Can someone explain the difference between the ROM lenses and 3-Cam lenses for the R.

Thanks.

Alex

-- Alex Tamborrino (tambo6@aol.com), October 31, 2001

Answers

ROM, 3-cam and 3rd-cam (a.k.a. R-only) lenses may be used on any R body from R3 through R8 without restriction. The ROM contacts are used only by the R8 for zooming the flash head of some Metz flash units and for fine-tuning exposure metering in some exposure modes.

ROM lenses don't have the 1st and 2nd metering cams used by Leicaflex bodies, and have a mount that prevents them from being used on these cameras.

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), October 31, 2001.

Alex, You might look at previous threads on this topic for more detail. Both lens types will fit on R cameras and function properly. My understanding is that "currently" the ROM's are used only to send lens information to zoom flashes when used on R8 cameras. I think Leica is ultimately planning to use them for focus confirmation or some similar purpose but they will not admit to that at this time. LB

-- Luther Berry (lberrytx@aol.com), October 31, 2001.

More about the ROM versus non-ROM in the following previous discussion

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), November 03, 2001.