Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/15

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Subject: [Leica] ROM compatibility, has anyone un-ROM'ed a lens?
From: vick.ko at sympatico.ca (Vick Ko)
Date: Wed Jun 15 04:25:59 2005

Thanks Doug.  You are a gold mine of information.

Yes, I visit your site often, and now have it bookmarked.  Your opinions
are more credible than Mr. Puts.  (Should I now put on my flame-suit?)


Vick Ko



-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+vick.ko=sympatico.ca@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+vick.ko=sympatico.ca@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Doug Herr
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 10:28 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] ROM compatibility, has anyone un-ROM'ed a lens?


on 6/14/05 3:23 PM, Vick Ko at vick.ko@sympatico.ca wrote:

> ROM compatibility, has anyone un-ROM'ed a lens?
> 
> Suppose I find a fantastic deal on a ROM lens.  I only have an SL2.
> 
> What are my options:
> 
> 1)  find a R camera.  Are ROM lenses compatible to all the R's, 
> including R3?
> 
> 2)  remove the ROM.  Is this possible as DIY?  Will there be enough 
> cams to operate the lens on an SL2?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Vick Ko
>

Vic,

Option 1 is viable.  ROM lenses will fit any R body, R3 or newer.

Option 2 is more involved than removing the ROM and adding cam(s).  The
flange is different too.  Leica did this to prevent damage to a) the ROM
contacts and b) to the SL and 'flex mirror.

a) - the ROM contacts occupy the space where the first cam would have
been. The 'flex and SL2 both have cam followers that will damage the ROM
contacts.

b) - beginning with the SL2, some R lenses have been made that require
more mirror clearance.  The R-only bayonet flange prevents the lens from
being used on any Leicaflex body.  There is also an SL2 and newer flange
that will not work on the 'flex ad SL, but will fit SL2 and any R body.
However, because of ROM fouling the R-only flange won't fit the SL2.

What to do?

Early R bodies are inexpensive, sometimes less expensive than converting
the lens to 3-cam.

Many, possibly most ROM lenses can be retrofitted to SL or SL2 3-cam
configuration.  The one ROM lens I've been able to examine was a damaged
80-200 f/4 Vario; the inner diaphragm ring had the holes pre-drilled and
tapped for the cams, in addition to the ROM contacts, so if this is
typical of ROM lenses, adding cams shouldn't be a big deal.  The flange
is another issue.  DAG can modify the flange to fit the Leicaflexes, or
the R-only flange can be swapped out for a Leicaflex-compatible flange.
In addition to DAG, Leica USA does the conversion and I believe Sherry
Krauter does too.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com



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In reply to: Message from telyt at earthlink.net (Doug Herr) ([Leica] ROM compatibility, has anyone un-ROM'ed a lens?)