In Love At Last!

[1750Shooter]

Even though I'm a Nikon slr guy, I tried to fall in love with rangefinders for theie portability, but alas. After an M3, M-4P, M6ttl, & an M5, the only rangefinder I could like was a Minister D (go figure). Liked the Leica quality so I traded my M5 w/Canon 50mm f1.4 to Igor for an R7 w/50mm Summicron v1. Finally, a Leica I could like - it's taller, but thinner & shorter than my beloved FM3A & I really like the feel. Waiting on my first roll, so...
Only question I have is : I have been told all the Rs were made in either Portugal or Hong Kong. Mine is marked "Made in Germany". What gives?
BTW, Igor Camera is a great guy to deal with, very honest & helpful!

 

[Mark C]

I think you'll stay in love as you use those nice R lenses. I still miss my 90 Summicron, and all of the 50's were loverly.

I don't know specifics on later R's so will let someone else handle your question, but I think it is earlier ones made in Portugal. I believe that is where my R4's were made.

 

[Addy101]

Never heard of Leicas made in Hong Kong... Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_R4-R7 for some more information. I guess your camera was assembled in Solms, hence the "made in Germany" tag.

I must say, I have its poorer cousin (Minolta XD-11) and love it - I can understand why you like your Leica :-D

 

[mllanos1111]

I believe the R8 or R9 were the first ones to break away from the Minolta designs

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I read somewhere that the shuttercurtains were assembled in Portugal. Never have I heard or read that there were Leicas made in Hong Kong.

Now, keep in mind that sometime in the early seventies, Leica partnered with Minolta and that's how the Leica CL came into being, and later was continued by Minolta (as CLE, I believe).

 

[David Hughes]

I read somewhere that the shuttercurtains were assembled in Portugal. Never have I heard or read that there were Leicas made in Hong Kong.

Now, keep in mind that sometime in the early seventies, Leica partnered with Minolta and that's how the Leica CL came into being, and later was continued by Minolta (as CLE, I believe).

Hi,

And Sigma made a zoom for the R series. But I always used the primes as they are superb.

Regards, David

 

[Steve M.]

I also miss my R 90 Summicron, but now I have an R 90 Elmarit, and that is a fantastic lens too. Not as good for portraits as the Summi (what is?), but it's still very good for that, and it is sharper. Has that Leica 3-D thing going on.

You're fortunate that your R7 came w/ the first version of the 50 lens. The later Canada branded 50's have some pretty ugly bokeh. The first version of the 50 is one of the best 50's you can buy for an SLR.

 

[Range-rover]

I think the later R cameras were made in Germany.

Range