Leica R6.2 In My Bag

[wjlapier]

New to me a Leica R6.2 with Elmarit-R 35mm lens and Motor Winder R4. Loaded up with some Arista Premium to see what it can do. I'll see if I like the motor winder. For now I really like the R6.2 without 😎

Another Leica camera. This time a Classic R6.2 with Elmarit-R 35mm. by wjlapier, on Flickr

R6.2 with the Motor Winder R4. by wjlapier, on Flickr

 

[Shac]

Helen - my experience with an R7 is that the finder is not as bright as say a Nikon F2 (I know some will disagree but I've compared side by side). I was surprised given some of the hype, however, I still have the R7 though😉

 

[CMur12]

Lovely camera! Of all the Leicas, this is the one I would most like to have.

My most used lenses are an 85mm f1.7 and a 28mm f2.8, so I would be best served by an R6.2 with a 90mm Summicron and a 28mm Elmarit. (I really like my old Minoltas, though.)

- Murray

 

[ktmrider]

Have one with 28, 50, and 135. Does not get used much but it is everything I want in a film camera.

 

[nobbylon]

Look forward to viewing your photos with the 35 elmarit
Been thinking bout getting a Leica slr lately....

Helen,
Unless R4/5 has proven recent service my advice would be stay away. The only one I had that worked properly was an R4 rebuilt by Leica. The R8 I had was great with a nice finder and the overall feel in use is of silky smooth quality operation. I've never had an R6 so can't comment but being the same size as the R4/5/7 I find them small. I never liked the feel of the shutter release as they always felt detached somehow.
If you can try an old SL then do as these are to my mind the best Leica SLR's.
Superb finder, old school build quality and solid feel.
The only reason to use one though in reality is the lenses and if you find Nikkors or Zuikos or others that you like then The Leica SLR experience is pointless. when I could use one I found the F2 or in particular the F3 a much nicer and more confident experience. Add a 28 2.8 AIS and a 105 and there' very little a Leica SLR can compete with. The only focal length that Leica deliver above imho is 50/60.
regards j

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

My experience with my old R5 was that it was wonderful when it worked but no one would touch it when it went wrong except Leica and their estimate was for over 900 UK pounds.

OTOH you can get the R5 from time to time on ebay from dealers from about 65 to 120 pounds but the lenses are (very) dear. FWIW I've often been tempted but can't face the thought of regarding one as a disposable camera to be scrapped once something fails.

One other point, they are nice to handle but heavy and get heavier, somehow, as the day goes by...

Just my 2d worth.

Regards, David

 

[GarageBoy]

R6.2 is mechanical- sound be reliable

 

[nobbylon]

R6.2 is mechanical- sound be reliable

I looked at getting an R6 or R6.2 a few years ago and found quite a few people reporting problems with mirrors, meter circuits and lagging shutter releases. Some get great service from them and some have used them professionally although in the case of high profile users I would guess if there's a problem they just unbox another and carry on. Sadly my experiences with Leica have always been a bit of a lottery and although my list of problems is short it is more than I've had with any other manufacturer.
To be fair to Leica we must always remember that in these cases the cameras are old and have probably not been used regularly or stored poorly affecting both mechanical and electrical integrity.
All my R4's except one had sticking shutters, mirrors and erratic electrics.
My R8's preview lever was sluggish but for the rest a very enjoyable camera.
I never had a problem with my SL's or SL2 and continue to use an SL with no issues but they had all been cared for and used properly. One SL needed a plastic internal part replacing with a metal upgrade and a self timer relube but continued to function regardless. If you want to use old cameras then buy one thats been used and serviced regularly and any problems will have already been sorted. The R experience has always been hit or miss, nothing new with that.

 

[Ronald M]

Do not worry over the strange shutter sound at 1/250. Supposed to be that way

 

[splitimageview]

In my experiences it was R3s and R4s that had issues, later Rs were significantly improved in terms of long-term reliability. Of course there are always isolated cases of failures even with new cameras, like every brand.

Always liked the feel of the R5, R6, R7. R8/R9, not so much.

 

[rolfe]

The R6 and R6.2 are completely mechanical and as close to a Leica M with a prism as you're going to get. The earlier SLR's that had problems were electronic.

 

[wjlapier]

And if they die convert the lenses to Nikon F mount and shoot on...

I did this with a 50 cron and VII 28 Elmarit. Wish I had kept the 28.

 

[nobbylon]

The R6 and R6.2 are completely mechanical and as close to a Leica M with a prism as you're going to get. The earlier SLR's that had problems were electronic.

Apart from the flakey meter board that has failed on 2 that I know of and more written about on the net. Don't get me wrong, theyre a nice camera but they have failed regularly. In actual feel the SL is closer as it doesn't feel as plasticky ( is that a word?) as the R cameras. I've never had R6/6.2 but I have used and they still have that weird shutter release delay feeling.

 

[asiafish]

Love the R3

 

[sailor]

Apart from the flakey meter board that has failed on 2 that I know of and more written about on the net. Don't get me wrong, theyre a nice camera but they have failed regularly. In actual feel the SL is closer as it doesn't feel as plasticky ( is that a word?) as the R cameras. I've never had R6/6.2 but I have used and they still have that weird shutter release delay feeling.

I have an R6 and I can confirm the delay between pressing the shutter and the picture being taken. When the shutter button is depressed the lens stops down but there is a very noticeable delay before the shutter fires. I've never come across anything as bad with any other camera.

I've also got two SLs but what you have to watch with them is that the prism is liable to desilvering. Both of mine have this defect to a greater or lesser extent. It shows as brown marks in the viewfinder. Both of mine are still able to be used but the experience isn't as pleasant. Apart from that I have never had any other issues. The shutter sound is a delight. Not quiet by any manner of means but somehow wonderful!

 

[lxmike]

very well done enjoy your new leica

 

[Joop van Heijgen]

The Leicaflex SL is in qualityway the real SLR pendant of the Wetzlar M Leica's...(M3, M2, M4, M5)...