Moderately annoyed, with possible increase to "very"

[John Camp]

I would like to get my Leica lenses coded for the M8 that I've already ordered, without sending them to Germany, and I would like it to get done soon, so they'll be ready when the M8 gets here. Further, I would like to send them off in two batches, like 28-50-90 and then, when I get those back, the 21-35-75 tri-elmar, so I'll have half to shoot with while the other half is getting coded. Tony Rose graciously sent along a note that said Leica USA would be doing that starting in late August, but I cannot get the Leica USA people to even respond to an e-mail, so that I know that they got it, much less give me any information. I've got their address, but I don't want to bundle up a box full of luxes and a tri-elmar and ship it off blindly, without specific instructions of where it should go and when, and when I might expect them back. Has anybody gotten anything from Leica USA, any time recently? Is there any reason (like they're moving, or something) that they wouldn't just send us a note that would say, at a minimum, to be patient?

JC

 

[ywenz]

This is truly the sign of a great company. You'd think for a speciality brand like Leica, they'd value customer interaction more...

 

[peter_n]

[snip] Has anybody gotten anything from Leica USA, any time recently? Is there any reason (like they're moving, or something) that they wouldn't just send us a note that would say, at a minimum, to be patient?

John they did move a few months ago and I sent a registration card to the wrong (old) address but it was forwarded and wasn't a problem. You would think the same would be true of email. Try Dave Elwell; 201-767-5728 or dave DOT elwell AT leica-camera DOT us. Dave works in the parts department but has a terrific reputation for being able to answer most questions about anything.

 

[Mark Norton]

This is truly the sign of a great company. You'd think for a speciality brand like Leica, they'd value customer interaction more...

Please understand this is nothing to do with Leica AG, but Leica Inc who are nothing but a distributor. So if you're not happy, you should direct your venom at them and not at the manufacturer.

I've had 8 lenses coded by Solms and they have done a fine job. I've no experience of Leica Inc, NJ, but I can quite imagine them failing to meet any reaonable expectation of customer service. That, in my experience, is the new American business ethic, but don't blame it on the German company who are ready and willing to help. I have 8 coded lenses to prove it.

 

[harmsr]

John,

I am in the same boat as you of wanting to get my lenses coded prior to getting the M8. I called Leica NJ last week and they stated that they would not be accepting lenses to do the coding until mid-Sept.

I guess we wait or post them to Germany.

Best,

Ray

 

[MP Guy]

I am waiing to hear form the shop I am buying som especializedmachine from for coding the lenses. As soon as I get thego ahead, i will begi responding to those ho have already expressed an interest in RFF coding their lenses.

 

[Mark Norton]

I am waiing to hear form the shop I am buying some specialized machine from for coding the lenses.

What machine is that then, a Dremel?

 

[back alley]

What machine is that then, a Dremel?

could you at least try to be a bit more civil?
your general tone throughout is mostly negative.

we prefer a more positve tone here.

joe

 

[John Camp]

Mark, when you sent your lenses off to Germany, how'd you do it? Fed-Ex? Were you able to insure the package for the full amount? I guess I'd do that, although since the bombing plot last week, I might be even more nervous about sending them to Germany than I was before (not because I worry about bombs, but because I worry about inspections and delays and re-packaging, etc.)

Back Alley, I think Mark was being funny...he seems pretty sincere about M8s...

I wonder why Leica couldn't make up a whole bunch of lens mounts, and then just unscrew the unmarked ones, and stick on the new ones? It seems like it'd be way faster than disassembling, cutting, and reassembling, and keeping track of all the bits and pieces.

Jorge, I may use your service. I'd just prefer to be, uh, twentieth. 😀

JC

 

[Mark Norton]

John:

That is exactly what Leica do - they fit a replacement bayonet ring on the back of the lens; I expect they toss the old ones in a bin for recycling. Leica also mount the lens on a test rig to verify it can be recognised correctly and I think they also perform a quick visual inspection/exterior clean of the lens.

I sent my lenses by DHL who picked them up on a Friday and delivered them on Monday, the US would add a couple of days transit time. I expect Fedex and UPS would be fine as well. I did cover mine for the full replacement value - to lose all 8 lenses would be unfortunate. If it was one or two, I probably wouldn't bother. There's a world of difference between a courier service and the general mail.

As for security, I showed the lenses to the DHL courier before sealing the box which avoids it being opened unnecessarily. When shipping in this way, it's much better to allow the package to be opened reasonably easily than sealing it with layers of tape and also to use translucent packaging, like bubble-wrap.

Finally, you can track the whole process online - with the courier and your consignment number and the repair tracking service within Leica.

back alley:

I've pointed out on another thread the pit-falls of doing this outside Leica, and since getting my 35mm Summicron back, there's another. This lens has, as standard, one screw hole in the middle of where the code goes and the replacement mount has only 5 screws instead of 6. Take the mount off, and there's an empty screw hole behind the coding. Jorge is not going to be able to code this lens type and any others similarly affected.

I've made no secret that I don't think this service is a good idea; it's a non-starter commercially and high risk for the customer and Jorge. $125 may be a lot of money if you are on the US minimum wage but if an M8 is in your budget, it's noise level.

Here's a picture of the 35mm Summicron with the 5 hole mount:

 

[jaapv]

Mark, was the coding really done as sloppily as it looks on your photo?

 

[Mark Norton]

These are not photographs, I obtained them by putting the lens on a flat-bed scanner. Not sure what you think is sloppy about them but there is variation in the white paint from lens to lens - this one does look a bit thin. I think they are probably still fine-tuning the production process - the perils of being an early adopter! The actual quality of the lens mounts is fine and the surface is perfectly smooth, so there's no chance of the lens mount on the camera getting scratched.

 

[jaapv]

Ah-that explains it 🙂 No, it looks like the shape, especially the black ones is quite deformed, but putting them on a copier would explain it.

 

[Ben Z]

If (and will be a huge, unresolved "if" until I've had a chance to test all my lenses on an M8 myself) I go for coding, it will only be if Leica will sell me the coded lens flanges and I will perform the complicated surgery of removing and reinstalling a few screws myself. And I'll be keeping the original flanges so that if I should decide to sell one or all lenses I can return them to their original condition for a buyer who wants it.

 

[ColinJ]

Why the rush to get your lenses coded? They will all work on the M8 exactly as they are now.

The only benefits of coding the lenses are:

(1) the lens details will appear in the EXIF, and

(2) the camera will correct the image for light fall-off

Personally, I can live without (1) as I always record my shooting data, even with digital. I can probably live without (2) as I will make the necessary corrections in Photoshop just as I do now.

I will be interested to see what difference (2) makes. Only if it is a significant improvement over using Photoshop will I consider having my existing lenses coded. Obviously, any new lenses I buy will come already coded.