Leica R8... something I should know?

SolaresLarrave

SolaresLarrave

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Maybe it's too late to ask if there's really something I should know about this camera... but I still would like to know, despite the fact that I already pulled the trigger and bought one (black) body, and a Vario-Elmar 28-70 f3.5-4.5 3Cam.

Anybody here ever shot or considered the R8 or R9? Did you like it? Did you hate it or just dislike it? Was it easy to work with, especially the focusing part?

I will appreciate your input. And give that there's not a whole lot of information about this camera out there, I'm sure others also will like it. The good thing is that most of what one can find on the R8 is fairly encouraging... But I'd like to hear from users. Again, thanks in advance! 🙂
 
I recall there being issues with there earlier serial numbers. Scratching film and something also about the motor rewind. So what's the serial number?

Great ergonomics though. I played with an R9 at a shop when they were still in production.
 
Looks like it's 2752120.

I read about early teething problems too, but cannot recall exactly what they were. Thans for the reminder! This one is used, so I imagine it may have been fixed if there was a problem with it (basically, the same they used to say about some M5s and many M4-2s).
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Looks like it's 2752120.

I read about early teething problems too, but cannot recall exactly what they were. Thans for the reminder! This one is used, so I imagine it may have been fixed if there was a problem with it (basically, the same they used to say about some M5s and many M4-2s).
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're safe. Yours must be the last production run or close to it. I always heard that 247xxxx (or so) was as the line of demarcation. It's on the internet somewhere. I just know you wanted to stay away from the early ones.
 
If you decide to motorise it be careful. In my experience the motor winder (14209) was never very reliable, and seriously messed with the camera. Mine is a 254xxxx. I did not try the motor drive (14313) (it seemed like it made an already big camera too much bigger).

The balance with bigger or any of the long lenses is fantastic, and although it is big it feels great in hand and the viewfinder is just excellent.

Marty
 
Thanks for the tip, Marty! There's a video in YouTube that extols the virtues of the winder (I don't know if that's the one you refer to), but it also warns that both the winder and the motor have separate, rechargeable batteries that may or may not work.

As for the size, I saw and held one (or perhaps it was an R9) a very long time ago. I remembe it being very large. But then, that was in my days before going digital and using a Nikon dSLR with a battery pack. 😉
 
steveyork said:
Sounds like you're safe. Yours must be the last production run or close to it. I always heard that 247xxxx (or so) was as the line of demarcation. It's on the internet somewhere. I just know you wanted to stay away from the early ones.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time, Steve! 🙂 As I said, I assumed I was safe but now you helped me feel a lot better.
 
Thanks a lot for all the information about the Leica R8 camera, James! I really appreciate that you took the time to look up the serial number.

As for yours-truly, here's an update.

The black camera I ordered came in, but the lens (which was timed to come the same day) didn't. In fact, it seemed lost in the mail between Nebraska and Illinois (and in these stormy times, things can happen). In deep despair and frustration, I found another lens for sale, at a lower price, in a store, not eBay, so I bought it... on Friday evening.

I contacted the seller of the first lens (a 28-70 f3.5-4.5) and he immediately opened a claim with the post office. Yesterday he told me he got some reply from them hinting that the lens was in the system, so one can assume it may come this week. In the meantime, the lens I purchased from a store in MN (a 35-70 f3.5) also may come this week. So in the end, I may find myself with two lenses instead of none.... but only one body. I'll decide later which one to keep based on ergonomics, because on paper each of them looks really good.

BTW, the camera isn't tiny... but it's not huge either. Since I had seen a video of the R8 with a winder, I looked for one and found an inexpensive copy in good shape that will add a bit of heft to the camera. Other than that... the dials feel exquisitely smooth and high quality, like a precision instrument designed to work well. Compared to my Nikon dSLRs, the buttons sit in a more natural position in the body and the viewfinder (even without a lens) is incredibly bright.

Once I have a lens I'll come back and tell you what it is to use this beautiful machine. For now... I'm off to get something done to take my mind off waiting for the lenses I ordered.
 
Last edited:
SolaresLarrave said:
Thanks a lot for all the information about the Leica R8 camera, James! I really appreciate that you took the time to look up the serial number....I contacted the seller of the first lens (a 28-70 f3.5-4.5) and he immediately opened a claim with the post office. Yesterday he told me he got some reply from them hinting that the lens was in the system, so one can assume it may come this week. In the meantime, the lens I purchased from a store in MN (a 35-70 f3.5) also may come this week. So in the end, I may find myself with two lenses instead of none.... but only one body. I'll decide later which one to keep based on ergonomics, because on paper each of them looks really good....BTW, the camera isn't tiny... but it's not huge either. Since I had seen a video of the R8 with a winder, I looked for one and found an inexpensive copy in good shape that will add a bit of heft to the camera. Other than that... the dials feel exquisitely smooth and high quality, like a precision instrument designed to work well. Compared to my Nikon dSLRs, the buttons sit in a more natural position in the body and the viewfinder (even without a lens) is incredibly bright.
Click to expand...

I do suggest you read up about the lenses. Of the zooms, the 21-35, 28-90, 35-70/4, 70-180, 105-280 and 35-70/2.8 are the best regarded; the 35-70/4 (not the f/3.5) is the most affordable at ~US$1k. The f/2.8 version was an engineering marvel at the time, superior to all fixed R lenses in that FL range and still sells for about US$10-13k. It is the outlier, with the others from $2.5-5k.

Slow zooms, limited ISO films and dim views through the prism are why primes might be your better choice in the long run.

...and the R8 is dense but has wonderful haptics. Its design & appearance at first glance may be off-putting to some but once you actually hold & use it, you understand. As for its weightiness, I've used a Blackrapid sling strap across the shoulder that mounts to the tripod screw of the camera and have it hang at hip level. Way more comfortable.
 
Thanks, James! I will surely heed your advice. My latest experiences with my Nikon D800 and a 50mm lens (f1.4) have opened me to possibilities I didn't foresee. In other words, I'm beginning to lean towards primes with SLRs. I guess with dSLRs you can always use slow glass because the ISO ceases to be a problem, but with film the lens speed is key.

Thanks for your lens recommendations too!
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Thanks for the tip, Marty! There's a video in YouTube that extols the virtues of the winder (I don't know if that's the one you refer to), but it also warns that both the winder and the motor have separate, rechargeable batteries that may or may not work.

As for the size, I saw and held one (or perhaps it was an R9) a very long time ago. I remembe it being very large. But then, that was in my days before going digital and using a Nikon dSLR with a battery pack. 😉
Click to expand...

The winder does not use rechargable batteries -- it uses commonly availale 123 lithiums.

Rolfe
 
I learned later about it. It's the motor winder that has a rechargeable battery.

Before my camera body came I went and purchased a pair of CR2 batteries for it. But the camera had fresh batteries on. This time I'll wait until the winder comes before going to the store in search of the 123 batteries.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
I learned later about it. It's the motor winder that has a rechargeable battery.

Before my camera body came I went and purchased a pair of CR2 batteries for it. But the camera had fresh batteries on. This time I'll wait until the winder comes before going to the store in search of the 123 batteries.
Click to expand...

Got both winders (came with the camera). The rechargeable motor winder invariably needs the battery cells replaced because they are so old.
 
Update on my journey to the Leica R8: the lens I ordered came in. It's a 3 cam zoom with constant aperture and built-in hood. In the meantime I started reading a lot about the different lenses for R cameras... Lots of vague and imprecise information, but one post in the L-Forum clarified things for me.

There are about four classes of lenses for Leica R bodies: the one-cam, two-cam and 3-cam, and then the R-only (which does not have three cams, but only the third cam). Since I have the R8 I ignored the information about other cameras and concentrated on what works with mine. Turns out that to get the best out of the camera body, I can use 3-cam lenses as well as R-only lenses. They convey information to the camera body through this cam.

Now... I took the camera for a walk. Initially I was switching between exposure modes (from P to A and back), and I think that will end up giving me some wrong exposures (I must have shot a few photos in P with the aperture ring open to f4 or f5.6 instead of having it closed all the way to f22). In the end I stayed with aperture priority because that's how I shoot SLRs.

Now... focusing took me some time mostly because my glasses are causing a bit of problem. However, with the screen the camera came focusing is fairly intuitive. There are just a few cases in which it can be tricky but I probably will fix it by manipulating the diopter ring.

Now... this camera is a perfect fit in my hand (and my hands are relatively big). The design helps carry it and handle it without effort... and the viewfinder, even with a zoom like mine, is remarkably bright.

There you go, folks. I still have a roll of film in it, and I'll see to take it for quick developing somewhere they do it fast (if there's such a place left in town).

Now... I have my heart set on a 'cron 50... let's see whether I manage it. 🙂

Naturally, as soon as I have some images, I'll share them here. 😉
 
I have mixed feelings about the R8. I love the feel and quality of it, the superb viewfinder, the excellent controls. But mine proved to be just a mite less than confidence inspiring when it came to boot up ... Sometimes it would wake up when I switched it on nicely, other times I had to cycle the power several times for it to be become useable. It's been a long time now since I sold the R8 (I kept the Leicaflex SL and R6.2 instead) so I have no idea what the serial number was at this point, but it was supposedly a good, late model R8.

I had the winder with mine, and had it on the camera most of the time. Never had any problems with it, specifically, and liked using the camera that way. It did make the already bulky and heavy camera a bit more so, but eh?

My understanding is that any fallibility of the R8 was addressed with the R9, so if I ever go that way again, I'll look for an R9.

G
 
The very late R8 had all the early issues resolved; the OP’s is among the last ones made before production switched over to the R9. I’ve got one of each, both their respective late-model versions. They operate flawlessly.
 
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