Coding lenses for Leica M8.2 with a sharpie?

I am trying to do this according to the guidelines here: http://www.digital-leica.com/lens_codes/ and using the template: http://www.digital-leica.com/lens_codes/template.jpg but my Leica is not picking up the codes. Maybe you really do need to send all lenses into Leica, huh?!

by Davin Ellicson at Thu Jun 25 13:55:52 UTC 2009 Bucharest, Romania | Bookmark | | Report spam→

maybe that helps http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/10494-proof-concept-regarding-self-coding-lenses.html

Alexander

by Alexander von Spreti | 25 Jun 2009 15:06 | Munich, Germany | | Report spam→

Davin, did you do a search of the threads here at LS? If I’m not mistaken, Alan Chin did a post about this sometime in the last year, I think.

by Akaky | 25 Jun 2009 19:06 | New York , United States | | Report spam→

Yeah, I have seen your link Alexander and am following Alan Chin’s links Akaky. I guess you have to be quite precise with your sharpie to get the M8 to read the marks. The Leica forum guidelines have you believe that it is very easy to code your lenses with a sharpie. . . this doesn’t seem to be the case. I mean I would think there is a real reason that Leica charges hundreds of dollars for the coding. . .

by Davin Ellicson | 25 Jun 2009 21:06 | Bucharest, Romania | | Report spam→

I have a 28mm that I tried self-coding and it turned into a 90mm. Great. You really need to use a black paint since the Sharpie isn’t black enough to be read. Some make it sound easy but I found it anything but. That said the lens I was trying to self-code was too old for Leica to do it. I’ve had Leica do all my lenses that they are able to code and it is nice to have it done right.

by John Robert Fulton Jr. | 26 Jun 2009 02:06 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | | Report spam→

Thanks John for the input. It’s just that I am in Bucharest, Romania and I usually use Leica in New Jersey. I suppose I could find the main address for Leica in Germany and have it done in Europe. . .

by Davin Ellicson | 26 Jun 2009 10:06 | Bucharest, Romania | | Report spam→

it’s not like i actually own a M8!
i provided links before just based on what i read online, not because i did it myself.

i can’t afford one, and wouldn’t buy one if i could. i’m soldiering on with film Leicas and a Canon 5d for digital.

Nikon’s system where you just program the camera to whatever old lens you’re using makes more sense, altho i guess it’s more of a pain if you switch lenses a lot.

for even more fun, have y’all read about mounting C-mount movie and video camera lenses on the Micro 4/3 mount, that is, the new Olympus PEN digital camera…

by Alan Chin | 26 Jun 2009 16:06 | Beijing, China | | Report spam→

Alan! Well, I put the M8.2 on my AMEX card! But print sales are paying it off! I am currently shooting digital with a 5D MKII but here in Bucharest a rangefinder would be much appreciated on the street. . . there’s a lingering paranoia from Communism! I have the M8.2 with me but no coded lenses! Leica needs to go full frame and 15 megapixel+ with the M9!

by Davin Ellicson | 26 Jun 2009 17:06 | Bucharest, Romania | | Report spam→

Sorry about volunteering you, Alan; I just remembered that you’d written something about Sharpies and Leicas earlier this year. The idea of having to use a magic marker to make a massively expensive camera work properly just stuck in my mind, I guess.

by Akaky | 26 Jun 2009 21:06 | New York , United States | | Report spam→