[Leica] Coding the Noctilux?

[digiratidoc at gmail.com (James Laird)]

Does Leica recommend coding the 40mm Summicron, and is it possible?

Jim

On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM, Ken Lassiter <kenlass@gate.net> wrote:
> To Nathan, Leonard, Henning, Len, Mehdrad and others:
>
> Thanks for your advice.  I made a series of photos with the Noctilux on the
> M8.2 yesterday afternoon. It seems to focus OK both at infinity and at 7
> feet at f/1.0 and f/8. I see no problems.  I think the back focus is OK. I
> see no other problems in the photos.  So I will forget coding the Nocti.
>
> I do not yet have a UV-IR filter for it. It is on the list to get after I
> survive Christmas.
>
> Warm regards and warm wishes for wonderful holidays... Ken
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> Leica's standard advice seems to be that for lenses longer than 35mm  
> coding
> is optional, so unless the money is burning a hole in your  pocket, I would
> not bother.
>
> Whether the fact that some people have reported back focus with the
>  Noctilux (or other lenses for that matter) should be of little  
> consequence
> to you. If your pictures are sharp, you do not have a  problem  If they are
> not, then put the M8 on tripod (this once,  only...) and shoot some test
> pictures with your own setup.
>
> Cheers, Nathan
>
> Ken,
>
> I see no reason to have the Noctilux coded. Since the M8 has a crop  factor
> of 1.33X, vignetting with the M8 is not a problem. Also cyan  corners, due
> to the UV/IR filters, are not a problem with 50mm  lenses. But use the
> filters even on the Noctilux.
>
> As far as back focus issues, first verify you have a problem with  your 
> lens
> that you think needs fixing. Some people don't seem to have  a problem.
>
> Results from Leica as far as Noctilux focus adjustments with the M8  seem 
> to
> be varied. I sent my Noctilux to Don Goldberg. He shimmed the  mount which
> put the focus at f1 slightly front focus. Photos now look  great. It also
> pretty much took care of the focus shift when stopping  down between f1.4 
> to
> f5.6. I sent mine to Don even though it was  still in warranty.
>
> Len
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> When I first got my M8 my Noctilux didn't focus correctly, and I intended 
> to
> have it adjusted. But I found I was shooting a lot with the camera and
> really didn't want it out of my hands for any length of time, so I put it
> off. Then, when I got a second body used which had been adjusted, I decided
> to take the plunge and sent off my original body, the Noctilux and 3 other
> lenses for adjustment and coding. The coding for the Noctilux was more of 
> 'I
> might as well while it's there' than anything else. I would not have
> bothered if there had not been any other issue.
>
> In any case I sent off this package in late spring, and had questioned the
> LUG on how to best send this to Germany. The result was that I sent it
> ExpressPost without full insurance and everything worked out, although 
> there
> were some anxious moments. The only reasonable alternative would have been
> to fly to Germany myself.
>
> The Noctilux and the 75 Summilux now focus dead on with both bodies wide
> open. There is of course the back focus when stopped down, but I rarely use
> the Noctilux between f/1 and f/5.6, so I can make adjustments the few times
> I do use those apertures.
>
> At f/1 the Noctilux is a delight and needs no coding to work. The 
> vignetting
> in the corners is cut off by the crop, and the lens is, if anything, more
> appealing to me on the M8 than on film. I use it a lot.
>
> So, as others have noted, get lenses 28 and shorter coded, and if you can
> spare the 35's for a while, maybe get them coded. I haven't, as I wanted to
> have some lenses between 50 and the WATE here on the other body while the
> rest of the lenses were having their vacation in Solms.
>
> Henning J. Wulff
>
>
>
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