Leica R9

What a guy ... I love his approach to what he does and why he does it. What camera he uses is not so important IMO!
 
Shot with an R8 from time to time, and shot my friend's R9. Both pretty much the same except the R9 is lighter, has a mode selector lock and has a backlit LCD (yeah they left that out in the R8 😕)

I will just give you a summary:
Heavy
Smooth operation
Softer mirror sound than other SLRs (even with the winder) [I'd hate to say it but it sounds like precision 😎]
Finder is great (interchangeable screens a plus)
Depending on your hands, feels quite comfortable (though some say its butt ugly)
Did I say the kit would be heavy? 😛

The system is dead, and so far no digital solution has been announced for a few years now. Leica Reflex forums indicate many loyal users have given up hope for one and are using their R lenses on other brands of DSLR cameras with adapters. Shame, their R lenses were quite good. Should a FF EVIL cam come to fruit, I'm sure ex R users will migrate there for their digital fix 🙄
 
Dave,

I have had two, sold them both. Love the viewfinder, absurdly nice. Ergo's are not the strong point for me, average sized hands will often find the camera a bit odd in handling. Personally I loved the look of th camera as well, YMMV.

In the end I didn't want to build up another whole system given I was already knee deep in Contax and Nikon SLRs, so out went the R9. Would I recommend it, absolutely...beautiful camera that is very well built and intuitive. Just make sure the handling is right for you.

Kent
 
Cool! Thanks for the super quick response!

I happen to like the style of the R bodies and the lenses are rather inexpensive compared to the M-body lenses.

KEH only has two listed for around $1100. About the same price as an M4 or such rangefinder. About double the cost of an F5 which I used for years and thoroughly enjoyed, but it was no Leica. Just an indestructible brick!

Something about the R bodies, they are more elegant than the Japanese SLR equivalents, or maybe after having so many of THEM, I am ready for a change, something with a red dot.😀

BTW, did a digital back ever make it on the market for the R9?

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And it costs about $5000, give or take.

It's cheaper to buy a Nikon D700/Canon 5DII AND an R9 than it is to just buy just the digital back. Plus if you got the Canon or Nikon you can shoot with both at the same time, you can adapt R lenses to fit Canon and Nikon cameras, and you don't have to worry about exposing the sensor to the elements all the time. The DMR is very cool, but pretty pointless if you're a real photographer.
 
Yep, I have an R9/DMR. Bought it last month, then during testing, found that the R9 needed to go in the shop. It's at Kindermann's right now.

So - love it. Technically shoots like an M8 - ie. same sensor crop factor. But I get to shoot all my R lenses.

It is big - but that is okay for now. R lenses tend to be pretty heavy, so it balances out.

I've got my R5 and R7 for sale on the 'bay, to pay for the repair. Seems like the mirror doesn't cycle properly, but the body is mint.

...Vick
 
$1,200 - is that all, Emilsand? Are you sure you've not just bought the R9 only. If not and you get the DMR also you gotta let us have details of the shop so we can have a scout about. Post a picture of your rig when you get it.
 
I've always liked the look of the R8 / R9. An R9 with a 50 cron ROM came up on e**y just before Christmas and I bought it. All boxed and it truly is mint. I've only put a couple of rolls through it so far but I love it. It looks big but in fact feels perfect in my average size hands. Even though its an electronic camera all the controls are simple and mechanical - no hold this while you twiddle that and watch the LCD. A wonderful camera .

As for the DMR - it seems to me with the rapid advances in digital the less than full frame DMR can't hold it's price much longer. Add to that the dubious availability of replacement batteries and the death of the R system and I think prices will soon fall rapidly.
 
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