Ok, who's got an R4?

[dave lackey]

What do you think about a mint R4 (several at the local camera shop)? One chrome R4, one black R4, and two black R4s bodies. Mint with boxes. Think there is also an eveready case.🙂

I am stunned at how small these bodies are and the viewfinder is amazing.

Is the R4 as good as it looks?😀

 

[David Hughes]

Simple answer: yes.

It's the lenses that play a big part. Do a lot of research and learn the difference between the R4's as there's 2 or 3 varieties. Ditto the most common zoom. My experience of repair costs is frightening, so tread carefully but a year's guarantee and just a year's use would be a very pleasant experience.

Regards, David

 

[dave lackey]

Cool...as a lifelong Nikon owner/user, I can tell you that the R4 bodies I tried out today were no "Clunky SLR's", not at all.🙂🙂🙂 The R4 was much better than any Nikon I have ever used. These are classy camera bodies.

Compared to the cameras that were contemporary Nikons at the time, the F100 and F5...I MUCH prefer the R bodies! I was blown away. And THAT is from a guy who loved his F5 even more than the F100.:angel:

I love the size, the handling, the quality feel, the viewfinder and saw nothing that I did not like better than the Nikons. So, a mint R4 from an estate where dozens of Leica cameras were purchased and I can trade some kit for almost the entire value of the body. Hmmm....

Lenses. What to use to complement the M3 with a 50mm lens?:bang:

 

[David Hughes]

You lucky so and so.

I'd ask you to grab me one or two but you're the other side of the pond. And the tax and import duty, even on the postage paid would sink me.

If they are dirt cheap I'd go for two; they are wonderful when they work but an accident can wreck everything. As for lenses, I kept the 35mm one glued to my R5 but they are all good. So whatever suits you. Look at the tele's, btw. The 180's and 250's include some that are mind blowing. And there's macro lenses...

Regards, David

 

[taskoni]

My favorite lens is the Summilux 80mm 1.4. It is always on my R7 and Summilux 50 1.4 is in my bag.

 

[nobbylon]

They are great when they work properly. This is a good guide,
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page6.html
Check the 1000 speed at shutter release, is there a delay with the release when you push the button?
I have 2, one early version and one late, both totally reliable. Build quality is the same as an M6. The R's get some bad press, some justified, some not but they are nice SLR's. I would always take an F, F2 or F3 if I was taking a trip though.
I have 4 R lenses, 35 elmarit, summicron, 50 summicron and 90 elmarit. They are all sharp, great build and have that 3d Leica look that got me into Leica in the first instance. I'm now using the 35 and 50 'crons on my D700.

 

[dave lackey]

You lucky so and so.

I'd ask you to grab me one or two but you're the other side of the pond. And the tax and import duty, even on the postage paid would sink me.

If they are dirt cheap I'd go for two; they are wonderful when they work but an accident can wreck everything. As for lenses, I kept the 35mm one glued to my R5 but they are all good. So whatever suits you. Look at the tele's, btw. The 180's and 250's include some that are mind blowing. And there's macro lenses...

Regards, David

Well, KEH and Adorama also have excellent R4 bodies in the $165-$199 range. Lenses are cheap, too. But, what is this e60 designation?

: Leitz 35-70/3.5 Vario-elmar-r 3-cam*e60

 

[sahe69]

I presume the e60 stands for the filter size.

 

[dave lackey]

I presume the e60 stands for the filter size.

Makes sense...I am so used to much smaller M lenses, I didn't think about one as large as 60mm.:bang:

And then...I notice KEH has a Leica 6.2 body.🙄

I sorta like the idea of all Leica cameras in my bag and each one doing a different task.🙂

 

[helen.HH]

Summilux 80mm ....Sounds like a DREAM to use
is it as BiG as the 'M' 75 ??

 

[dave lackey]

Summilux 80mm ....Sounds like a DREAM to use
is it as BiG as the 'M' 75 ??

Great question, Helen. Bet that is one great lens. 😀They are hard to find, evidently, but I found one at Kevin's cameras, but no photo:


http://www.kevincameras.com/gallery/v/leica_r/?g2_page=4

 

[nobbylon]

Helen, it's a big and heavy lens. For an SLR it's ok though but still makes the R series look small.
The R series cameras are the same size as the M2, 3, 4, 6 etc
Unrelated to your question, I've never understood why a lot of M users shout loud about their pocketable compact M and then stick a whopping lens on the front of it!

 

[dave lackey]

Helen, it's a big and heavy lens. For an SLR it's ok though but still makes the R series look small.
The R series cameras are the same size as the M2, 3, 4, 6 etc
Unrelated to your question, I've never understood why a lot of M users shout loud about their pocketable compact M and then stick a whopping lens on the front of it!

Ha, ha...that is one reason I am looking at the Leica SLR, to complement the M3. But, when I put the R4 against the M2 in the case at the camera store, the R4 was significantly smaller.🙂 Correction, it FELT significantly smaller. Very well built too!

BTW, anyone have an idea what lens focal ranges would be perfect for complementing the 50mm on the M3? I am thinking a 24/28 fixed and/or one of the zoom lenses at Adorama for less than $400. (As if I actually had the cash...🙄)

 

[nobbylon]

Dave,
Any big reason to use a reflex other than you want to?
If it wasn't for focus issues I'd still prefer my M6 up to and inc 50mm over my Nikons and R's.
If you are going to use say a 60, 75 or 90 up then I'd say get one but for everything else stick with the M.
The R6.2 is just a reflex M with 1/2000 sec IMHO!

 

[dave lackey]

Dave,
Any big reason to use a reflex other than you want to?
If it wasn't for focus issues I'd still prefer my M6 up to and inc 50mm over my Nikons and R's.
If you are going to use say a 60, 75 or 90 up then I'd say get one but for everything else stick with the M.
The R6.2 is just a reflex M with 1/2000 sec IMHO!

Yes, there are some compelling reasons. Although I have four working Nikon SLR's, I would like to migrate to all-Leica. Another M body would be great but a nice M6 would be 8-10 times more expensive as I can get an R4 for $165+. A user M2 would still be a possibility but I can get the R body for trade, so nothing out of pocket and that is important as I have been out of work for 30 months with family health issues.

The lenses are much cheaper, though not the Summilux.🙄

I would love to be able to have an 80-135 telephoto or zoom as well.

In addition, the R body is very nice and would be a nice experience at a price well below the Nikons that I have used since I was 20 years old in another time.😱 I love the Nikons but I am ready for a nice change. The Leica R was a surprisingly good fit for my hands.

 

[nobbylon]

One of the best reasons to use an R in the past was that you could get into 35 summicrons for little money. It was my original step into Leica land.
Sadly it's no longer the case because of I think mainly the Canon Dslr users and prices for R'cron 35's have doubled+ in the last couple of years.
Still cheaper than M series 35's but not cheap anymore.

 

[taskoni]

Summilux 80mm ....Sounds like a DREAM to use
is it as BiG as the 'M' 75 ??

Here is some snaps I just took to get the feeling of sizes - mounted on R7 🙂

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The Summilux 50mm f/1.4 is not at home but it is almost as big as the 80mm.
The 24mm 2.8 is Elmarit-R and the 50mm f/2 on the body is Summicron (Canada), cheap and very sharp lens! Virtually there is no difference between the Canada and Germany made Leica lenses.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
b.

 

[helen.HH]

Dang and Damn to ALL of You for this Thread.... 😱

I was NOW PURRectly CONTENT with my M3 / 40 cron, 50 Lux, and soon to have 90 Fat tele
NOW YOu have me THINKING about an R Body with an 80m Lux ...arghhhhhhhh !!!!!

Thank You for the Pixs and Idea of Size...the 80 Lux
'Looks' FAB....sigh

 

[taskoni]

Actually it is my favorite lens now, although I like more something like 40mm in general. Now, as a new M2 owner (virtually, still waiting it to arrive) I have to pile some cash for some M- mounts... Sadly enough, the R lenses are not recommended on M-bodies 🙁

 

[norgas_co]

Had both an R6 & 80mm lux as well as M6 & 75mm lux simultaneously many years ago. IMHO the M felt awkward to hold with that lens, like holding a lens with a camera attached at the end. The R version definitely felt more balanced (to me), and if i remember accurately, was a bit shorter as well.

R finders are wonderful, real joy to use. Compact body and fantastic muffled mirror. Still use mine with either an 80mm or 180mm.

If you haven't given one (R body) a try yet, do treat yourself to the experience 🙂