Thank you Leica!

[SteveRD1]

Today I had a surprise in my mailbox that I was not expecting. Nothing big, but there were two vouchers for free 6 bit encoding of my lenses from Leica. I have NOT bought an M8 and I thought they were for M8 customers only! I did recently buy and register an M7, MP and Noctilux though! Anyway, now I can send off my noct and cron for the encoding so if and when I do get an M8 I will be set!

 

[Leicabug]

I believe two vouchers for free 6 bit encoding are from the Noctilux purchase.

 

[ywenz]

Those vouchers are undoubtly less valuable now that we know how easy it is to code the lens yourself with a black sharpie.

Internet is awsome!

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/10494-proof-concept-regarding-self-coding-lenses.html

 

[SDK]

The Leica coding is permanent, slightly recessed paint patches. Sharpie will rub off or smear with the oil that is on your lens mounts. (M lenses have a small amount of oil deliberately left on them for lubrication, and the manuals recommend eventually re-lubricating with a small amount of Vaseline.)

And yes purchasing one new lens entitles you to have two others encoded, according to a flyer I got a couple weeks ago. Eventually it may help resale value to have a factory coded lens, even if right now it makes little difference to most owners. I 'll get the deal too from my new 28mm/2.8 purchase. I'm thinking of selling my 90mm/2 AA. Perhaps I should get it coded first?

 

[Didier]

Did they also send a magenta checker color bar?
🙂
Didier

 

[kbg32]

Vaseline?

Vaseline?

(M lenses have a small amount of oil deliberately left on them for lubrication, and the manuals recommend eventually re-lubricating with a small amount of Vaseline.)

Never in all my life have I heard of this! I occassionally clean the mount as it gets aome built up grit. I'll have to check the manuals. I don't ever recall reading this in any Leica literature, and I've been a Leica owner and user for 28 years.

 

[Trius]

Vaseline? Not the same as oil! It will "attract" dirt like iron filings to an magnet as in your primary school physics lessons.

 

[Ronald M]

Vaselene has been long recommended by Leica. I read it ina book by Osterloh 25 years ago and it is in the instruction books for each of the latest lenses I purchased 28/70 35/70 50 2.8 90 4.0. If you look carefully, the new lenses come this way.

You add a trace a thin as you can, then wipe it off leaving as little as you can.
Never has a dust attraction problem, but then I use rear caps.

 

[SDK]

As Ronald said, I read it in a lens manual from Leica. I imagine they only want you to use a few microliters of it, and wipe it off, leaving the thinnest coating possible. Vaseline is a petroleum product like many lubricating greases and machine oils. Perhaps you would prefer menhaden machine oil rendered from dead fish? I'll post a quote from the manual soon.

 

[SDK]

From the 75mm Apo-Summicron-M ASPH manual:

"In order to ensure fast and smooth lens changes, the bayonet has been coated with a thin layer of grease in the factory. Normally, this lubricating film will remain on the lens for years, even if the lens is wiped from time to time. In the event that a grease solvent is used when cleaning, a fresh layer of grease should be applied. To do this apply a small amount of vaseline to the bayonet with your finger and spread it with a clean cloth.

Attention: Do not apply too much vaseline to the bayonet."

Sharpie marker will rub off with denatured alcohol or acetone, but these are also grease solvents. VWR lab markers are a bit more solvent resistant, and might work better for temporary 6-bit code markings. Alcohol won't remove the latter marker type, but acetone will.