[Leica] Coding the Noctilux?

[kenlass at gate.net (Ken Lassiter)]

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