Leica R5-Is it worth buying.

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geordiefred

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I have never owned a Leica, but have seen one for sale at a bargain price, and it is also in mint condition. It comes with a 35-70mm 3.5 lens, also described as mint. I gather that the R5 was better than the R4 series, and would be a better buy than the latter.
I have been advised to verify that the battery compartment is free from corrosion; light seals are o.k.; focusing screen o.k.; and that the exposure meter is working correctly.
As regards the lens it should have smooth movement, and naturally free from dust and fungus, and no marks on the front or rear elements.
I also gather from various sources, that the camera could have been manufactured in 1. Germany. 2 Canada. or 3. Portugal.; and that the lenses could have been produced other than in Germany.
Picking your brains, all you out there, what else should I be looking out for, or avoiding, in either the R5 or this particular lens ?
Comments and observations, both positive and negative, would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Geordiefred.
 
First of all, welcome to RFF!

Here's some good advice about buying used Leica R cameras:
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page6.html

I took a newly acquired user-R5 on vacation without trying it out with film first - just checking whether the shutter speeds sound ok and if the focussing screen agreed with the lens at infinity: slides came out very nice.

Which 35-70/3.5 are you thinking of? There are 2 versions: one with an E60 filter thread and the other one with an E67 filter thread. The E67 one is supposed to be better - but that does not imply that the E60 is bad.

Cheers,
Uwe
 
I thought all R's are made in Portugal anyway, or 95% of the subassemblies are, and the rest assembled or tested in Germany.

Anyway, no real issues with the later R's. By the time of the R5, all the "bugs" were worked out.

And the R experience is different than the Leica M experience, because of some of the unique R lenses. For instance, the 28mm PC lens is stunning, and allows for shifts, a fantastic capability for 35mm. And the telephoto lenses are great (I have the 100 Macro, and 180mm APO-Telyt, a lens that was reputedly built to very high mil-spec requirements at the time. And the 50mm f1.4 E60 normal lens is stellar in the world of normal lenses, irrespective of M vs R.

If you do get a bargain price for the R5, and want to try Leica SLR, go for it.

Vick
 
I recommend buying Leica CL if you want a bargain price camera. Yes, Leica M cameras are true leicas.

Or get a Leica III camera with screw mount lenses at lower prices. You will be amazed by the results from those >50 year old cameras.

I started my leica experience with R4 like you because of money concerns. I was not too happy. I took fantastic shots with summicron-r 50mm and 90mm but the built quality of the camera is terrible...
 
Common guys! you cannot compare Leica M cameras (including CL/CLE) with R cameras. It is a completely different experience 🙂

I had an R7 but P/E it to a Leica CL (and P/E that to a Zeiss Ikon, but that's a different story).

The R7 is a very nice camera with very good build quality (although my Nikon F3 is pretty close if not better), I do not know if R5 has quality issues as Leicaforever hints at.

I do not know the R5.
 
Geordiefred is asking about the R5. Hence he is considering a Leica SLR camera. Therefore I am not going to suggest a 10 x 8 Thornton Pickard.

I would however dare to mention the Leicaflex SL and SL2 both of which do much the same thing, much more reliably and for the same sort of money. Indeed some might suggest that the SLs are better cameras all round. The lenses are of course simply fantastic...

Michael
 
Over the years I have had screw-thread M and R model Leicas. I also own and use regularly a Nikon FE. I'd recommend the R5 without a moment's hesitation – the R models have a solid quality and other nice characteristics all of their own (and they are now affordable).
 
I've owned a couple of them and they're fine cameras. Small for a SLR. But they have a loudish shutter that I didn't like, and the viewfinder is not nearly as nice as the older Leicaflex SL (but then what is?). The AE is really handy to have. Forget the full frame metering, as it's pretty awful. It isn't a center weighted one like most people are used to, but the spot meter is extremely accurate, and you can lock the exposure easily. They're fun cameras, and the lenses are all wonderful. Doesn't matter where anything was made, the quality is the same. I'd been using a Leicaflex SL because I love the viewfinders, but lately I'm thinking of getting another R5 because I like their smaller size and AE.

If you want to shoot Leica R glass at a bargain price I recommend buying a Nikon N6006 and a Nikon to Leica lens adapter, then hunt down an older 1 cam R 50 Summicron lens. You can put the whole kit together for around $300. The N6006 has the motorized film advance, 1/4000 top shutter speed, an accurate meter w/ 3 types of metering, and the AE works in AV mode. Great street shooters.
 
Hi Geordiefred, I don't know if you'll be back or not, but yeah. Pretty much any camera that you want is a good camera to get. Make sure it works first, then go for it (assuming that you want the camera to shoot with.)

As for marks on the front element, these usually have little effect. Try and use them (if it has them) to negotiate a discount. 😉
 
Can't speak for the R5 but I used to own an R8 and it was by far the finest SLR camera I've ever owned and I constantly regret selling it, I've owned most Nikon film SLR's which I love but for me the R8 is better than all MF Nikon's period. To each their own though of course. 🙂
 
The R-series of cameras can now be had as terrific bargains. There are many fine lens designs in the range and the bodies, like all of them, either suit your needs and desires, or they don't.

I recently succumbed to the allure of an R camera at an attractive price myself. In my case it was the R6. This camera appealed to me over the 3-5 and 7-9 models due to its mechanical nature. I did a fair amount of research prior to buying mine. In case you haven't seen it, Karen Nakamura's site has some info that might be of interest as you mull over your decision.

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?LeicaR.html~mainFrame

All the best,
 
I used the Leicaflex and R-series for a number of years professionally, they are fine cameras. They don't have all the add on features of the Canon or Nikon high end cameras but that's not why you would buy one. As has been said from the beginning, 'the reason to buy a Leica reflex camera is what goes on the front'.

And these days both cameras and the lenses are reasonably priced.
 
Hi, UweNds, and all the rest of you contributors,
Got the camera and the lens, and they have been a bargain. UweNds, the lens is the 35-70mm, E60. Problems with the 60mm filter ? Initially I thought so, but have temporarily thought of the solution:- step-up ring 60-62, then put on UV for protection, or th 62 polariser. Problem solved until I get a 60mm filter. I have used a negative film for 1st test, and everything is fine. Photos of the dog in amongst a field of barley, shows every stalk of barley near the dog PIN SHARP. Will now load it with slide film and probably be astounded. What are your thoughts on a Leica R4 ? I have seen one mint, and believed unused. But will 20 yrs or so, not being used go against it ? Serial No. of the R4 is below the 1600+++, which according to banter, etc., were models prone to electrical faults. At about £150.00 it would appear to be a bargain.
Fred.
 
Hi Fred,
I once had a user R4 which was ok and I bought another user one c/w the Summicron-R 50/2 for a friend of mine for 250 EUR.

However, those cameras were used and that - for me - was a sign that they should have been ok - which they were.
I don't know if the unused R4 may develop electrical faults and how much it would cost to remedy those - I assume Leica would not do this under warranty any more. 😉

Re. the 60mm filter - that is an odd size, but generally available from B&W (or Leica directly...).
Good thing: the latest 80-200/4 zoom lens also takes 60mm filters and that's definitely a lens to get! I paid some 650 EUR for mine mint and boxed.

Cheers,
Uwe
 
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