[Leica] Coding the Noctilux?

[hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (Geoff Hopkinson)]

Ken the focus shift would be likely to occur at apertures larger than f/8. 
If the lens is correct wide open it will occur as you stop down but not be 
apparent at f/8 for example because the DoF will mask the error. Use it wide 
open and it will be fine if you are good enough! Stop down a little and 
you'll need to adjust . But a little experimentaion should give you the 
correction to make it work. Or trade it on the new Nocti if you are Bill 
Gates, or the Summilux 50 ASPH.
Cheers
Geoff
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Lassiter" <kenlass@gate.net>
To: <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 3:08 AM
Subject: [Leica] Coding the Noctilux?


> 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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