Leica M8 Lens Codes

Last updated: 23.08.2008

For the Leica M8, Leica devised a lens coding system which worked with the firmware to make image corrections such as de-vignetting, and when an excessive infrared sensitivity was discovered, cyan corner elimination was added for when using IR filters. This table lists the codes used by Leica. Readings are made by placing the lens with the pattern at 12 O'Clock, and reading clockwise. The "Other Lenses" column lists lenses which are known to benefit from the same coding as the Leica lens in the "Lens Name" column.

The "Frames" column is new, and indicates which frames the lens code works with. Initially I have just the primary frameset, but some lens codes work with more than one (and retain the correct EXIF focal length/aperture), so if you have any additional frames to be added, please let me know.

Product # Black Product # Chrome Lens Name Lens Code Value Frames Picture Other Lenses

11134 - Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 000001 1 28/90 Konica M-Hexanon 21-35mm f/3.4-4.0 (1)

11804 - Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 (III) 000011 3 28/90 -

11800 - Tele-Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 (II) 000100 4 28/90 Konica M-Hexanon 90mm f/2.8 (2)

11868 11856 Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 (II) 000101 5 50/75 -

11310 11311 Summicron-M 35mm f/2 (IV) 000110 6 24/35 Zeiss Biogon T* 2/35 ZM,
Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2.0 (3)

11136 11137 Summicron-M 90mm f/2 (II) 000111 7 28/90 -

11829 - Elmarit-M 135mm f/2.8 (I/II) 001001 9 24/35 -

11626 - Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH. 010000 16 28/90 -

11817 - Summicron-M 50mm f/2 (III) (010111) (23) 50/75 Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f/2.0

11135 11897 Elmarit-M 21mm f/2.8 ASPH. 011000 24 28/90 Voigtländer Color Skopar 21mm 1:4,0,
Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM,
Kobalux 21mm f/2.8

11878 11898 Elmarit-M 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. 011001 25 24/35 Voigtländer Snap Shot Skopar 25mm 1:4,0,
Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (with mount fix)

11604 - Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. 011010 26 28/90 Voigtländer Ultron 28mm 1:1,9,
Voigtländer Color Skopar 28mm 1:3,5,
Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM

11809 - Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 (IV) 011011 27 28/90 -

11606 - Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. 011100 28 28/90 Zeiss Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM,
Konica M-Hexanon 28mm f/2.8

11874 11883 Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. 011101 29 24/35 Voigtländer Nokton 40mm 1:1,4

11879 11882 Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH. 011110 30 24/35 Voigtländer Color Skopar 35mm 1:2,5,
Voigtländer Ultron 35mm 1:1,7

11821,
11822 - Noctilux-M 50mm f/1 011111 31 50/75 -

11891 11892 Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. 100000 32 50/75 Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1:1,5,
Zeiss C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM

11819,
11826 11825,
11816 Summicron-M 50mm f/2 (IV, V) 100001 33 50/75 Zeiss Planar T* 2/50 ZM

11831,
(11824) 11823 Elmar-M 50mm f/2.8 100010 34 50/75 -

11810,
11814,
11815 - Summilux-M 75mm f/1.4 100011 35 50/75 -

11637 - Apo-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH. 100100 36 50/75 -

11884 11885 Apo-Summicron-M 90mm f/2 ASPH. 100101 37 28/90 -

11807 11808 Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 100110 38 28/90 -

11633 11634 Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/4 100111 39 28/90 -

14409 - Macro-Adaptor-M 101000 40 28/90 (?) -

11890, 11625 11894 Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm f/4 ASPH. 101010 42 28/90, 24/35, 50/75 -

11643 - Summarit-M 35mm f/2.5 101011 43 24/35 -

11644 - Summarit-M 50mm f/2.5 101100 44 50/75 -

11645 - Summarit-M 75mm f/2.5 101101 45 50/75 -

11646 - Summarit-M 90mm f/2.5 101110 46 28/90 -

Notes:

(1) Coding for 21mm only; you must start camera with preview in 28mm position and use that position when shooting. This lens uses a 6-screw mount, but the extra screws are outside the coding area. Unfortunately, this lens uses a 35mm frame position, which is not compatible as far as I can tell with any Leica 21mm lens code. (Dante Stella)
(2) Typically no coding necessary; a screw provides the 1. (Dante Stella)
(3) Clip the frameline lug (so as to show 35mm frames). (Dante Stella)

Many thanks go to Sean Reid, for generously providing informative comparative test results for the "Other Lenses" column. Examples and further details available at Reid Reviews. Many thanks to Popflash.Photo, Mark Norton, and many others, for the use of the code images.

The entries are listed in the table in the same order which Leica listed them in their original 6-bit coding announcement. As confirmation comes in, I will enter the codes, but this should allow you to intelligently narrow down a code. If you have lenses to add or find mistakes, please mail me at carsten AT digital-leica DOT com. Ideal would be a photo of the lens with the code.

Mike Prevette on the Leica M8 Forum has found out that by marking lenses in the correct spot with a black marker, the M8 will actually read the above codes, and use the internal settings for the lens whose code was marked. This is handy not only for marking the above lenses without actually sending them in for coding, but also for marking "similar" lenses and getting some benefit of the coding even for older Leica or other non-Leica lenses. Experimentation is in order!

To help marking the lenses in the correct spot, Bob Blakley has released a template into the public domain with the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication license, ie. it is free for use. Instructions from Bob: "Print it out; the gray surround should be exactly 2 inches by 2 inches. Cut out all the white parts. The cutout at lower left aligns with the little recessed slot in the lensmount; the holes then represent the code bit positions. It's easiest to get on if you cut the recessed-slot piece all the way through to the edge of the paper so you can just open the template up and slip it on. I've made it a nice shade of magenta :-) If you want a template you can use over and over again, I'd suggest a trip down to Office Depot to get some overhead transparencies to print the template on. That way your Sharpie won't damage the template." A Sharpie is a brand of permanent black marker.

Here is the original thread which got all this started.