converting R lens from 2 to 3cam

[alyssa]

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Does anyone know how much it costs to convert an R lens from 2cam to 3cam, or to ROM?

 

Thanks,

 

A.

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[telyt]

It varies, you might want to e-mail a few repair technicians for quotes. In the USA, Don Goldberg is dagcam at chorus dot net, and Sherry Krauter is krauter at warwick dot net.

[alyssa]

Oh thanks! I will give it a shot and post the results.

[rsolomon]

i had my 3-cam lenses converted to Rom (wanted to plan for the future and i am glad i did) by leica USA in New Jersey - the cost was $200 / lens . I had this done 2 or so years back .

 

While Rom is not required for any accessories or the R9, it does bring "some" value today. i beleive it will bring more value in the future.

 

 

 

Rich

[alyssa]

Rich,

 

Thanks for responding... What do you mean when you say it would be more valuable in the future???

I am only thinking of doing it, really, (none of my lenses are ROM now), because this lens would need to be AT Least converted to 3-cam and I thought, well, it might not be too much more ($) to just jump to ROM while I'm at it. I really don't know how much it would benefit to do so. ???

 

A.

[telyt]

I question the economic value of adding ROM if the primary purpose is to get a higher resale value at some future date, unless the expected difference in resale value is greater than the cost of the conversion plus the time value of the conversion cost. Typically the difference in resale value for 2-cam vs. 3-cam lenses, all other factors equal, is less than the cost of current-year conversion.

 

If you have any thoughts of using the lens on a Leicaflex Standard or Leicaflex SL2, the ROM contacts are incompatible with these cameras, and for the Leicaflex SL the camera must be slightly modified and the lens further modified to fit the modified SL otherwise the ROM lens will not fit the camera.

 

ROM should be added where the perceived functional value is greater than the cost of conversion. ROM is not nessesary on the R8 or R9, even with the DMR attached.

[rsolomon]

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the value of the rom contacts for the R8/R9 in producing better images is VERY debatable. There have been many discussions around this.

 

you may want to look here:

Leica FAQ - Why do R lenses come in 2/3-CAM or ROM mounts?

some more detail:

'+'

Leica Fotografie International, 7/98, also has a discussion (i do not have this copy)

 

There was a live leica chat with leica engineers when the DMR was being announced. if i recall there were direct questions to leica on the role of ROM. i wish i had the link to provide but do not

 

Today i beleive the Rom electronic connection between lens and camera allow for the following :

 

1. allowing for wide/tele flash head zooming on metz flashes/modules supporting this function

 

2. Addtional electronic control to the existing mechanical control of light metering.

 

3 also allows for more complete EXIF data when using the DMR.

 

The bottom line why i did it : i bought into a system, the most important part of the system is the lenses. i see upgrading to ROM as a way to continue my investment for a payoff down the road....and figured the price would only go up.

 

Additionally, and here I am quoting from information I received from the Leica "The new data- and signal-transmission system between body and Leica R lenses are the bridge to the future of camera body and lens technology. They will allow further functions that make picture-taking easier, more effective and faster in the future."

 

rich

[rsolomon]

by the way on pricing you may want to check if there is any difference in converting to 3-cam or rom....it probably mostly labor, not parts. BTW: not all lenses can be Rom'd..most can but not all.

[robsteve]

ROM adds vignette correction on the DMR. I taped over the ROM contacts on my 19mm, took a picture of my light table and then took another picture with the ROM contacts working.

 

 

[alyssa]

Well, the vignette correction is pretty interesting. HOWEVER, I don't know how soon I can afford the DMR so...

 

________________

Let me see if I understand correctly:

I do need a 3-cam lens for R8... However do the previous 1 AND/OR 2 cam cause incompatibility with R mount? Or is either fine?

 

Don @ Dagcam quoted me $100 for 2 to 3cam conversion. I could only have ROM conversion through Leica directly, I guess I will check with them on the subject.

 

Thank you everyone for your help!

[telyt]

I do need a 3-cam lens for R8... However do the previous 1 AND/OR 2 cam cause incompatibility with R mount? Or is either fine?

 

1- or 2-cam lenses will physically fit on the R8 and sometimes with some R bodies the 2nd cam will activate the 3rd-cam follower and provide reasonably accurate meter readings. For best results you need the 3rd cam or ROM. The 1-cam lenses for the original Leicaflex can be used with stop-down metering but you might need exposure compensation to get accurate meter readings. The compensation would be constant throughout the metering range. If your 2nd-cam lens doesn't activate the 3rd-cam follower you'd use stop-down metering as with the 1-cam lenses. NOTE: There are also pre-ROM lenses that have a single cam, but this one cam is the 3rd cam a.k.a. R-cam.

[rsolomon]

i would put a call into leica in allendale nj ... i am not sure if they would do the upgrade from 2 to 3 cam..i expect they would but do not know.

[alyssa]

So here's another problem.

 

Does it make sense to buy an older lens and make the conversion, or would a newer version be signifigantly better and I would better invest in the latter?

 

28mm 2.8 w/ hood

 

ie, coatings on later lenses are superior etc. ?

[leicanewbie]

I'm going through this process this month. I've requested from Leica a quote to

ROM a 16mm fisheye lens, provided them the serial number and it came out to about

180, but I'm sure this will vary by lens.

 

The only thing I am concerned of is whether there will be any other problems they'll find

during the process of conversion that could add unexpected cost.

 

For myself, the main advantage is more automation when shooting in non-manual modes.

Until I better acquaint myself with all the nuances of exposure for various lighting

conditions and with the effects that I want, then this is better for me.

[telyt]

Does it make sense to buy an older lens and make the conversion, or would a newer version be signifigantly better and I would better invest in the latter?

 

28mm 2.8 w/ hood

 

ie, coatings on later lenses are superior etc. ?

 

There can be small changes in production that don't result in a new catalog number. Unless there are particular features of an older lens that you like, newer is often better. Whether the differences are discernable under typical working conditions is a separate question; for the vast majority of us the differences in optical performance are insignifcant. There are lenses that are a very big improvement over their predecessors but the 28mm Elmarit-R isn't one of these.

 

The 28mm lens with detachable hood is the older optical formula, still quite a good lens. A newer lens (built-in hood) will give you better results at the closest distances, particularly at the edges.

[rsolomon]

Daniel:

i had various lenses converted at leica in NJ . - they were each the same price. Also i don't think they will look for other issues, i beleive this is simpley changing the mount and putting the correct contacts in. Each lens is programed to a differnt "contacts" . If you are having your lens "CLA" at the sametime they may find addtional issues.

[alyssa]

I shoot MANUAL all the time. Always. Always. Always.

I don't know if this will ever change, or if i will want ttl features etc.

I still haven't heard from leica back about my request.

 

 

a.

[rsolomon]

i just checked ... i paid $195 per lens in sept 2004 to convert to ROM

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[telyt]

I shoot MANUAL all the time. Always. Always. Always.

 

You really ought to look into the Leicaflex SL or SL2. They can use 2-cam or 3-cam lenses and the viewfinder is spectacular.

[astrogirl514]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, I've just picked up a Leicaflex SL2 and am still trying to learn all the intricacies of the R-mount series.

I've been eyeing the Vario-Elmar 35-70mm f/4 but can only find it as ROM. Endless searching online didn't give me any info on whether this lens was ever made as 2- or 3-cam or if it's only a later lens produced as ROM. I know the SL2 needs 2-cam and 3-cam lenses so if I were to use this lens with the SL2, would I have to retrofit it to be 3-cam or could I tape over the ROM contacts as someone mentioned above and still take photos?

Basically, I'm wondering if using a ROM lens with the SL2 would leave the optics intact and only damage the ROM contacts (which I wouldn't ever need to use) or if later ROM lenses are just flat out incompatible with the SL2.