Godfrey
somewhat colored
The R8 I won from an EBay auction arrived ... and it seems barely even used! I mean, it still smells new! Just put batteries in, fitted the winder and a Summicron 35mm lens. I'll put a strap on it and load it for my walk tomorrow morning.
Very jazzed!
G
Very jazzed!
G
Johnmcd
Well-known
oneANT
Established
An R8 is like a boy's own adventure to me, something I'd love to do and I agree that it is something for the eye and the hand to behold. I only haven't because it would split my lens system up into another format and its a thin line of an excuse but I have more. I would have to have a 35mm on it so that would mean duplication and I'm sort of adamant that I dont turn into a collector even though my gear looks that way now except that each has a particular use. Being Nikon too means I am digital and film and using the same lenses for each.
I nearly bought one once, I dont regret that I didn't but I wouldn't have minded either ...I've go lots of excuses why I dont have one so its best you don't tell me how nice it is (grin).
I nearly bought one once, I dont regret that I didn't but I wouldn't have minded either ...I've go lots of excuses why I dont have one so its best you don't tell me how nice it is (grin).
David Hughes
David Hughes
Buy one and get it out of your system. Then sell it after 3 , 6 or how many months you fancy. You might even end up selling the other system...
Regards, David
redisburning
Well-known
I own a ton of macros, the 55/2.8 and 55/3.5 nikkors included, and I'd still high suggest that you get the 60ME.
The difference in color separation alone makes it worth it.
Wish I had a 100APO.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Camera porn shots please
A little later today...
Why do I always struggle so much when it comes to fitting the Leica strap?! Got it done, it's a genuine Leica R strap and has just the right amount of padding and area to make carrying this heavy machine reasonably comfortable.
I think I'll take my walk with it using the 90mm.
G
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I've given up worrying about the system duplication or looking like a collector. Particularly when it comes to film gear: I buy and use film gear for the enjoyment of using it, and accept that I'm not going to use it anywhere near as often as I do my digital gear.
I have Nikon and Leica R lenses, also Leica M. I've collected now six Leica cameras (M4-2, CL, M9, 2x Leicaflex SLs, R8) as well as three Nikons (N800, 2x F). I have five Nikon lenses, nine R lenses, and a similar number of M-mount lenses (Leica, Minolta, and Voigtländer). It's way too much stuff—I could never do justice to using it enough as I have a full time job. Never mind the other film gear, and the Olympus digital system. But I'm lucky to have the income and the space that saying "..I've collected..." isn't an admission of guilt. It's just a fact. I'll probably sell off some of it soon anyway; I just don't like having quite so much stuff.
Digital brings the Leica R and Nikkor lenses together. They both work beautifully on the Sony A7 body, which I like more than any of the DSLR bodies I've owned except for the Olympus E-1. Yeah, I still have my E-1 too.
Do whatever makes you happy and produces the photos you want to make. No matter how much or how little equipment you have, it's the photos that make a difference, not the machinery.
G
"Equipment is transitory. Photographs endure."
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Oh, eventually, likely yes. There are some limits to my gratuitous spending excesses and I'm just planning a week in Hawaii for September, gotta save some pennies for that ... ;-)
G
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Just back from my walk and the R8's first outing with me. I used the 90/2 and 19/2.8 lenses.
Cons: it's certainly a heavy thing to carry.
Pros: I like everything else about it.
What impresses me most, aside from the stunning quality of the viewfinder optics, are the controls and ergonomics. This is a fairly complex, end of the last century camera. From a shooting perspective, it does 95% of what the latest whizbang digital does; obviously, it doesn't have the burden of the image processing lab in every digital camera, but the controls for that could be added with minimal intrusion. Yet for shooting purposes, any decent photographer can figure out the whole camera in 10 minutes without a manual. Every control is in the right place and easy to use, get to, understand, and remember. The viewfinder display is clean, simple, unobtrusive, and fully informative.
Why is this so difficult to achieve with our modern digital cameras? Why do we have magic wurlitzers like the Df with a control and a sub-control for everything it can do, or sleek pretty things with everything hidden beneath layers and layers of menu madness? The R8 achieves everything with an absolute minimum of controls, everything ready to your fingers, right where it needs to be... Why is this so difficult?
Just like my car, I couldn't afford one when new. But I'm delighted to find that now, when they dont cost much through simple depreciation of the years, owning one is every bit as excellent as my fantasy of it promised so long ago.
I'm off to get my test rolls processed. ;-)
G
Cons: it's certainly a heavy thing to carry.
Pros: I like everything else about it.
What impresses me most, aside from the stunning quality of the viewfinder optics, are the controls and ergonomics. This is a fairly complex, end of the last century camera. From a shooting perspective, it does 95% of what the latest whizbang digital does; obviously, it doesn't have the burden of the image processing lab in every digital camera, but the controls for that could be added with minimal intrusion. Yet for shooting purposes, any decent photographer can figure out the whole camera in 10 minutes without a manual. Every control is in the right place and easy to use, get to, understand, and remember. The viewfinder display is clean, simple, unobtrusive, and fully informative.
Why is this so difficult to achieve with our modern digital cameras? Why do we have magic wurlitzers like the Df with a control and a sub-control for everything it can do, or sleek pretty things with everything hidden beneath layers and layers of menu madness? The R8 achieves everything with an absolute minimum of controls, everything ready to your fingers, right where it needs to be... Why is this so difficult?
Just like my car, I couldn't afford one when new. But I'm delighted to find that now, when they dont cost much through simple depreciation of the years, owning one is every bit as excellent as my fantasy of it promised so long ago.
I'm off to get my test rolls processed. ;-)
G
David Hughes
David Hughes
I wish you hadn't written that, I'm getting this strange yearning for one...
Regards, David
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
If you're in any way a Leica Fan you really need to experience the R8/9.
A lot of negative things have been written on the web about the R8/9 and most of it is parrot fashion posting IMO.
Honestly... I love mine and like my M gear will never part with it "willingly"
David Hughes
David Hughes
If you're in any way a Leica Fan you really need to experience the R8/9.
A lot of negative things have been written on the web about the R8/9 and most of it is parrot fashion posting IMO.
Honestly... I love mine and like my M gear will never part with it "willingly"
Hi,
I wish you hadn't written that, I'm getting this strange yearning for one.
Help, it's happening again.
Johnmcd
Well-known
The 60/2.8 Macro is a fine portrait lens.
And a quick hand held macro at 1/30 in windy conditions!
Cheers - John
And a quick hand held macro at 1/30 in windy conditions!
Cheers - John
Johnmcd
Well-known
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Leica R8 + Summicron-R 90mm f/2
ISO 400 @ f/2 @ 1/3000 sec
First time out with the R8, walking in Guadalupe River Park on Saturday morning ... as usual. ;-)
Thanks for looking! Comments always appreciated.
G
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
Think about something else... Go for a walk or take your "Missus" out for a movie and a meal.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
As promised, the beauty shots:
On top: Leica R8 with Summicron-R 90mm f/2
On bottom: Leica R8 with Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8 v1
enjoy!
G
On top: Leica R8 with Summicron-R 90mm f/2
On bottom: Leica R8 with Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8 v1
enjoy!
G
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
That's done it. Now I need one!
David Hughes
David Hughes
Yes, someone's ears are going to be burning for a while...
But I'll try a cold shower first.
Regards, David
Johnmcd
Well-known
Very nice. The twin of mine