Any foreseeable need for ROM ?

[colorflow]

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I have converted most of my R lenses to Sony Alpha mount using Leitax flanges. The ROM contact on some of the R zooms require extra milling for clearances in the flange. I've had it done at considerable expense and also did it myself with a Dremel tool. It would be much easier just to cut the ROM strip. I understand it would lower the resale value but does anyone foresee any future use for ROM ?

[jaapv]

Highly unlikely. The R system is completely phased out and there is not a single development.

[sc_rufctr]

The problem is resale value... And that's about it.

 

Does that matter to you?

 

-------------

 

Personally I wouldn't do it because the future is unknown.

 

I would not be surprised if Leica introduced a digital R body and resurrected the line.

 

Why? (Imo) They've been really successful with the M digitals. Why wouldn't that work for the R series?

The new lenses would be auto focus so they would have polymer/alloy construction similar to the S lenses.

[naturephoto1]

The problem is resale value... And that's about it.

 

Does that matter to you?

 

-------------

 

Personally I wouldn't do it because the future is unknown.

 

I would not be surprised if Leica introduced a digital R body and resurrected the line.

 

Why? (Imo) They've been really successful with the M digitals. Why wouldn't that work for the R series?

The new lenses would be auto focus so they would have polymer/alloy construction similar to the S lenses.

 

That was what the R10 was supposed to be. But, Leica abandoned the project years ago. But, who knows, anything is possibly and maybe Leica will change its mind. But, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

Rich

[andybarton]

I simply unscrewed the ROM chip from my 28 Elmarit-R when I put the Leitax mount on.

 

If I ever needed to change the mount back (which I doubt), I could screw it back on.

[colorflow]

Both the 35-70 and the 80-200 f4 have ROM ribbons that cannot be easily detached. The ribbons interfere with the seating of the flange.so it's either milling the flange for clearance or cutting the ribbon. I milled the flange of the 80-200 and am seriously considering just cutting the ribbons of the 35-70. It's one of the few less expensive lenses anyway.

[algrove]

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I have both ROM lenses and non-ROM lenses and frankly the problems I always seem to have with adapters and extenders come with the ROM lenses, but I just out up with it due resale value, but pretty soon I will run out of patience with it all and rid many lenses of their ROM contacts.

 

I realize I could buy ROM extenders and other adapters etc, but that is just over the top for me.

[masjah]

Eventually I hope to go over to an M + EVF2 + R-M Adapter. But I foresee a very obvious future need for the ROM chip, which is to enable me also to continue to enjoy my R lenses to maximum effect with my R8 and R9 using film.

 

Also, I've got a purely aesthetic objection to butchering my lovely R lenses in any way whatsoever (though, strangely, no such objection to butchering Canon cameras).

[andybarton]

Do you use flash much, John?

 

If not, I'm not sure that there is any advantage to having ROMd lenses. I never noticed one with film.

[masjah]

Do you use flash much, John?

 

If not, I'm not sure that there is any advantage to having ROMd lenses. I never noticed one with film.

 

Andy, yes I do a bit - and it's actually very useful having the auto-zoom facility on my 54MZ. The other big advantage is having the correct aperture displayed in the viewfinder with variable aperture zoom lenses, and having the microprocessor in the ROMd 2X extender also relay the correct aperture. I don't know how much difference in practice is made by the camera knowing the aperture dynamics of the individual lens sample.

 

But if it's a question of using R lenses Leitax adapted to a digital camera, I suspect the best solution would be not to start with a ROMd lens at all. I realise this isn't an answer though for, say, using a 28-90 zoom (which has only ever been made in a ROMd variant).

[colorflow]

Not all ROM lenses have this issue with Leitax. In fact, most of them can be easily unscrewed and detached. AFAIK only a few zoom lenses have attached ribbons that cannot be unscrewed. Anyway, I just cut the ribbon.

[sc_rufctr]

That was what the R10 was supposed to be. But, Leica abandoned the project years ago. But, who knows, anything is possibly and maybe Leica will change its mind. But, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

Rich

 

Thanks Rich but my post was more wishful thinking than anything else.

For instance... How much would an R10 cost new? Yikes!

 

Meanwhile I'll have to make do with my Ds Mk ii

[Torquinian]

.

 

 

I would not be surprised if Leica introduced a digital R body and resurrected the line.

 

 

I wish they would.,- I have three R cameras and nine lenses plus other accessories and like almost everyone I could never afford an S series DSLR.

[andybarton]

I would be surprised. Very, very surprised.

[michali]

I've converted the following R lenses onto Leitax mounts for use on a Sony Alpha 850:

 

• ELMARIT-R 1:2,8/19 mm
  
• APO-MACRO-ELMARIT-R 1:2,8/100 mm
  
• APO-TELYT-R 1:4/280 mm
  
• APO-Extender-R 1.4X
   
  
• LEICA VARIO ELMAR-R 1:4,2/105-280 mm -ROM
  
• LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT-R 1:2,8-4,5/28-90 mm -ROM
  

The two zoom lenses were the trickiest conversions, especially the 28-90mm which required me to drill a hole into the shroud, remove & replace the spring.

 

I followed these instructions:

[Modification] Leica R Vario-Elmarit 28-90mm f/2.8-4.5 Asph : Les tutoriels matériel et prise de vue

with one major exception,

I could see a cock-up coming from my side. Instead I just cut the ROM contacts off and bypassed what this guy did, where he meticulously stripped the lens down and unscrewed the ROM contacts off the barrel

[earleygallery]

.

 

 

I would not be surprised if Leica introduced a digital R body and resurrected the line.

 

 

I wish they would.,- I have three R cameras and nine lenses plus other accessories and like almost everyone I could never afford an S series DSLR.

 

Leica have already stated numerous times that this isn't going to happen.

 

IF (big if) Leica did decide to introduce a new 35mm format DSLR, it would certainly have a new mount and range of AF lenses - you might be able to use R lenses with some type of adapter, stop down metering, but that's what you can do right now with a Canon or Nikon body, or the new M, so why wait?

[Torquinian]

I have converted most of my R lenses to Sony Alpha mount using Leitax flanges. The ROM contact on some of the R zooms require extra milling for clearances in the flange. I've had it done at considerable expense and also did it myself with a Dremel tool. It would be much easier just to cut the ROM strip. I understand it would lower the resale value but does anyone foresee any future use for ROM ?

 

The ROM is excellent if you want to use fill in flash. It happily converses with the SF 24D and comes up with an answer.

[algrove]

So guess I'll keep my R ROM lenses ROM.

[tobey bilek]

The R was abandoned for the S2 and the bean counters could see big $. The S lens line seems incomplete with little progress. As fine as it might be, a $25,000 camera body seems nuts, and then you need a back up.

 

One could buy a house for what it costs to set up an S.

 

They spent the R10 R&D money on the S and from what I can tell, it flopped. That leaves us with nothing.

 

I sold off all the R bodies cheap, many lenses, kept the 21, 60, 100 2.8 and put Nikon mounts on them. 28 and 35 PC also got Nikon mounts. They will end their life that way,

 

I say get over it.

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Hallo,

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