Now that the MF R is no more

Now that the MF R is no more

  • Yes

    Votes: 112 35.4%

  • No

    Votes: 204 64.6%
  • Total voters
    316
I'd like to see Cosina step in here, they've made range finders affordable, I'd like to see them do the same for manual SLRs.
 
Cosina still makes film SLRs, mainly in the K mount (Pentax) variety. Solds here in the USA under the Voigtlander, Promaster and Vivitar labels. The Nikon FM10 is/was made by them as well.
 
Yes, I should have been clearer, I'd like to see them do a somewhat nicer SLR, not plastic, nice Voigtlander logo, and generally make a slick metal SLR which is as pretty as a Leica R9.
 
A big yes. First Leica was an R4s Mod 2. Part exchanged for an R7. A second R7 followed, then an R6.2. Still have one R7 and the R6.2. These do have some advantages over rangefinders, now and again, and are fun to use.
 
Oh, absolutely love the R4 + 50mm Cron!

Just finished a documentary with it and the M3. A perfect combination IMO for an SLR and an RF camera!

Can't beat the prices either for $250 or so for the body in minty condition.:)

My daily work gear these days all fit in the Billingham:

M3 + 5cm Summarit 1.5

R4 + 50mm Summicron 2.0

Loving it!;)
 
I thought about moving to Canon DSLR's, simply to be able to use R glass, and get focus confirmation (on many mounts).

But I'm a bit too late. Monitoring R lens prices for a few months shows they've pretty much crept into M territory, though some bargains can be found, depending on which lens you're after.
 
Quick update: R6, R5, R4: no more. I dumped all but my 90, 135, and 180mm R lenses, which are now all converted to Nikon F mount. By using Nikon for both film and digital, I can use my Nikon lenses on both. Selling my R system raised enough cash to buy an M8.2.
 
SL2: great viewfinder, feels like a Swiss watch in operation. Small selection of late 3 cam lenses with built-in hoods and 55mm filter rings: 35/2.8, 60/2.8 Macro, 90/2.8. Superb, kit of a lifetime, if you fancy SLRs and classic Leica glass.
 
Still shoot regularly with my Rs. I have a R9 and R8, both with DMRs as well as a R4. The R8/9 is a thing of real beauty - perfect ergonomics and one of the best VFs in any SLR (bar the Leicaflex SL/SL2)
 
topoxforddoc said:
Still shoot regularly with my Rs. I have a R9 and R8, both with DMRs as well as a R4. The R8/9 is a thing of real beauty - perfect ergonomics and one of the best VFs in any SLR (bar the Leicaflex SL/SL2)
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You have TWO? Wow, would love to see a DMR image of one or the other!!!:angel:
 
loneranger said:
I used to own a leica SL2. It was the nicest SLR I ever had, and I've had almost all that is out there. I can still remember the sound of the shutter, the the solid feel of the camera. I think the R's went downhill after the SL era. It is a sad day.
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The SL is the one camera I'd keep if I could only keep one. Incredible viewfinder and the camera is a brick. IMHO, the absolute best 35mm camera ever made.
 
Current Nikkors are very close to Leica on digital, not the same because they do not have the same design philosoply all on the same D3 Nikon.

Older Nikkors had a certain charm and were nice, but were no Leicas. Leica were unique among the competition. Still are , but no so much, in the digital world.

Buy the newest Nikon 1.4 primes and you will see.

Leica seems not interested in any affordable cameras anymore, so we have parted ways. I still have all my M.R. & screw mount systems. Still use them on occasion.

I purchsed a used but newish F2 and Nikkormat. They are solid beefy cameras. All the used ones I have seen in recent years operate like trucks. These do not, so the usual used offerings just need maintenance.

So now my conclusion is if you buy AiS Nikkors or better yet newer, they will compete with R lenses unless you get the very latest 100 180 280 APO.

R lenses are pretty much the same quality as M lenses from the same period.
 
Leica R lens owners are getting excited about the forthcoming Leica M typ 240 featuring live view and 24Mp sensor, a new home for R lenses. The adapter's 6-bit coding enables a menu from which to choose the R lens you've mounted. Otherwise no communication between lens and body, so the "solution" is limited.

But that doesn't really relate to the original question <Curious how many of us here ever shot Leica SLR's.> since the M typ 240 is not an SLR.

But the S2 and new S are indeed Leica SLRs, so the story can continue with new cameras... and a new S lens lineup.

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I've got an R8 (with Leica 50mm f/2) to go along with my M6 (with 28mm and 90mm Contax G lenses). Works nicely for when I want to do macro-ish stuff. Usually it's slides in the M6 with the 28mm and B&W for the R8.
 
Shot some stuff on the first Leica SLR without ground-glass. What were they thinking? Beyond stupidity. The SL and Later SL2 were nice but not stellar. A friend dropped his SL2 a short distance, top of bag (resting on floor,) to floor, incurring major damage. The next i used, briefly TG, was the R4 which a few hours later, required a massive repair! The variances with cams non metering was inexcusable. I only looked at the R8/9. The Hunchbacks of Solms..
Compared to my Nikon-F, F3 which are so reliable. The finders far superior and the lenses affordable, made for pro use.(misuse).
My lowly Pentax ME-Super has mirror damping, a huge bright viewfinder. A simple quite lovely little camera. Smaller than an M3 with meter..
The M theory could not be made into an SLR. A modern SLR/DSLR would require auto focus lenses.
My M's are great but not as reliable as a Nikon or even a Pentax.
 
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