myoptic3
Well-known
I never thought I would own a Leica SLR camera. They have always been expensive, and I never understood their allure, as they seemed hopelessly outdated compared to the Japanese cameras. But digital has driven the price of many film cameras down, so they're more than affordable now. I see the allure now too. They mount Leica glass. So after seeing how the older Leica lenses performed, and after giving up on ever shooting w/ an RF camera as comfortably as w/ an SLR, I sold the RF gear and bought an R5 from KEH w/ an early Summicron 50 to start out with. $650 for the kit.
My first impression was a good one. It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be, and not heavy at all. Wonderful black chrome finish, and most of the controls are well laid out. The viewfinder is bright, something I was worried about after reading reviews of the camera. Shutter speeds are illuminated red on the right, and the lens aperture is indicated on the bottom (though sadly not illuminated). The meter is good, but seems to underexpose about 1/2 stop when using center weighted metering. The spot metering is on the money as far as the shots indicate. It's a well balanced camera, and the fit and finish are excellent. Beautiful camera.
Let's get right to the things that don't work, or that I don't get. First, the electronics are primitive. Why is there no exposure lock when using center weighted metering? I am familiar w/ how one of those will mis read a scene, but I have to go to spot metering to lock the exposure. Dumb, and time consuming. The aperture isn't illuminated in the viewfinder, and you can't see it in low light. I sold an M5 for that very reason, and here it is again. The camera has a Program mode, and it will tell you what shutter speed it selects, but you don't have a clue what the aperture is going to be. So except for the snapshot or two, this feature is useless. My 25 year old Nikons show you the shutter speed and aperture (illuminated in the viewfinder of course), and let you change them w/ a flick of the thumb wheel. Lastly, the shutter sounds like a muffled gun going off. I guess it is a combination of the shutter sound, followed by the mirror slap. I understand the R6's have much better damping on the mirror, so I may one day trade up to one of those.
Everything else is fine. Smooth film advance lever and a wonderful multi coated view finder to peer through. My first roll of film showed that I can use the camera a lot easier and quicker than an RF camera. It helps to see the whole image come into focus as you turn the lens.
The Summi 50 is a great lens, but it has a very long focus wind, and the Series VI filter took me a while to figure out as far as hoods and filters. I usually shoot w/ a longer lens and am awaiting the UPS truck to drive up this evening w/ a nice second version of the Elmarit R 90 2.8. Total cost of the 2 lenses and camera are under $1000, which is very reasonable for Leica gear. I am going to do a shootout later w/ my Nikon 8008s w/ it's 35 70 2.8 zoom (a total investment of $200) and see how they compare, but the first roll of film thru the R5 came out very nice. They defnately have that classic Leica look.
Here's a couple of shots of the camera. I will post some shots taken w/ cheap Fuji 200 color film scanned in low res by the local photo shop. I don't have an online gallery because I am afraid that if I do something like that I will be satisfied and not print the images, and I like having the prints.
My first impression was a good one. It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be, and not heavy at all. Wonderful black chrome finish, and most of the controls are well laid out. The viewfinder is bright, something I was worried about after reading reviews of the camera. Shutter speeds are illuminated red on the right, and the lens aperture is indicated on the bottom (though sadly not illuminated). The meter is good, but seems to underexpose about 1/2 stop when using center weighted metering. The spot metering is on the money as far as the shots indicate. It's a well balanced camera, and the fit and finish are excellent. Beautiful camera.
Let's get right to the things that don't work, or that I don't get. First, the electronics are primitive. Why is there no exposure lock when using center weighted metering? I am familiar w/ how one of those will mis read a scene, but I have to go to spot metering to lock the exposure. Dumb, and time consuming. The aperture isn't illuminated in the viewfinder, and you can't see it in low light. I sold an M5 for that very reason, and here it is again. The camera has a Program mode, and it will tell you what shutter speed it selects, but you don't have a clue what the aperture is going to be. So except for the snapshot or two, this feature is useless. My 25 year old Nikons show you the shutter speed and aperture (illuminated in the viewfinder of course), and let you change them w/ a flick of the thumb wheel. Lastly, the shutter sounds like a muffled gun going off. I guess it is a combination of the shutter sound, followed by the mirror slap. I understand the R6's have much better damping on the mirror, so I may one day trade up to one of those.
Everything else is fine. Smooth film advance lever and a wonderful multi coated view finder to peer through. My first roll of film showed that I can use the camera a lot easier and quicker than an RF camera. It helps to see the whole image come into focus as you turn the lens.
The Summi 50 is a great lens, but it has a very long focus wind, and the Series VI filter took me a while to figure out as far as hoods and filters. I usually shoot w/ a longer lens and am awaiting the UPS truck to drive up this evening w/ a nice second version of the Elmarit R 90 2.8. Total cost of the 2 lenses and camera are under $1000, which is very reasonable for Leica gear. I am going to do a shootout later w/ my Nikon 8008s w/ it's 35 70 2.8 zoom (a total investment of $200) and see how they compare, but the first roll of film thru the R5 came out very nice. They defnately have that classic Leica look.
Here's a couple of shots of the camera. I will post some shots taken w/ cheap Fuji 200 color film scanned in low res by the local photo shop. I don't have an online gallery because I am afraid that if I do something like that I will be satisfied and not print the images, and I like having the prints.
Attachments
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
I have a freind who has an R4. The lenses look really great, especially the 50.
myoptic3
Well-known
myoptic3
Well-known
myoptic3
Well-known
OK, I will get an account w/ one of the online galleries. After reducing the files to post here, they're just too small to see anything. Anyway, they're pretty nice for the first roll, and when I get some free time I'll do the online gallery thing.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Thanks for the 'mini-review.' I had been considering an R5 for a little while, but didn't know there was no exposure lock in that metering mode.
I did like the feel of the R5 i tried in the shop. At the time, i was looking for a Contax Aria, or Nikon FE2. The R5 really 'feels like a camera,' if that makes any sense. With the Aria, you have a very smooth-operating piece of kit. But, with the R5, for some reason, i felt more like i was taking pictures.... Maybe the winding had something to do with it.
The camera is small — smaller than i imagined, and maybe a little smaller than would be ideal for my hands. And, the viewfinder isn't as bright as the Contax'. Lastly, there's a pretty significant mirror ka-chunk when tripping the shutter. The camera really recoils and it feels like the shake might affect low shutter speed exposures. But, i never did test that.
I did like the feel of the R5 i tried in the shop. At the time, i was looking for a Contax Aria, or Nikon FE2. The R5 really 'feels like a camera,' if that makes any sense. With the Aria, you have a very smooth-operating piece of kit. But, with the R5, for some reason, i felt more like i was taking pictures.... Maybe the winding had something to do with it.
The camera is small — smaller than i imagined, and maybe a little smaller than would be ideal for my hands. And, the viewfinder isn't as bright as the Contax'. Lastly, there's a pretty significant mirror ka-chunk when tripping the shutter. The camera really recoils and it feels like the shake might affect low shutter speed exposures. But, i never did test that.
myoptic3
Well-known
The FE2 is a great, classic MF camera. I know nothing about the Contax other than the wonderful G cameras. As you said, the R5 is really well made. Not sure how much Minolta is in it, but it's rock solid. I am not thrilled w/ the mirror ka-chunk as you so aptly put it. I purposely shot a few of the shots wide open at 1/60 and they sure look sharp to me, so maybe it is not that big an issue.
To my mind, unless you really want to get the look of the old Leica glass (and I do) I can't see buying an R camera, as the Japanese cameras are so much better when it comes to features. I use my Nikon's 1/8000 shutter speed all the time shooting wide open in the sun, and it's viewfinder is like a big, bright picture window.
I've never seen anyone using a Leica SLR on the street. For some reason I picture a guy in his 60's w/ the camera and several lenses in a $300 bag (which may explain why I never saw one on the street). Dressed like a golfer w/ a checkered hat. Probably smoking a cigar.
To my mind, unless you really want to get the look of the old Leica glass (and I do) I can't see buying an R camera, as the Japanese cameras are so much better when it comes to features. I use my Nikon's 1/8000 shutter speed all the time shooting wide open in the sun, and it's viewfinder is like a big, bright picture window.
I've never seen anyone using a Leica SLR on the street. For some reason I picture a guy in his 60's w/ the camera and several lenses in a $300 bag (which may explain why I never saw one on the street). Dressed like a golfer w/ a checkered hat. Probably smoking a cigar.
otohp
Newbie
your picture is very nice !
Thank you
Thank you
willwright
Member
there is an exposure lock in the aperture/spot mode. simply hold the shutter button halfway down and recompose...use it all the time. sometime try the 24mm if you have a chance...
pvdhaar
Peter
Robert Doisneau shot with a Leica SLR later in life..
Michiel Fokkema
Michiel Fokkema
I don't look like that, am much younger and do shoot my R6 in the streets.
Maybe we should meet somewhere.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I just bought a mint R4 with a 60?2.8 Macro Elmarit for $300 a month ago! Great little camera.