ring don't follow the curve of the lens mount. This will probably need to be adjusted to work properly.
I don't own any M-mount lenses, nor do I own an M8, so I can't honestly comment on the good/bad of this idea, but I applaud your ingenuity!
I don't own any M-mount lenses, nor do I own an M8, so I can't honestly comment on the good/bad of this idea, but I applaud your ingenuity!
kully
Happy Snapper
How thick would the plastic fitting between the lens and the mount be?
TS ISAAC
Established
BJ Bignell, Thanks for your comment. The IR lens code reader mounted on the camera body is oriented in a straight line, not a curve. Kully, The M-Coder Ring is 0.8mm thick where the lens code holes are located, making it easy to reach through with the tip of a Sharpie ink pen or similar marker, but thick enough to injection mold from plastic. Of course, the M-Coder Ring is removed when the lens is mounted on the camera.
Last edited:
Ben Z
Veteran
Very nice. I wish I'd had such a thing to stencil onto my lenses, it would've helped me mill the shallow wells with more precision. Mine look ok but not like they were done by a machine. I didn't have any faith in a paper template, so I marked each lens off the camera's mount by hand. Your thingy would've been very useful.
Attachments
Last edited:
etrigan63
Rangefinder Padawan
Tim Isaacs: Master of the Non-Invasive M Gadgets
sirius
Well-known
Niiiice idea. I kept thinking it was to stay on the camera but now I see it's a template for drawing the marks. Bravo, great idea.
MJones
Member
Great Idea - I think you've got the technique down. Maybe add a label that states: "This side up" or "this side faces camera mount" or "this side towards you" or something similar. Looks like it will fit only one side so this label may not be needed other than making it idiot-proof.
Like you noted - the other major problem is the ink wearing off. And maybe this has been discussed - that is, other more permanent markings without milling. I've been using a Sharpie brand marker but have to recode every 3rd time mounting. Has anyone found something more permanent for marking? Surely there is something out there.
Thanks. Add this to the thumbs up package.
Like you noted - the other major problem is the ink wearing off. And maybe this has been discussed - that is, other more permanent markings without milling. I've been using a Sharpie brand marker but have to recode every 3rd time mounting. Has anyone found something more permanent for marking? Surely there is something out there.
Thanks. Add this to the thumbs up package.
Last edited:
Stu W
Well-known
Tim, you are truly a creative, multitalented craftsman!
Richard Marks
Rexel
Its a lot better than the paper template I have been using. It still does not get around having to redo the code every now and then. Im still hoping thet Leica have such a low uptake on the coding service that they consider adding a menu to the firmware to manually select lens focal length. Im sure it would be fairly straighforward for them.
Stu W
Well-known
What about using Tim's template to mark the lens, and then with the template off dab on a little insulating varnish? Sounds like it would hold up longer. Stu
R
RML
Guest
Patent pending, I hope....
Ben Z
Veteran
Richard Marks said:
That's why I hand-milled some shallow recesses and filled them with paint.
I wouldn't stand in the way of Leica offering such a menu for those who want it, but I'd rather grind a few dimples into my lens flanges and fill them with touchup paint and then just leave it in ON+UV/IR permanently vs having to remember to go into the menu every time I change lenses.
The dimples don't have to be exactly the shape of the official ones, and only the black ones need be done.
Last edited:
Stu W
Well-known
But Tim's method is reversible come trade-in time. Stu
Hartlén
Newbie
Great idea Tim,
How about extening your M8 tools collection with pre-marked lens adapter rings for screw mount lenses.
How about extening your M8 tools collection with pre-marked lens adapter rings for screw mount lenses.
Doctor Zero
Established
I don't own an M8, but still: great idea!
In a slight take-off on MJones' idea, would it be worth to have a slot on the handle-bit in the middle where you can slide a piece of paper, so that you could write down which way to code the lenses you have? There are too many possible combinations to put all of them on there, but most users wouldn't have that many lenses. Just a slot so you could write down something like:
35/2 xxxxxx
50/1.4 xxxxxx
90/4 xxxxxx
Replacing the 'xxxxxx' with a suitable code for each lens. Knowing me, I'd forget which is which and this way you don't have to look it up each time.
Then again, I guess that after you've done it once, you can just see the remainder of the previous markings and just follow that.
Hm. I'll be quiet now.
Doctor Zero
In a slight take-off on MJones' idea, would it be worth to have a slot on the handle-bit in the middle where you can slide a piece of paper, so that you could write down which way to code the lenses you have? There are too many possible combinations to put all of them on there, but most users wouldn't have that many lenses. Just a slot so you could write down something like:
35/2 xxxxxx
50/1.4 xxxxxx
90/4 xxxxxx
Replacing the 'xxxxxx' with a suitable code for each lens. Knowing me, I'd forget which is which and this way you don't have to look it up each time.
Then again, I guess that after you've done it once, you can just see the remainder of the previous markings and just follow that.
Hm. I'll be quiet now.
Doctor Zero
Robin Harrison
aka Harrison Cronbi
Excellent idea. Give me a dotted line, and I'll sign. I haven't tried coding any of my lenses yet because it seems like too much effort, but if I had one of these and a marker pen, I'd code like there was no tomorrow.
gurtch
Established
Tim: GREAT idea! I own a lot of ZM and CV lenses, non of which are coded. If you decide to market your code ring, I will be one of the first to buy one!
Dave G
Beach Haven, NJ
Dave G
Beach Haven, NJ