farlymac
PF McFarland
Took the R7 on a test drive with some Kodak Ektar 100. Lenses used were the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5, and Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
Click on the photos if you want to see them full size on Flickr (especially the test strips).
Summer Travel by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Ah, road construction. Not a long delay, but it was at an intersection, so that added more time.
Just a quick shot out the windshield, with the camera on Program, I think. I took one before this, but didn't like the readings in the viewfinder, so after resetting the meter system, this exposure came out good. It was just intuitive that I could figure out that first shot wouldn't be anything worth displaying.
Test Strip 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting into the light with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5 wasn't too bad. The metering system on the Leica R series uses the terms "Selective" for Spot, and "Integrated" for Averaging (in this case, Center Weighted).
Starting from the top, you have:
Manual/Selective
Aperture Priority/Selective
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Shutter Priority/Integrated
I give a slight edge to Aperture Priority/Integrated, though there wasn't a lot of difference among them.
Test Strip 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
This time, the order is top to bottom:
Shutter Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Selective
Manual/Selective
Again, Aperture Priority/Integrated has the slight edge, mostly noted in the color rendition.
Sweet Sunny-16 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Back in Manual/Selective, the readouts in the viewfinder matched what I would have used on any of my meter less cameras of f16 @ 1/125 for ISO 100.
FranklinCountyHigh School
Rocky Mount, VA
Slight Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
I don't have my 28mm with me at the moment (it's in the NJ Leica shop), and the only other wide angle I have is the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5.
Most of what looks like glare is likely just haze from the high humidity that day (remember that approaching thunderstorm from the first test strip?). Still, it was kind of unexpected, as I'm shooting from under a bridge in Aperture Priority/Integrated (Averaging, Center Weighted), and the built-in hood is deployed on the lens. Oh well, it is a zoom after all.
Burning In The Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
After a little burning in of the area just above the remains of the dam and generator building, this photo looks a lot better.
Note: I'll be posting a series of shots just of the Pigg River Dam removal later on.
Tracks of Those Before Me by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The sands below the remains of the Pigg River Hydro Dam. Pretty good resolution for a zoom lens.
Tracks Example by P F McFarland, on Flickr
In the lower right half, you can see how the scan looked, and in the upper left half after doing an Auto Levels adjustment.
I don't know if it's the Ektar film, or a fault of the scanner (commercially done), but I'll get a scan or two like the lower right every time I use Ektar.
True Grit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
These don't look well set enough for me, so I'll avoid them.
This needed an Auto Levels adjustment too, though it was just to give it a little better color since I was shooting in the shade.
Hardy Road Bridge over the Roanoke River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Many years ago, this bridge took a mighty hit from a too high vehicle, and it is still standing. But you'd think the county could paint it once every ten years.
No corrections needed here, even with the contrast between light and dark (AP/I meter setting).
Post Top Lichen Farm by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A miniature world on top of a slant-cut 6x6.
This is the best I could do with the 35-70mm, as it doesn't have a macro feature. So I went back to the truck, and changed lenses to the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8 (minus the 1:1 attachment).
Lichen Macro by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Taken with the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
More "up close and personal" than you can get with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm.
Lichen In Focus by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting across the top of the post with a wide open aperture.
I'm impressed with the fact there doesn't appear to be any camera shake in my two macro photos, as the camera was not on a tripod. For this one, I used my left hand to steady the camera against the post while adding a bit of extra support to the lens.
I do believe I’ve got a keeper.
PF
Click on the photos if you want to see them full size on Flickr (especially the test strips).
Summer Travel by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Ah, road construction. Not a long delay, but it was at an intersection, so that added more time.
Just a quick shot out the windshield, with the camera on Program, I think. I took one before this, but didn't like the readings in the viewfinder, so after resetting the meter system, this exposure came out good. It was just intuitive that I could figure out that first shot wouldn't be anything worth displaying.
Test Strip 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting into the light with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5 wasn't too bad. The metering system on the Leica R series uses the terms "Selective" for Spot, and "Integrated" for Averaging (in this case, Center Weighted).
Starting from the top, you have:
Manual/Selective
Aperture Priority/Selective
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Shutter Priority/Integrated
I give a slight edge to Aperture Priority/Integrated, though there wasn't a lot of difference among them.
Test Strip 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
This time, the order is top to bottom:
Shutter Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Selective
Manual/Selective
Again, Aperture Priority/Integrated has the slight edge, mostly noted in the color rendition.
Sweet Sunny-16 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Back in Manual/Selective, the readouts in the viewfinder matched what I would have used on any of my meter less cameras of f16 @ 1/125 for ISO 100.
FranklinCountyHigh School
Rocky Mount, VA
Slight Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
I don't have my 28mm with me at the moment (it's in the NJ Leica shop), and the only other wide angle I have is the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5.
Most of what looks like glare is likely just haze from the high humidity that day (remember that approaching thunderstorm from the first test strip?). Still, it was kind of unexpected, as I'm shooting from under a bridge in Aperture Priority/Integrated (Averaging, Center Weighted), and the built-in hood is deployed on the lens. Oh well, it is a zoom after all.
Burning In The Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
After a little burning in of the area just above the remains of the dam and generator building, this photo looks a lot better.
Note: I'll be posting a series of shots just of the Pigg River Dam removal later on.
Tracks of Those Before Me by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The sands below the remains of the Pigg River Hydro Dam. Pretty good resolution for a zoom lens.
Tracks Example by P F McFarland, on Flickr
In the lower right half, you can see how the scan looked, and in the upper left half after doing an Auto Levels adjustment.
I don't know if it's the Ektar film, or a fault of the scanner (commercially done), but I'll get a scan or two like the lower right every time I use Ektar.
True Grit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
These don't look well set enough for me, so I'll avoid them.
This needed an Auto Levels adjustment too, though it was just to give it a little better color since I was shooting in the shade.
Hardy Road Bridge over the Roanoke River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Many years ago, this bridge took a mighty hit from a too high vehicle, and it is still standing. But you'd think the county could paint it once every ten years.
No corrections needed here, even with the contrast between light and dark (AP/I meter setting).
Post Top Lichen Farm by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A miniature world on top of a slant-cut 6x6.
This is the best I could do with the 35-70mm, as it doesn't have a macro feature. So I went back to the truck, and changed lenses to the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8 (minus the 1:1 attachment).
Lichen Macro by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Taken with the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
More "up close and personal" than you can get with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm.
Lichen In Focus by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting across the top of the post with a wide open aperture.
I'm impressed with the fact there doesn't appear to be any camera shake in my two macro photos, as the camera was not on a tripod. For this one, I used my left hand to steady the camera against the post while adding a bit of extra support to the lens.
I do believe I’ve got a keeper.
PF
f16sunshine
Moderator
I had the R7 for a few years with older versions of Summicrons 35,50,90 I bought cheap as a set.
Truly I really like the camera. Beautiful bright contrasty viewfinder.
I used it with B&W film exclusively so the meter really was never stressed as it would have been with transperencies.
My only issue was the wind on lever. It was kind of floppy not resting at the closed position.
The R8/9 looked really cool and but the R6/R7 felt more compact and traditional....handy for prime lens use.
Truly I really like the camera. Beautiful bright contrasty viewfinder.
I used it with B&W film exclusively so the meter really was never stressed as it would have been with transperencies.
My only issue was the wind on lever. It was kind of floppy not resting at the closed position.
The R8/9 looked really cool and but the R6/R7 felt more compact and traditional....handy for prime lens use.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I had R4, R5, and R6. I liked the R6 for its exposure display, which is very like the M6: diodes for under, over, and right on.
Huss
Veteran
I wanted to like the R7 but the shutter delay (or sensation of delay) really bugged me.
Nice pics.
Nice pics.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Huss, I now recall that "delay" as well.
It did seem that there was a slight delay from the double mirror sound.
It never changed my images but it was appearant whether it delayed or not ( it felt strange).
I have an OM2s which similarly feels like it delays.
Not sure if either do but it sure sounded and felt like it.
It did seem that there was a slight delay from the double mirror sound.
It never changed my images but it was appearant whether it delayed or not ( it felt strange).
I have an OM2s which similarly feels like it delays.
Not sure if either do but it sure sounded and felt like it.
steveyork
Well-known
I had an R7 for a few months a couple summer ago. I liked it better then the F3, because of increased viewfinder magnification, but liked my several Leicaflex SL better then both by a fair degree. With AP cameras, no matter the maker, I don't like the process of metering then recomposing (if that's what you do). I find mechanical camera (for me) far more intuitive in this regard. Anyway, the R7 found a new family, and I hope it's still being used. Never had a problem with it, nor the various F3s that've past through the house; just don't like them as much as mechanical cameras.