SL2, IBIS and R-ROM fixed lenses, Vario's and accessories

[Leicaiste]

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On the SL2 I have tried a dozen of R lenses and R accessories, all equipped with ROM.

- All the fixed R lenses were correctly recognised when mounted on the Leica R-Adapter L.

- The Vario's 21-35, 28-90 and 35-70 (latest versions) were correctly recognised at any focal length they were set on.

- The IBIS really need to know the actual focal length in use to work correctly.

This is important to know in the following situations :

A -  When using the Vario-Apo-Elmarit-R 70-180/2,8 (and the Vario-Elmar-R 105-280/4,2).

Because these two lenses were designed before the introduction of the ROM (R8), their ROM only communicate their shortest focal length to the SL2, which means that the IBIS only work correctly @ 70mm on the 70-180 as an example. At 180mm you can immediately see in the viewfinder that the IBIS is not doing its job properly which also make it more difficult to focus. 

Fortunately, the SL2 lets you bypass the automatic recognition of the ROM lenses and gives you access to the R lenses list in which you can choose any fixed lens equivalent to the focal lens in use on these two Vario's (like 90, 100, 135, 180, 250 or 280mm). 

B -  When using any Zoom lens without ROM (see solution above).

C -  When mounting the APO-Extender 2X ROM because it is still not recognised by the SL2. Fortunately it it now also gives access to the R lenses list. As an exemple, you can select the 350/4,8 when using the Apo-Elmarit 180/2,8 together with the APO-Extender 2X. (Same solution for APO-Extender 2X without ROM or the Apo-Extender 1,4X).

D -  When mounting the Macro-Adapter-R ROM because it is also not recognised by the SL2. It also gives access to the R lenses list, but in this case you can choose the actual lens in use. (Same for any extension tube).

The easiest way to work around these shortcomings is to assign the R list to one of the function button and to edit the list to keep only the focal lengths that you may need in one or all of these situations.

This is only possible thanks to the fact that Leica has listed (almost) every R lenses ever made in the SL2. And that includes the lenses which were only available equipped with ROM.

[helged]

2 hours ago, Leicaiste said:

On the SL2 I have tried a dozen of R lenses and R accessories, all equipped with ROM.

- All the fixed R lenses were correctly recognised when mounted on the Leica R-Adapter L.

- The Vario's 21-35, 28-90 and 35-70 (latest versions) were correctly recognised at any focal length they were set on.

- The IBIS really need to know the actual focal length in use to work correctly.

This is important to know in the following situations :

A -  When using the Vario-Apo-Elmarit-R 70-180/2,8 (and the Vario-Elmar-R 105-280/4,2).

Because these two lenses were designed before the introduction of the ROM (R8), their ROM only communicate their shortest focal length to the SL2, which means that the IBIS only work correctly @ 70mm on the 70-180 as an example. At 180mm you can immediately see in the viewfinder that the IBIS is not doing its job properly which also make it more difficult to focus. 

Fortunately, the SL2 lets you bypass the automatic recognition of the ROM lenses and gives you access to the R lenses list in which you can choose any fixed lens equivalent to the focal lens in use on these two Vario's (like 90, 100, 135, 180, 250 or 280mm). 

B -  When using any Zoom lens without ROM (see solution above).

C -  When mounting the APO-Extender 2X ROM because it is still not recognised by the SL2. Fortunately it it now also gives access to the R lenses list. As an exemple, you can select the 350/4,8 when using the Apo-Elmarit 180/2,8 together with the APO-Extender 2X. (Same solution for APO-Extender 2X without ROM or the Apo-Extender 1,4X).

D -  When mounting the Macro-Adapter-R ROM because it is also not recognised by the SL2. It also gives access to the R lenses list, but in this case you can choose the actual lens in use. (Same for any extension tube).

The easiest way to work around these shortcomings is to assign the R list to one of the function button and to edit the list to keep only the focal lengths that you may need in one or all of these situations.

This is only possible thanks to the fact that Leica has listed (almost) every R lenses ever made in the SL2. And that includes the lenses which were only available equipped with ROM.

Thanks! I would like to have a menu option where the focal length can be manually typed (like on S1R). This would eliminate the search for suitable R-lenses, and eliminate in-camera corrections to the chosen R (or M) lens. Should be easy to implement, I would think. 

Edited December 14, 2019 by helged

[msh58]

Am 14.12.2019 um 13:46 schrieb Leicaiste:

C -  When mounting the APO-Extender 2X ROM because it is still not recognised by the SL2. Fortunately it it now also gives access to the R lenses list. As an exemple, you can select the 350/4,8 when using the Apo-Elmarit 180/2,8 together with the APO-Extender 2X. (Same solution for APO-Extender 2X without ROM or the Apo-Extender 1,4X).

D -  When mounting the Macro-Adapter-R ROM because it is also not recognised by the SL2. It also gives access to the R lenses list, but in this case you can choose the actual lens in use. (Same for any extension tube).

I wonder whether there is a technical limitation in the R-Adapter L or in the SL2 (and SL) bodies, which leads to lacking functionality with the APO-Extenders and the Macro-Adapter-R or is it just an oversight when Leica wrote the firmware for the adapter (and the SL bodies).

Other than this oversight, the ROM lenses work as expected on my SL.  

[Leicaiste]

12 hours ago, msh58 said:

I wonder whether there is a technical limitation in the R-Adapter L or in the SL2 (and SL) bodies, which leads to lacking functionality with the APO-Extenders and the Macro-Adapter-R or is it just an oversight when Leica wrote the firmware for the adapter (and the SL bodies).

Other than this oversight, the ROM lenses work as expected on my SL.  

I suspect that they didn’t want to put a profile for every possibility.

This doesn’t explain the lack of compatibility of the Macro-Adapter as it would only need to pass the actual lens in use. 

[msh58]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Leicaiste:

I suspect that they didn’t want to put a profile for every possibility.

This doesn’t explain the lack of compatibility of the Macro-Adapter as it would only need to pass the actual lens in use. 

I did a test with help of an R9 and a flash connected to it. The flash auto zooms according to the focal length of the lens.

1. The Macro-Adapter passes the focal length through correctly.

2. The Extender multiplies the focal length by 2.

So at least the focal length information is passed through the ROM contacts correctly. I wonder what other information the ROM contacts pass in order for the SL body to guess the connected lens type correctly.

[scott kirkpatrick]

Aha!  We have another standard to hold the SL products to.  Just as Panasonic has managed to do things in their firmware and their Fotos equivalent connectivity product (Lumix Synch).  the R9 had enough information passing through the ROM lenses to not only recognize the 2x and 1.4X extenders as well as the lenses they were extending, and then do the right things with that information.  Where did those extra bits get lost in the SL's firmware?

[msh58]

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vor 5 Stunden schrieb scott kirkpatrick:

Aha!  We have another standard to hold the SL products to.  Just as Panasonic has managed to do things in their firmware and their Fotos equivalent connectivity product (Lumix Synch).  the R9 had enough information passing through the ROM lenses to not only recognize the 2x and 1.4X extenders as well as the lenses they were extending, and then do the right things with that information.  Where did those extra bits get lost in the SL's firmware?

There is also firmware in the R-Adapter L. The newest SL firmware (3.7) can read its version, which is 1.0 in my copy of the adapter.

[Aktenschrank]

2 hours ago, msh58 said:

There is also firmware in the R-Adapter L. The newest SL firmware (3.7) can read its version, which is 1.0 in my copy of the adapter.

That piece in the latest firmware announcement also caught my attention. Mainly because on Leicas download page there's no firmware for any of the adapters and I cannot remember ever hearing about firmware updates for them or even the possibility to have the firmware on them updated... Maybe there's something coming (being the optimist here)😀

[nicci78]

Leica has been so lazy with ROM extenders and macro adapter. 

Such a shame for a 715€ adapter. 
You can buy a nice used R8 for this kind of money. 

[msh58]

Am 13.2.2020 um 13:25 schrieb nicci78:

Leica has been so lazy with ROM extenders and macro adapter. 

Such a shame for a 715€ adapter. 
You can buy a nice used R8 for this kind of money. 

I had a look at the R-Adapter L instructions. This is what the booklet says about lens compatibility:

"All Leica R lenses with contact strips are compatible, as are all lenses available for the Leica R models since 1976. Both apply in principle to joint use with appropriately equipped Leica R lens accessories, such as extender and macro adapter (subject to any lens-specific restrictions. Please refer to the relevant lens or accessory instruction for details on this.)"

It is curious that there there is the "in principle" for the extenders and macro adapter. Maybe they never tested them with R-Adapter L. How else can it be "in principle"?

[gippo]

Hello
I have a question to ask: I have a SL1 with a leica M / SL adapter, I use rigid M 50 cron lenses; and 40 cron; and summilux R 50 with Novoflex adapter. 
By chance I did a test photographing a table as per the attached photo, and I had the bad surprise to observe that the upper right side of the target 
and the lower side of the left side appear more in focus than the other areas; I would have expected a 'zone' at the bottom and top homogeneous with 1/3 
and 2/3 of PDF. I ask you how this is possible?

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[Joakim]

You didn't mention what lens it is but in general it could be a poor adapter but both Leica and Novoflex makes high quality ones so it is more likely that your lens has taken a knock and is misaligned and needs to be serviced.

[gippo]

Thanks for the reply; that photo is made with the rigid summicron 50 f2; but all my lenses produce the same result. 
The adapters are Leica M / L and Novoflex. I don't think (and I hope) that it is attributable
to the sensor.

[gippo]

I would add that by photographing a vertical flat image (parallel to the SL) with a stand and level bubble, 
the phenomenon is not evident .....

[120ince]

Does anyone know if the Ibis works well with R lenses in video mode?