Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Geoff Lets have a discussion on the option to have a menu option on the M8 to override the physical 6-bit coding of lenses. This would involve a menu of 64 options. I have a nice 21mm Zeiss lens I use on my M6TTL and it would be nice to use on my delayed M8 without going through the hoops of some third party engraving appropriate 6 bits notches on the lens mount and messing about with black and white nail polish. Perhaps more to the point I have a number of older Leica lenses, both M and LTM, I would like to use on the M8 (when it arrives) without having to wait weeks if not months for Leica to code them - by the way do they support LTM lenses on the M8? What I am saying as a Leica User I would find this a very attractive option. Technically it is a trivial option to implement. You have a swipe at Nikon vis NEF files but as a Nikon DSLR user this is not a major issue - a one off purchase of NX does the job - but I am allowed to use AI Zeiss lenses on my Nikons with a push of a button and a quick dial of a wheel. In fact the Zeiss lenses are my primary lenses on Nikon. Yes Leica is not Nikon but in my view Leica has to compete if it is to maintain and extend its user base. How often do we say "its the glass" when defending our expenditure on Leica kit. Well if it is that good then it can compete. Frankly I suggest they focus on the top end glass and accept as always the users of their bodies use a wide range of lenses. Chris B 2009/1/20 Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew@gmail.com>: > Mitch, you would like support on our list for your petition but don't want > any discussion here ? I don't recall any discussion about this on this list > over the last several years. > The current coding system does more than provide a focal length and maximum > aperture. For example there are several 24mm M lenses. Each has different > coding and implicitly different correction applied. > You also need the correct bayonet flange design to bring up the right > framelines. Coding does not work without those. Zeiss has acknowledged this > with their excellent M lens designs now too. > Every new Leica lens made for the last several years has the coding. Not > unreasonably Leica would like to sell some of those new lenses as well to > help stay in business. Almost every other M lens ever made can still be > used. That is remarkable. > Do you have the M8? Which lenses are not working well for you? > How about a petition to Nikon to put the aperture ring back on all of their > lens designs? ;-) Another one to stop them encrypting their white balance > data in NEFs to try to make their Raw format proprietary. DNGs would be > good. Good enough for Leica and Hasselblad and Pentax. > I'l sign that one when it gets going. > 2009/1/21 Mitch Alland <mitcha@mac.com> > >> There has been extensive discussion of Leica's use of lens coding to >> identity lenses to the M8. Many of us feel that this is an extremely >> inconvenient and costly solution for the user and that this should be >> done, >> more simply, by providing for it in the M8 firmware, which is easy to >> implement. Accordingly, I have written an online petition to Andreas >> Kaufmann and Leica, which reads as follows: >> >> >While Leica's solution of coding lenses in order to identify them >> >to the camera may have made sense at the time the M8 was >> >introduced, today a better solution is available. Nikon deals with >> >lens identification in firmware, by simply allowing the used to enter >> >the focal length and maximum aperture of the lens. With such a >> >facility available in the M8 firmware the user would not have to send >> >lenses away for coding, which is not only relatively expensive but is >> >also >> >> >bothersome in that the lenses have to be sent away and may not be >> >> >received back for some time; it is also often onerous for Leica M8 >> >> >users who do not live in Europe and North America, in that lens >> >shipment is more costly, takes longer and involves troublesome >> >customs clearance when the lenses are shipped back. >> >> >We therefore call on Dr Andreas Kaufmann and Leica to institute >> >an M8 lens identification system in firmware, preferably on an >> >open-system basis for all lenses or at least for all Leica lenses >> >that can be used on the M8. >> >> You can sign the petition at the following link, and I encourage you to >> list in the Comment field the Leica-M camaras that you own: >> >> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/leica-M8-firmware/ >> >> My feeling is that, as this matter has been discussed so extensively, >> there >> is no need to discuss it here further. Please sign the petition if you >> support this initiative. >> >> ?Mitch/Potomac, MD >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/malland/sets/72157594271568487/ >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > -- > Cheers > Geoff > Life's too short for slow zooms > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >