Leica R9 first impressions

[Huss]

Just picked up one of these puppies. While it looks huge and ungainly, it's very different when you actually hold one. Weight is fine, handling is excellent. Crazy smooth film winder. The extremely simple and logical control layout is how cameras should be, with an oversized and overhanging shutter speed dial a la M5.
I can find only one flaw with the controls - the on/off switch should be separate from the exposure mode dial. It makes for slower start up times as you have to spin that dial from OFF to whatever mode you want to use. If this was separate, you'd have the mode dial set at your mode ready to go, and an on/off switch. Hmm.
The one shooting flaw is the AE lock is just like on the M7 - hold down the shutter button half way. This means that once the exposure is made, it drops the AE lock. It would be nice if it would hold it until it was cancelled. But like the M7, that's what manual mode is for!
Shutter lag is completely fine - nothing like that on an R7 where there seems to be a loooong delay. It made me hate that camera. The shutter sound is interesting, even at 1/8000 sec it sound like it is at 1.60. I guess this is due to the double mirrors and associated mechanism. It does not sound crisp and defined like with a Minolta XK or Nikon F2/F3 (my points of reference).

One weirdness, the depth of field preview button is a lever with a really long throw. And when you release it, the lens returns to shooting aperture kinda slowly. When you actually take a pic, the lens' aperture stops down and opens up just as quickly as one would expect. I did a google search and this seems to be normal, so I'm guessing the DOF action is intentionally damped to reduce wear.

Anyway, this should be interesting.

 

[Doug]

Looks like considerable original thinking went into the exterior design, so maybe interior as well? Interesting rig, digital back available too... Enjoy!

 

[ErikT]

I also have a R9 (a very good condition black version) and I really like it in general, but—like you—I also hate the combined ON/OFF and mode dial. Difficult to understand how they came up with this design, it's so impractical.

Otherwise I really like it.

I only have one lens, a late 50mm Summicron f/2, but I love that lens. Would like to get a 28mm Elmarit f/2.8 version II, but they're quite expensive.

I recently acquired the Motor Winder. It makes the handling a little more balanced and it feels really nice. It also—contrary to the even larger Motor Drive—uses 2 normal CR123A 3V lithium batteries.

My Hunchback of Solms:

 

[Larry Cloetta]

My main problem with the combined mode/on/off switch is that I don’t ever remember to turn it off when I am finished. Just seeing this post has made me wonder if I turned it off the last time I used it.
I have large hands, which might account for the fact I have found criticisms of the shape to be unwarranted. Ergonomically it is one of the most thoughtfully designed cameras I have ever owned. For me.

 

[Ronald M]

Preview levers on previous r models were frequently sticky and expensive to repair.

Maybe some real owners can advise.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Preview levers on previous r models were frequently sticky and expensive to repair.

Maybe some real owners can advise.

Unaware of that. When you mention “previous R models” not sure which ones you might mean. R8 and R9 were totally different ground up designs from the R3 to R7 series, so there was really no carryover of anything, good or bad.

Edit: Well, the expensive to repair part.... that probably carried over.

 

[Huss]

I also have a R9 (a very good condition black version) and I really like it in general, but—like you—I also hate the combined ON/OFF and mode dial. Difficult to understand how they came up with this design, it's so impractical.

Otherwise I really like it.

I only have one lens, a late 50mm Summicron f/2, but I love that lens. Would like to get a 28mm Elmarit f/2.8 version II, but they're quite expensive.

I recently acquired the Motor Winder. It makes the handling a little more balanced and it feels really nice. It also—contrary to the even larger Motor Drive—uses 2 normal CR123A 3V lithium batteries.

My Hunchback of Solms:

I'd like to get a faster lens than just my zoom, for when the light sinks. I've been doing a lot of research of the much lauded E60 1.4 50 but it seems to be much lauded because it was the most recent, and by far the most expensive. So of course Leicatypes gravitate to that... 😉
I found, I think of fredmiranda, one gent who did extensive side by side testing of a Cron, Lux 1.4 E55 and Lux 1.4 E60. The Cron was clearly the sharpest, while the E60 had slightly better bokeh than the E55 (and both better than the Cron), but I had to go back and forth and really peep until my eyes crossed to tell. Basically one would not be able to tell any difference in actual photos. I briefly had an E55 a few years back, with a Nikon mount, and was very happy with the images but sold it on as the Nikon mount prevented automatic aperture control. So I preferred using a Zeiss Macro Planar.
I like the idea of the Winder, but have not seen one yet for sale separate from the body.

But yeah, that on/off switch as part of the mode dial...:bang:

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I'd like to get a faster lens than just my zoom, for when the light sinks. I've been doing a lot of research of the much lauded E60 1.4 50 but it seems to be much lauded because it was the most recent, and by far the most expensive. So of course Leicatypes gravitate to that... 😉
I found, I think of fredmiranda, one gent who did extensive side by side testing of a Cron, Lux 1.4 E55 and Lux 1.4 E60. The Cron was clearly the sharpest, while the E60 had slightly better bokeh than the E55 (and both better than the Cron), but I had to go back and forth and really peep until my eyes crossed to tell. Basically one would not be able to tell any difference in actual photos. I briefly had an E55 a few years back, with a Nikon mount, and was very happy with the images but sold it on as the Nikon mount prevented automatic aperture control. So I preferred using a Zeiss Macro Planar.
I like the idea of the Winder, but have not seen one yet for sale separate from the body.

But yeah, that on/off switch as part of the mode dial...:bang:

There is a ton of R lens information over at Fred Miranda in the Leica R lens thread, probably the best go to source for actual picture results, though it will take days to go through it all. The Cron might be sharper than the E60 Lux at f/2, but I am pretty sure the E60 Lux is noticeably better corrected once you stop down, unsurprisingly. Same thing for the later 90 ASPH vs. the earlier Cron. Not that I have either the E60 Lux or the 90 ASPH, preferring the less corrected rendering of the earlier Mandler lenses. Not to mention cheaper. Way cheaper.
The R lenses are much, much nicer to use on an R body than adapted to an F mount, at least I thought so and gave up on that sideshow pretty quickly. PITA.

FWIW, the Zeiss Macro Planar is a nicer lens than the popular 60 Makro-Elmarit-R, again only a personal opinion. One reason for having multiple systems.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

A very long time ago I handled one in Central Camera (Chicago). I liked it until I looked through the viewfinder and wasn't able to focus well because of the split-something system. It reminded me of my Minolta X-70 and the reason I gave up on manual focus SLRs. But I must admit that, in terms of design, it's the coolest and most advanced camera body ever made...

Oh, well... must control myself. Thanks for your instructive post! 🙂

 

[Huss]

There is a ton of R lens information over at Fred Miranda in the Leica R lens thread, probably the best go to source for actual picture results, though it will take days to go through it all.....
The R lenses are much, much nicer to use on an R body than adapted to an F mount, at least I thought so and gave up on that sideshow pretty quickly. PITA.

FWIW, the Zeiss Macro Planar is a nicer lens than the popular 60 Makro-Elmarit-R, again only a personal opinion. One reason for having multiple systems.

Yeah, but on Fredmiranda all those comparisons are on digital. I think film is way more forgiving and what one may see on a 42mp SOny A7R111, most probably would be unnoticeable on Portra 400. I did use that one 50mm comparo just to see what actually was the difference theoretically. The tester shot the three lenses at several different apertures, but admittedly they were close ups that had lights in the background to demonstrate bokeh. But for my purposes, it gave me what I needed to know. Fredmiranda really is about the best 'real' resource out there.
And yeah, my experience using modded R lenses on a Nikon mirrors yours. The process is so clunky it just, well, blows. I feel the same way adapting mf lenses to mirrorless cameras. I have a M43 Olympus that I bought a M43-Leica M adapter for, but pretty much instantly realised I was kidding myself and the camera was so much better with the dedicated Olympus lenses. Same with my M240 and all the adapters I bought for it. Much better just using M mount lenses.

A very long time ago I handled one in Central Camera (Chicago). I liked it until I looked through the viewfinder and wasn't able to focus well because of the split-something system. It reminded me of my Minolta X-70 and the reason I gave up on manual focus SLRs. But I must admit that, in terms of design, it's the coolest and most advanced camera body ever made...

Oh, well... must control myself. Thanks for your instructive post! 🙂

Leica offers (offered?) different focus screens, so if you don't like one, there are others to choose from.
I've almost finished shooting my first roll and this camera really is growing on me. I now dig the distinctive 'ker-chlunk' sound of the mirror! While I bought an R9, it's only because I got an insane deal on a like new one. The seller had posted a couple of blurry pics on ebay, with a 'make an offer' price. So I offered less than R8s are going for and he accepted! It came with the box and all that stuff. I was stunned to open the box and see a like new camera inside!
But.. in researching this, the R8 really is pretty much the same thing and I think a killer deal. People are now asking crazy money for the Nikon FM3a, and for the same money you can get an R8 which has a greater shutter speed range, multiple metering patterns, and is just nicer. Plus it uses R glass. The Nikon's advantage is not being battery reliant.
I've used the FM3a so know of what I speak 😉 And picked an FE2 over it (since sold) as I couldn't tell any difference in actual use.
Nikon F6 (which I am lucky enough to also have) is a lot more than an R8 and it is far less intuitive to use, plus loses it's memory settings if you pull the battery and store it for several weeks. But you can set it to store AE lock settings, while the R8/9 drops it after each exposure. The main thing going is the AF. If you don't need it, then the R8/9 is a very nice alternative.

Looking at the R9, I don't know why Leica didn't name the SL the R10. It's what the R9 would be if AF and a permanent digital sensor was added. Same thing as the M7 becoming the digital M8/9/10/10v2

 

[Out to Lunch]

Looking at the R9, I don't know why Leica didn't name the SL the R10.

Perhaps because the market dictates it is best not naming a new product after a failed and by now dead one.

 

[ellisson]

Congrats on your R9, Huss.
I enjoy this camera and the 35-70 f4 macro lens. Great possibilities with that combo.

 

[ellisson]

As you mentioned, the R8/R9 winders are usually bundled with the cameras. I was looking for one last year and contacted a seller to see if he would sell the winder separately. He agreed and split his auction, re-listing the camera alone after selling me the winder. Not all sellers may agree to this, but its worth a try.

 

[Huss]

Perhaps because the market dictates it is best not naming a new product after a failed and by now dead one.

well it's a good thing they didn't do something like release a digital camera called the CL.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

First modern SLR which I'm finding as attractive as our family EOS 300 🙂

 

[steveyork]

When I played with one of these in store in the early-ish part of the last decade, the pleasant ergonomics surprised.

 

[Keith]

As much as the R8/9 has always fascinated me with it's looks and obvious build quality there are so many other SLRs out there to choose from. These days an F6 would probably go for less and the range of inexpensive lenses available for the Nikon is enormous.

I guess if you really want the Leica that's what you'll choose though because it's certainly unique!

 

[Huss]

As much as the R8/9 has always fascinated me with it's looks and obvious build quality there are so many other SLRs out there to choose from. These days an F6 would probably go for less and the range of inexpensive lenses available for the Nikon is enormous.

I guess if you really want the Leica that's what you'll choose though because it's certainly unique!

The F6 goes for a lot more than an R8 and about the same as an R9. Lens selection for the Nikon is of course way more extensive but if you want the same quality you are looking at the Zeiss ZF /Milvus series. Which cost the same as Leica R glass.
🙂

 

[Keith]

The F6 goes for a lot more than an R8 and about the same as an R9. Lens selection for the Nikon is of course way more extensive but if you want the same quality you are looking at the Zeiss ZF /Milvus series. Which cost the same as Leica R glass.
🙂

Out of interest Huss what does an R9 sell for ... ?

 

[analoged]

As you can see in my sig I have plenty of R cameras and glass, but the R9 is still on the list of wants... one day.