R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM?

mhoersch · 08/06/08, 01:03 PM

I sent a newly acquired Elmar R 4/80-200 (11280) to Solms to have it fitted with ROM. They wrote back this couldn't be done. Since Erwin Puts in his Leica Pocket Book expressly states that it is possible I called CS in Solms, but they confirmed: it can't be done with any Zoom lens because there isn't room enough in the mount.

I find this hard to believe because the very same lens could also be bought with ROM in the first place (11281).

Has anyone had the same reaction from Solms? Is it really not possible or don't they want to do it for some reason?

stuny · 08/06/08, 01:46 PM

Manfred -

This is strange. All the recent zooms I've used or owned have the ROM contacts. I too wonder what gives.

masjah · 08/06/08, 03:30 PM

Manfred and Stuart

What bad luck! Maybe with a zoom lens there is a greater difference between the ROM and earlier versions than just the fitting of the ROM chip and removal of the earlier than 3rd cams. Certainly in the case of some of the non-constant aperture zooms, information is sent to the camera about the "true" aperture set on the the lens. (You can see it change in the viewfinder as the focal length is changed.) This means that there must be some sort of potentiometer (or similar device) controlled by the zoom ring. So the actual zoom mechanism of the newer ROM versions may have been changed.

jaapv · 08/06/08, 04:07 PM

It may well be that there was a modification to the lens mount to accomodate the ROM. That would mean that they would have to change the mount as well on your lens. It is not very important though - I see very little advantage in having the ROM.

mhoersch · 08/06/08, 11:46 PM

Thank you all for your responses. Someday I'll find a copy of the lens with ROM and try to find out what the difference is...

razerx · 08/07/08, 06:10 AM

That's too bad. I e-mailed Leica customer service as per their website about updating my 70-180 to ROM but never got a response. Do these people ever answer e-mails? Why invite their customers to submit inquiries and then not respond? Good to know ROM is of limited value anyway...I guess.

I sent an e-mail to Zeiss last month about a loose front element on a Hasselblad lens and they responded within hours.

08/06/08, 01:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
mhoersch Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 11/24/06 Posts: 354	R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? I sent a newly acquired Elmar R 4/80-200 (11280) to Solms to have it fitted with ROM. They wrote back this couldn't be done. Since Erwin Puts in his Leica Pocket Book expressly states that it is possible I called CS in Solms, but they confirmed: it can't be done with any Zoom lens because there isn't room enough in the mount. I find this hard to believe because the very same lens could also be bought with ROM in the first place (11281). Has anyone had the same reaction from Solms? Is it really not possible or don't they want to do it for some reason? __________________ Regards / Gruesse Manfred www.manfredhoersch.de

08/06/08, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
stuny Moderator Join Date: 11/08/04 Location: New York Posts: 20,850	Re: R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? Manfred - This is strange. All the recent zooms I've used or owned have the ROM contacts. I too wonder what gives. __________________ Stuart www.barbara-and-stu.com

08/06/08, 03:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
masjah Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 10/08/02 Location: Hull, UK. 973 Old Posts + Posts: 658	Re: R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? Manfred and Stuart What bad luck! Maybe with a zoom lens there is a greater difference between the ROM and earlier versions than just the fitting of the ROM chip and removal of the earlier than 3rd cams. Certainly in the case of some of the non-constant aperture zooms, information is sent to the camera about the "true" aperture set on the the lens. (You can see it change in the viewfinder as the focal length is changed.) This means that there must be some sort of potentiometer (or similar device) controlled by the zoom ring. So the actual zoom mechanism of the newer ROM versions may have been changed. __________________ Best wishes. John John Howarth

08/06/08, 04:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
jaapv Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 09/14/04 Location: Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands Posts: 7,626	Re: R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? It may well be that there was a modification to the lens mount to accomodate the ROM. That would mean that they would have to change the mount as well on your lens. It is not very important though - I see very little advantage in having the ROM. __________________ Jaap WWW.JAAPVPHOTOGRAPHY.EU Skype: JAAPVPHOTOGRAPHY

08/06/08, 11:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
mhoersch Erfahrener Benutzer Join Date: 11/24/06 Posts: 354	Re: R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? Thank you all for your responses. Someday I'll find a copy of the lens with ROM and try to find out what the difference is... __________________ Regards / Gruesse Manfred www.manfredhoersch.de

08/07/08, 06:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
razerx Benutzer Join Date: 09/30/02 Posts: 76	Re: R Zooms can't be fitted with ROM? That's too bad. I e-mailed Leica customer service as per their website about updating my 70-180 to ROM but never got a response. Do these people ever answer e-mails? Why invite their customers to submit inquiries and then not respond? Good to know ROM is of limited value anyway...I guess. I sent an e-mail to Zeiss last month about a loose front element on a Hasselblad lens and they responded within hours.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Welcome to the Leica Camera Forum!