Leica R Series

[Ara Ghajanian]

I've had both F3's serviced locally and both have failed. I couldn't believe it when both failed that night within minutes of each other. Mechanically, they are excellent cameras, but the shutter has been a pain. On the bright side, if both didn't fail as they did, I may not have bought the M6 at that point. I bascially bought it because I didn't want to pay for 2 CLAs. Weird thinking, but that's just how I roll.

Like I said, I've always had a thing for Nikon, but after I started shooting with the M6, I can't go back. The Nikons were solid, but not "Leica-solid". If I can find an SLR with that has that feel, that's what I want. Please don't recommend older Nikons, I've already looked into that. Thanks though.

I'm leaning towards an R6 at this point, but the purchase won't happen soon. This is the most I've discussed SLR's since I bought my M6 almost a year ago. Maybe I should just put SLR's behind me and move on. Haha.

Thanks for all the advice so far.
Ara

 

[Harry Lime]

I think the R8 is one of the nicest feeling, well balanced SLR's I've ever handled....

Yeah, the ergonomics really are superb. Everything is literally at your fingertips. It's a brilliant piece of industrial design.

That's why I can't get myself to sell it.

HL

 

[Harry Lime]

I've had both F3's serviced locally and both have failed. I couldn't believe it when both failed that night within minutes of each other.

Makes sense. The service guy adjusted them both the same way. And obviously the wrong way. If you do decide to have them rebuilt I would recommend sending them to Nikon.

Like I said, I've always had a thing for Nikon, but after I started shooting with the M6, I can't go back. The Nikons were solid, but not "Leica-solid". If I can find an SLR with that has that feel, that's what I want. Please don't recommend older Nikons, I've already looked into that. Thanks though.

I know what you mean. I have two F3-P. I know that they are very tough cameras, but they don't have the same feel as a Leica M. People say that you can hammer nails with a Nikon F. Well, you can hammer Nikon F's with a Leicaflex SL.

Oddly enough I've been shooting more lately with the F3-P cameras, because accurate composition is important to the project I am working on. I also really like the look the old scalloped Nikkors deliver. The 2/50 H.C is a winner.

I'm leaning towards an R6 at this point, but the purchase won't happen soon. This is the most I've discussed SLR's since I bought my M6 almost a year ago. Maybe I should just put SLR's behind me and move on. Haha.

The only R camera that feels like an M is the SL (and probably also the SL2). It was a serious case of deja vu the first time I used one. The shutter release feels very similar to an M and can be super crisp, depending on how the camera was adjusted. The cloth shutter sounds like a cross between an M camera and a well dampened SLR. It's a nice >snick< and then you hear the mirror move. Even the way it sits in your hands feels similar.

The R6.2 is much smaller than the SL, about the size of an M body (plus the mirror box). It is a very tight camera and in terms of build quality feels like a M6/ttl. The biggest difference is the feeling of the shutter release. Compared to an M, the R6.2 feels a little more mushy, because of the extra travel. I had DAG shorten the travel on mine as much as possible and then added a soft release. It's very crisp now. Great camera and the metering system is really good.

 

[MichaelHarris]

I have a R4 and a Nikon N90s and love them both. I shoot slide film in the R4 and its great. My R4 has been reliable, none of the glitches yet.

 

[JNewell]

I've had both F3's serviced locally and both have failed. I couldn't believe it when both failed that night within minutes of each other.

That makes me wonder whether the culprit in this case is not the repair person rather than the cameras. The F3 has a very, very long record as a press camera and has a reputation as being pretty much indestructible, other than the stupid viewfinder illumination switch, which almost never works.

 

[dshfoto]

I got an R8, in 2005, after using a Fuji S2 digital w/ nikon lenses. I wanted get lenses that were built for manual focus, not auto.

I liked the camera so much that I dumped the Fuji S2, and got the Digital back for the R8. I also used the R6 (all manual w/ a light meter) as a backup.

The link below, is to a portrait taken with the R8, Digital back, and the 50mm 1.4.

http://www.digitalrailroad.net/step...id=cc6a3728-0260-4b4b-8769-1bd252bcba6f&aid=1

The film cameras have been coming down in price, as well as the lenses.
What is most likely happen is that when Leica introduces a new R digital with pricing similar to the M8, the price of the lenses will increase.

I also use the R8 with the digital back, with a bellows and a 70mm enlarger lens to copy negatives. It goes much faster than a scanner.

Below is a link to a photo taken with a M3, 1.4 50mm, Ilford FP 4 Plus, and then copied with the Digital R8, bellows setup.

http://www.digitalrailroad.net/step...id=d0b9f575-2e78-4388-ab88-54ac3dd4ef6b&aid=1

I just got an R3 for about $100 on e-bay.
The R 60mm lens is wonderful.

Almost all of the photographs of Recoleta-Monotone were shot with the Digital R8 and the 60mm lens

Link to the photo group is here:

http://www.digitalrailroad.net/step...PhotoGroupView.aspx?pbid=4&msa=1&pgid=8497120

My conclusions are the the R8 with the digital back is to expensive and too heavy to carry around on the street. The M8 is too expensive to carry on the streets. So I have switched back to shooting film with the M3, R3 and even cheaper Praktica cameras with Zeiss lenses on the street. Then, I make a digital copy of the negative with the Leica R8-DMR.

 

[mw_uio]

The viewfinder techinal data of the R9 has a 93% view of the image [96% vertical, 97% horizontal] [R8 the same] in conformance to a 35mm slide, where as the F3 view finder is 100%. Do you know of anyone who has a R series SLR to try out for a few days. That would help seal the deal, or turn to another system. What about the Nikon F6 with some Zeiss glass? [F6 - The F6 has the following functions (data imprint and intervalometer) built in. That's right, you can imprint image data on or between frames (and write an index on frame 1.] What other SLR can do that? A combo of F6 with Zeiss glass, and a steller Nikkor 17-35/F2.8 AF-S. That would be a killer combo. F6/ Zeiss.

Cheers
MArk
Quito, EC

 

[Rico]

What about the Nikon F6 with some Zeiss glass? [F6 - The F6 has the following functions (data imprint and intervalometer) built in. That's right, you can imprint image data on or between frames (and write an index on frame 1.] What other SLR can do that?

The Contax AX of 1996 had full data imprinting, followed by the Aria and G2. The feature does require a purchase of the respective data back (expensive). Of course, these take Zeiss C/Y and G lenses (quite affordable). Thanks for the Nikon F6 heads-up: it sounds pretty cool.

 

[Dfin]

HU, Leicaflex & Lenses on ebay Australia, starting bid $1400 AUD.

 

[Pablito]

The F6 has the following functions (data imprint and intervalometer) built in. That's right, you can imprint image data on or between frames (and write an index on frame 1.] What other SLR can do that?

The F3, with the appropriate back, from what I recall....

 

[asiafish]

R series

R series

I know this is the Rangefinder forum, but I trust people's opinions here and I want to ask you guys about the R series SLRs. What is everyone's opinion of these cameras? Are they built as well as the M series? How about the lenses? Reliability? I have 2 Nikon F3's that I'd like to replace with a more reliable SLR. I haven't used either camera since I bought my M6 (mostly because the shutters on both have been completely unreliable). I'd like an SLR as a backup and for taking photos I can't take with a rangefinder (e.g. macro, telephoto, etc.). I'm looking at the R3, R4, R5, R6. I've heard the R6 is the best of the bunch, but also more expensive. Thoughts?
Thanks,
Ara

I have both an R3 MOT and an R6 (as well as a bunch of old Minoltas and modern Sony digital). The R3 has the smoothest shutter release of any SLR I've ever touched, but the camera looks almost identical to the (also excellent) Minolta XE-7.

The R6 has a long shutter release, but is very smooth. I've had no issues with either of them, but the R6 is the one I always grab. I typically use mine with either the 90 Elmarit-R or the 135 Elmarit-R for portraits, or the 35 Elmarit-R for walkaround (I almost always carry the 35 and one or the other telephoto). I also have the 50 Summicron-R which is an absolutely perfect lens and is my choice when I don't want to carry a second lens.

I haven't ever used a rangefinder, but used to use a Nikon F3 and FM2n, and I prefer the rendering of the Leica R lenses. The 135 especially doesn't get much love on internet fora, but I've taken some of my very best outdoor portraits with it.

 

[asiafish]

I've been a Nikon guy for years too, until both F3's shutters died during the same assignment. I suppose I'm taking it personally, but that was a huge let down. Nikons are nice, but ever since I bought an M6, I can't go back. What a difference in build quality. Leicas just feel much better in my hands and I'm hoping the R's are the same in feel and quality. I'm not buying it any time soon. After I get the two F3's repaired and sold, I'll sell the lenses and then buy a R with the 60mm macro.

I'm leaning towards an R6.

Late I know, but if you bought the R6, how do you like it? Mine is an absolute delight to use.