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Archive 2011Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
p.2 #1Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
one more question...im looking on ebay and i don't see any ROM versions for sale, only something called 3-CAM. should i bother buying this over the considerably cheaper "normal" version? also, is the only difference between rom and non-rom is that i have to manually change the aperture (which i've never done before)?
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:22 AM
p.2 #2Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Finally, here is what the 100% detail of the leaf I posted above (5.6 version) looks like with some sharpening applied:
http://www.gibranstudio.com/sharp180.jpg
http://www.gibranstudio.com/sharp180.jpg
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:23 AM
p.2 #3Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
one more question...im looking on ebay and i don't see any ROM versions for sale, only something called 3-CAM. should i bother buying this over the considerably cheaper "normal" version? also, is the only difference between rom and non-rom is that i have to manually change the aperture (which i've never done before)?
What do you mean by manually change the aperture? What camera are you mounting this onto? Anything besides a Leica body will mean you have to manually change the aperture anyway and there would be no reason to buy the more expensive ROM versions. You can even buy series 7.5 conversion rings that will allow early versions to accept Leica E60 (60mm) filters. The version I have is the early one from the late 70's that takes series 7.5.
one more question...im looking on ebay and i don't see any ROM versions for sale, only something called 3-CAM. should i bother buying this over the considerably cheaper "normal" version? also, is the only difference between rom and non-rom is that i have to manually change the aperture (which i've never done before)?
What do you mean by manually change the aperture? What camera are you mounting this onto? Anything besides a Leica body will mean you have to manually change the aperture anyway and there would be no reason to buy the more expensive ROM versions. You can even buy series 7.5 conversion rings that will allow early versions to accept Leica E60 (60mm) filters. The version I have is the early one from the late 70's that takes series 7.5.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:28 AM
p.2 #4Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
@j.liam: Thanks for the link to that thread on mflenses, it's very informative.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:33 AM
p.2 #5Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:35 AM
p.2 #6Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
one more question...im looking on ebay and i don't see any ROM versions for sale, only something called 3-CAM. should i bother buying this over the considerably cheaper "normal" version? also, is the only difference between rom and non-rom is that i have to manually change the aperture (which i've never done before)?
ROM only makes a difference (a debatable one) on the Leica R8 or R9 body and prevents its use on the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL2. What's a "normal" version?
one more question...im looking on ebay and i don't see any ROM versions for sale, only something called 3-CAM. should i bother buying this over the considerably cheaper "normal" version? also, is the only difference between rom and non-rom is that i have to manually change the aperture (which i've never done before)?
ROM only makes a difference (a debatable one) on the Leica R8 or R9 body and prevents its use on the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL2. What's a "normal" version?
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:36 AM
p.2 #7Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
i saw some versions that were non-ROM non-3-cam on ebay, so i called them 'normal' for lack of a better term 
.
.Apr 28, 2011 at 08:37 AM
p.2 #8Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...
You don't need a Leitax mount change for Canon, just a simple adapter. For Sony and Nikon, you use the Leitax mount change. No option is going to give you auto aperture. You will get AF confirm with a chipped adapter.
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...
You don't need a Leitax mount change for Canon, just a simple adapter. For Sony and Nikon, you use the Leitax mount change. No option is going to give you auto aperture. You will get AF confirm with a chipped adapter.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:39 AM
p.2 #9Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
oh ok, cool. sorry about the newb questions, this will be my first leica purchase...
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:40 AM
p.2 #10Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...
Leitax sells the Dandelion chip that once installed on the mount, will give you focus confirmation and focus fine adjustment. They will install it for you for a small fee.
As far as the ROM-versions of the R lenses, they still sell for some premium over the 3-CAM versions and unless there's a difference between the two types, all you're doing is overpaying for electronics that cannot communicate with either Canon por Nikon bodies. I imagine it will be meaningful once Leica introduces the R-solution they've been talking about, whenever that happens.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 08:45 AM · View previous versions
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...
Leitax sells the Dandelion chip that once installed on the mount, will give you focus confirmation and focus fine adjustment. They will install it for you for a small fee.
As far as the ROM-versions of the R lenses, they still sell for some premium over the 3-CAM versions and unless there's a difference between the two types, all you're doing is overpaying for electronics that cannot communicate with either Canon por Nikon bodies. I imagine it will be meaningful once Leica introduces the R-solution they've been talking about, whenever that happens.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 08:45 AM · View previous versions
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:40 AM
p.2 #11Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
j.liam wrote:
Leitax sells the Dandelion chip that once installed on the mount, will give you focus confirmation and focus fine adjustment. They will install it for you for a small fee.
Would not any chipped adapter do the same? Or do all the other ones just give you normal focus confirmation but not focus fine adjustment? Just curious.
antifire wrote
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...Would not any chipped adapter do the same? Or do all the other ones just give you normal focus confirmation but not focus fine adjustment? Just curious.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:42 AM
p.2 #12Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Leitax sells the Dandelion chip that once installed on the mount, will give you focus confirmation and focus fine adjustment. They will install it for you for a small fee.Would not any chipped adapter do the same? Or do all the other ones just give you normal focus confirmation but not focus fine adjustment? Just curious.
I'm not sure what other after-market chip you're referring to but the Dandelion is fully programmable; FL, maximum aperture and focus adjustment are all possible.
j.liam wrote
antifire wrote
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...I'm not sure what other after-market chip you're referring to but the Dandelion is fully programmable; FL, maximum aperture and focus adjustment are all possible.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:46 AM
p.2 #13Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
i saw some versions that were non-ROM non-3-cam on ebay, so i called them 'normal' for lack of a better term.
If it's not ROM and not 3-cam it's probably 2-cam, which is certainly a very old sample (pre-1976). Older lenses can be retrofitted with the 3rd metering cam or with ROM so 3-cam or ROM is not a guarantee of a more recent lens.
i saw some versions that were non-ROM non-3-cam on ebay, so i called them 'normal' for lack of a better term
.If it's not ROM and not 3-cam it's probably 2-cam, which is certainly a very old sample (pre-1976). Older lenses can be retrofitted with the 3rd metering cam or with ROM so 3-cam or ROM is not a guarantee of a more recent lens.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:47 AM
p.2 #14Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Tariq Gibran wrote:
You don't need a Leitax mount change for Canon, just a simple adapter.
You don't need a Leitax mount, but they are awfully nice --- very precisely made and one fewer wobbly interfaces between the lens and camera. They are a bit pricey (but still cheaper than top-of-the-line adapters like a Novoflex) and you can't quickly swap them between lenses, but, especially for a heavier lens with a floating element design (needs precise mounting distance for best performance), the Leitax is in my opinion the best mounting choice.
You don't need a Leitax mount change for Canon, just a simple adapter.
You don't need a Leitax mount, but they are awfully nice --- very precisely made and one fewer wobbly interfaces between the lens and camera. They are a bit pricey (but still cheaper than top-of-the-line adapters like a Novoflex) and you can't quickly swap them between lenses, but, especially for a heavier lens with a floating element design (needs precise mounting distance for best performance), the Leitax is in my opinion the best mounting choice.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:50 AM
p.2 #15Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
j.liam wrote:
Leitax sells the Dandelion chip that once installed on the mount, will give you focus confirmation and focus fine adjustment. They will install it for you for a small fee.Would not any chipped adapter do the same? Or do all the other ones just give you normal focus confirmation but not focus fine adjustment? Just curious.I'm not sure what other after-market chip you're referring to but the Dandelion is fully programmable; FL, maximum aperture and focus adjustment are all possible.
I know if I was buying a chip myself, I would want something like the Dandelion on my Sony mounts so I could use the programmable FL function and take advantage of the built in steady shot on my a900. That option is not available for Canon though!
Something like this is what I was thinking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-R-Lens-Canon-EOS-Camera-Adapter-Focus-Confirm-/190419560224?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c55e3e720
Tariq Gibran wrote
j.liam wrote
antifire wrote
Oh, I thought you could use an adapter like Leitax mount that lets you use focus confirmation and aperture change on a canon 5dmkii...I know if I was buying a chip myself, I would want something like the Dandelion on my Sony mounts so I could use the programmable FL function and take advantage of the built in steady shot on my a900. That option is not available for Canon though!
Something like this is what I was thinking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-R-Lens-Canon-EOS-Camera-Adapter-Focus-Confirm-/190419560224?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c55e3e720
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:53 AM
p.2 #16Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
mpmendenhall wrote:
You don't need a Leitax mount, but they are awfully nice --- very precisely made and one fewer wobbly interfaces between the lens and camera. They are a bit pricey (but still cheaper than top-of-the-line adapters like a Novoflex) and you can't quickly swap them between lenses, but, especially for a heavier lens with a floating element design (needs precise mounting distance for best performance), the Leitax is in my opinion the best mounting choice.
The quality of the Leitax stuff is top notch. Absolutely no wobble or play with the mount I purchased - that took me 3 long months to receive! I just wish they were not so expensive and did not involve so many shipping issues/ expenses.
Tariq Gibran wrote
You don't need a Leitax mount change for Canon, just a simple adapter.The quality of the Leitax stuff is top notch. Absolutely no wobble or play with the mount I purchased - that took me 3 long months to receive! I just wish they were not so expensive and did not involve so many shipping issues/ expenses.
Apr 28, 2011 at 08:57 AM
p.2 #18Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Tariq Gibran wrote:
The quality of the Leitax stuff is top notch. Absolutely no wobble or play with the mount I purchased - that took me 3 long months to receive! I just wish they were not so expensive and did not involve so many shipping issues/ expenses.
I agree shipping to the US can be a pain, but I bet it's faster/cheaper to Germany where the original poster lives. For people in the US, especially near the West Coast, I can highly recommend getting lens mount conversions done by Jim Buchanan, who does Leitax-style mount-covering adapters with the added benefit of custom-adjusting the spacer thickness to get exact infinity focus for each lens. I recently had Jim Buchanan convert a CY 35/1.4 AE (which Leitax doesn't offer a mount for), with excellent results.
The quality of the Leitax stuff is top notch. Absolutely no wobble or play with the mount I purchased - that took me 3 long months to receive! I just wish they were not so expensive and did not involve so many shipping issues/ expenses.
I agree shipping to the US can be a pain, but I bet it's faster/cheaper to Germany where the original poster lives. For people in the US, especially near the West Coast, I can highly recommend getting lens mount conversions done by Jim Buchanan, who does Leitax-style mount-covering adapters with the added benefit of custom-adjusting the spacer thickness to get exact infinity focus for each lens. I recently had Jim Buchanan convert a CY 35/1.4 AE (which Leitax doesn't offer a mount for), with excellent results.
Apr 28, 2011 at 09:08 AM
p.2 #19Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
antifire wrote:
What is FL function?
Allows you to program the chip in the adapter to tell the camera you are using a specific focal length. For Canon, the only benefit I can think of is that this would show in your exif data what lens was used. For Sony, it's of greater potential benefit because this info is used by, for instance, the a900 in calculating the amount/ degree of steady shot to use. Otherwise, the Sony assumes a focal length lens of 50mm if it does not receive this info. So, for Canon, it's only somewhat "cosmetic" and would not affect image quality.
What is FL function?
Allows you to program the chip in the adapter to tell the camera you are using a specific focal length. For Canon, the only benefit I can think of is that this would show in your exif data what lens was used. For Sony, it's of greater potential benefit because this info is used by, for instance, the a900 in calculating the amount/ degree of steady shot to use. Otherwise, the Sony assumes a focal length lens of 50mm if it does not receive this info. So, for Canon, it's only somewhat "cosmetic" and would not affect image quality.
Apr 28, 2011 at 09:09 AM
p.2 #20Leica APO 180mm f3.4 vs f2.8
Tariq Gibran wrote:
[
I know if I was buying a chip myself, I would want something like the Dandelion on my Sony mounts so I could use the programmable FL function and take advantage of the built in steady shot on my a900. That option is not available for Canon though!
There IS a chipping option on the Leitax mounts for Canon. See:
http://leitax.com/Leica-lens-for-Canon-cameras.html
They have a Dandelion-Canon chip they install on the mounts so you do get focus confirmation.
The EXIF file will only register the FL and max aperture because the chip has no mechanical connection to the aperture mechanism.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 09:13 AM · View previous versions
[
I know if I was buying a chip myself, I would want something like the Dandelion on my Sony mounts so I could use the programmable FL function and take advantage of the built in steady shot on my a900. That option is not available for Canon though!
There IS a chipping option on the Leitax mounts for Canon. See:
http://leitax.com/Leica-lens-for-Canon-cameras.html
They have a Dandelion-Canon chip they install on the mounts so you do get focus confirmation.
The EXIF file will only register the FL and max aperture because the chip has no mechanical connection to the aperture mechanism.
Edited on Apr 28, 2011 at 09:13 AM · View previous versions
Apr 28, 2011 at 09:11 AM