how are you liking the r4?

[back alley]

i gotta say that i am very much liking mine!

i like the feel of the body, very comfortable and i really like the smaller cv lenses. it is perfect with a luigi wrist strap and mini soft release. (do i sound like a commercial?).
i have the whole kit squeezed into the domke 5xb (till the f6 arrives tomorrow) and it barely weighs enough to notice!
i could carry every bit of it everyday without breaking a sweat.
i have decided to get the cv 25 m mount when it's available, even though the zm 25 is superlative, but i want a complete cv wide kit. (not interested in the 12 though)

my only 'problem' is sometimes forgetting to check the meter as i have become lazy with the zi's auto exposure.

and i am taking friday off work just to head out and shoot. friday's temps are supposed to be the warmest of the weekend's, plus lots of sun.

joe

 

[Chris Lynch]

in my short stint w/ the R3M, i too used a Domke 5XB, and it was pure love. I'd imagine the 4 to be a super-duper camera, just as the 3M was- only with a wild finder... i do wish i could justify one!

 

[MtnPhoto]

R4a

R4a

I love having framelines for my ZM 25mm. Shot a few rolls over the weekend with the 25 and the CV 40mm. The meter does a really good job of nailing the exposure. I am looking forward to trying the ZM 21. I have been working too much to really give it a work out.

 

[rover]

28 Skopar hasn't been off of mine yet, I just think the combo is great. CV grip and Domke 5xb for it too. It has been a little while since I have owned my R3a, I am really impressed with this body. I think it is special purpose camera, but it is an excellent camera too. It is going to be a fun summer walking around with this thing.

 

[peter_n]

I have been working too much to really give it a work out.

That's my problem too. Mine (R4A) arrived last Saturday and so far I've only managed 3/4 of a roll in it. Its my first CV camera and a nice surprise, great fit & finish, everything works just fine, VF (green from the front) as clear as a bell although the focusing patch is a bit smaller than the one on the M7. My Leica 24/2.8 ASPH is OK on the front - it blocks about 20% inside the 25mm framline with the hood on. Any owners of the Leica 21/2.8 ASPH: the hood on the 24 and the 21 is the same. Love the single 28mm frameline in the VF. 😀 All in all it's looking very promising. As I mentioned somewhere else this is a more useful camera than a 0.58 mag M7.

 

[0bli0]

i'm absolutely loving mine. i even shot a few shots @ 15 without a vf and was pleased - make that pleasantly suprised with the framing. i've been using the 35mm pII and the 28 skopar quite a bit - both with hoods (unlike others, i don't find the Lh-1 to be a major problem).

the AE works well as does shooting manually using the meter. it's much nicer and quicker to use than the r2's blinky lights, although sometimes not as easy to see at the far left or right.

i have to admit, i was pretty grumbly on the meter after the first roll - tmax 400 in d76. but the second roll tmax in hc110... much better. i finally was able to get my hands on tri-x. i shot at both 320 and 400 and used both d76 and hc110 and the results confirmed meter is as should be expected. *df user error!*

overall the body feels a little better than the r2 did. ergonomically, it's not too different. i was a bit worried about the rewind knob, but i like it. the button to switch between AE, +/-, and manual is a welcome addition and the different 'click' for +/- is a nice touch.

i may even shoot some ultracolour or velvia this weekend 😱

 

[biomed]

I am loving mine too! I have used the 21/4 and 35/2.5 a little, but the 28/3.5has been on it most of the time. I've run three rolls through it so far. I'll post a shot of the very tiny bag that I use for the R4m and three lenses.

 

[lawrence]

Can anyone tell me if the 28mm Ultron intrudes into the 28mm framelines, please?

 

[audible]

Can anyone tell me if the 28mm Ultron intrudes into the 28mm framelines, please?

yes it does. a fair bit of the bottom right corner is covered.

for an illustration of how much, take a look at this thread

 

[lawrence]

Thanks, that's really useful.

 

[cbass]

As I mentioned somewhere else this is a more useful camera than a 0.58 mag M7.

Hi Peter,

Can you expand on this, please? I'm very interested in the R4A to use with my existing CV 15/25/35 LTM lenses but I'm also considering biting the bullet and buying into the Leica system with a 0.58 M7.

By the way, it's nice to read positive comments about the R4 from Leica M owners 🙂 .

 

[rover]

Chris, are you in CT yet? A couple of us may be getting together for a coffee after work next week in Middletown, not far down Rte 9 from your new haunt.

 

[cbass]

I'm not in CT just yet. We close on our house on May 18 and we'll probably move in during the following week.

Thanks for keeping me in mind, though. I'll be happy to join you for future coffees after we offically become Nutmeggers.

 

[peter_n]

Hi Peter,

Can you expand on this, please? I'm very interested in the R4A to use with my existing CV 15/25/35 LTM lenses but I'm also considering biting the bullet and buying into the Leica system with a 0.58 M7.

By the way, it's nice to read positive comments about the R4 from Leica M owners 🙂 .

hi Chris! Two reasons really (at least in my tiny mind). (1) Parallax correction in the VF for lenses to 21mm. Anything down to that focal length and you don't need a separate finder. If you've ever broken the shoe of a CV finder you'll know how great that is. Now I can use my Leica 24mm lens just that little bit quicker. 🙂 (2) A 28mm frameline on it's own in the VF. This camera is made for my Konica 28! Lots of room round the frameline too. I'll try to scan & post the frameline map from the manual so you can see the three VF layouts. So far I have not tried a 35mm or 50mm on the camera but hope to soon. I think the major advance is the parallax correction for the super-wides. That is just a real nifty innovation that I think makes the camera more practical than a 0.58 M7. If you use a 21 or 24/25 lens the R4 should receive some serious consideration.

Congrats on the new house BTW! 🙂

 

[peter_n]

R4A framelines in the VF

R4A framelines in the VF

OK Chris, a quick scan from the manual will give you a sense of how the framelines look in the R4A viewfinder.

 

[cbass]

Very helpful information, Peter. Thank you. I am giving the R4A some serious thought. The VF looks well-suited to a glasses-wearer like me.

I'll have to check my finances after the move and see what I've got left in my pockets.