What's The Difference? : Milich vs Tim Isaac's Do-Dad vs The Sharpie

dcsang

dcsang

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I'm confused (and some would say rather easily at that...) about the whole lens coding thing.

I know it's mainly for 35 and wider, and currently I only have 2 lenses that are wider than 35 but what benefits/drawbacks are there amongst the three methods listed in the subject line?

Is any one better than the other?

Cost factor?

Like I said.. I'm a bit confused by it all (having just rec'd some UV/IR Cut filters via Gid) 😀

Much appreciated,
Dave
 
I think the choice is between a permanent solution and a temporary one.
If you don't like to refresh the black marks on your lens flange then go for the "jm" fix and once its done you can forget about it. (For bayonet mounts, you'll need to take the bayonet/flange off and send it to him, for screw mounts just buy his pre-milled flanges)

If you want to, mark it yourself with a marker/"sharpie".
1. the camera mount has "LEDS" on the mount, simply mark the corresponding spots for each of the LED "dots" on the side of the camera mount
2. attach the lens that requires coding and now mark get your "sharpie" out and put the corresponding marks on the side of your lens flange.
3. take the lens off the camera, and code it. You'll know where to put the black coding marks by noting the location of the black marks on the side of the lens flange.

Total time 3 minutes the first time. Refreshing is as quick as you can take the cap off your sharpie.

It really really is not difficult. I should say its really really easy to do.
Cheers
Rob
 
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Dave,
Like the previous poster said, Milich is permanent. You can send him the flange from your Zeiss and have it milled, buy a CV type II adapter from Cameraquest (type I does not work) and have him mill it, or buy one pre-milled from JM. When he is done, it looks just like the Leica job (or new ones).

The Tim Isaac "Do-Dad" has a template for the black or white marks. It makes it easy, but you will have to re-new it. You can do it yourself, but you have to get the black marks in the correct spots in front of the LED's. Once you do, you can just re-new them.

I have 3 lenses that have been coded by JM and one by Leica. I am working toward having all of mine permanently coded as I can get around to it. I still have a couple that I'm marking, but it gets to be a PITA.

The coder can be purchased from Popflash here: http://www.popflash.com/index.php?p=product&id=2681&parent=0

A John Milich price list can be requested at: jm@milich.com.
 
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i got a couple adapters and original mounts done by JM. Excellent work. Once you got it done you won't need to worry about it anymore.
Plus, this solution won't gunk up the 6-bit sensor.

Since you're a fellow Torontonian, email me if you like to check out Milich's work for yourself.
 
Thanks Harry.

Out of curiosity, how much do his adapters cost?

I know the contact is just via email but it's darn hard finding any other information other than John's email address.

Thank you,
Dave
 
the adapters are US$150.

email John and he will send you a file with all information.
i also use his hoods for the 12 and 15mm VC lenses. outstanding.

i know it's not cheap but it's a perfect solution
 
You can send lenses to DAG and he will send the adapter to JM for coding. I just needed my 75 lux calibrated and had Don send the mount to John for coding. Very professional. It cost $50 to have Don send it, plus the calibration cost and shipping back to me.

You can send in a CV type II mount (if you have one) and John will code it. It is very reasonable (but you better check with him for the current price.) **correction: John's latest email says that CV flanges can not be coded.**


Weser said: " i know it's not cheap but it's a perfect solution".
It is no more expensive than sending to Leica and is much quicker.
 
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When I coded my adapters and lenses there was only the Sharpie option and I wanted something permanent. So I ended up to mark off the flanges and hand-mill the recesses myself. My handwork is fairly clean if I do say so myself, but my lenses are all fairly much "Bargain" grade cosmetics and I have no intention of selling them, so I don't care that it doesn't look like the Leica factory coding, only that it works, which it does. If I had any really mintish, newer lenses I would probably either send them to Leica or John M.
 
Thanks folks.

I really only need it for the 21mm and the 15mm - the 35mm is already coded (thanks Cindy 😀) - and, my understanding, is that I don't really need it for the 50mm correct?

Jeez.. another $300 to shell out huh... *sigh*.. there must be an easier way.

Dave
 
dcsang said:
Thanks folks.

I really only need it for the 21mm and the 15mm - the 35mm is already coded (thanks Cindy 😀) - and, my understanding, is that I don't really need it for the 50mm correct?

Jeez.. another $300 to shell out huh... *sigh*.. there must be an easier way.

Dave
Click to expand...

Dave,
You don't need it for the 50. Mine is not coded. The only advantage to coding the 50 or anything longer than 35, would be if you wanted the focal length reported in the exif data.
 
dcsang said:
Thanks folks.

I really only need it for the 21mm and the 15mm - the 35mm is already coded (thanks Cindy 😀) - and, my understanding, is that I don't really need it for the 50mm correct?

Jeez.. another $300 to shell out huh... *sigh*.. there must be an easier way.

Dave
Click to expand...


Don't shell out the money! Buy the Tim Issac M-coder, which I have. What is the big deal? The coder lets you code the lens with a sharpie. If the marks wear off (mine have not yet!), then simply mark them again, it takes 1.2 seconds. I have never gunked up my LED's on the M8 (which you could clean anyway). I see no need to spend $150 per lens, which is 50% of the cost of a CV lens anyway, defeating the cost benefit of these lenses. I would love the Milch adapters, but for my casual needs, I have better things to do with buying adapters for the five CV lenses that I own. The cost of adapting those lenses will buy a NEW lens! That is not worth it for me.
 
I just got the latest list from JM. His LTM8 adapter is $100. Shipping to Canada is $20. He states that CV adapters can not be coded.
Make sure you buy CV type II if you want to code it yourself.
 
dcsang said:
Thanks folks.

I really only need it for the 21mm and the 15mm - the 35mm is already coded (thanks Cindy 😀) - and, my understanding, is that I don't really need it for the 50mm correct?

Jeez.. another $300 to shell out huh... *sigh*.. there must be an easier way.

Dave
Click to expand...

It won't be $300. You only need one adapter for the CV 15mm which is LTM. John mills the M mounts for $25. The Zeiss 21mm has the wrong flange on it. You need to bring up the 28mm framelines on the M8 so you need to order a new flange from Zeiss. Unless you bought your Zeiss from Tony Rose and it's one of his M8-ready models which only needs to have the flange sent to John for milling.
 
Milich adapters are great stuff and the job he does on the "new" CV M-flanges is first-class too. Yes, at 100$ the adapters are not cheap, but you get what you pay for.
I tend to like permanent, hessle-free solutions - and don't want to worry because I don't know whether the sharpie code is still there or has faded away.
Just MHO...
 
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