What about the Leica R3?

[santino]

Hi!

I'm a bit into buying a nearly mint black R3 Electronic (not Motor) made in Portugal for a 100$.
What do you think, is the price ok?

It's not like I need it (I even don't have R lenses yet) but it would make a nice addition to my collection. It's not on the bay so I don't have to pay shipping etc.
I'm a heavy Contax user when it comes to SLRs, is the R3 compareable in terms of build quality to the Contax RTS?

Damn GAS 😀

 

[nobbylon]

Personally I'd stick with the RTS if you don't have any R lenses. The R3 feels ok but it's not as nice as an RTS.
The R4, 5, 6 and 7 feel similar to RTS. I've had a few R4's but would only go for a 6 or 7 if I was buying now.
I was in the opposite situation once but didn't have any Contax glass. I still fancy an RTSII or RTSIII even though I wouldn't use it!

 

[santino]

yeah I won't give up the RTS system, far too many incredible lenses. 🙂
The R3 would just be a "toy". Fortunately the R lenses are less expensive than the M ones.

Any other opinions?

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

The R3 is nothing special, not even really Leica like. Only advantage it has is that it can use Leica lenses. They also develop failures in the AE circuits. I had two and both had this problem. $100 seems to be good price though.
Cheers,
Michiel Fokkema

 

[Mackinaw]

The R3 never got any respect because it was Minolta-based, but actually it was not a bad camera. $100.00 USD is a good price.

Jim B.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I liked the R3. It is a big camera, but has a well damped mirror and the sound is relative subdued for an Slr. And the Leica glass is good. Sounds like a decent price.

 

[Steve M.]

The R3 is a fine camera. Big, heavy, reliable. And most importantly it takes Leica glass, and in my experience that is a big plus over Contax glass. I had a 50 Planar once on a Contax SLR, and while the lens was really sharp, the bokeh was really ugly too. No comparison to a Leica R 50 Summicron in terms of color saturation, sharpness or smooth bokeh. The 90 R Summicron is the best 90 lens I ever used, period. $100 is a good price for an R3. A Leicaflex would be a better camera, but you won't find one for $100. Their viewfinder is much brighter than an R3 (or most anything else for that matter).

Consider that R3 your introduction to Leica R photography. I think you'll b selling your other SLR gear when you see the quality of the Leica photos.

 

[santino]

thank you all!

@Steve:
I know what you are talking about in terms of the 50 Planar. I also got a copy of it, the 50 Yashinon and it has really good bokeh (more aperture blades than the Planar).

I think I'll give it a try (or just will let the coin decide 😉)

Another question: May sound a bit snobish, but is there any difference in quality between cameras made in Protugal and Germany?
(I know that when it comes to canadian Leica stuff there is no difference at all).

 

[shadowfox]

I agree with most in this thread.
Leica lenses are very good, but too expensive to get most of them.

Zeiss lenses are also very good, but I still can afford them in the focal length that I care about.

Stick with RTS, or even better, upgrade to a Contax ST 😉

 

[dave lackey]

R3 for $100? Ok price.

I picked up an R4 four or five months ago for $200 and the Cron R and could not be happier! Perfect match for my M3 and I use both professionally, having just finished a photo documentary book and starting another one.🙂

For an extra $100, I would go for the R4. Don't be scared off from the R bodies and for damned sure understand that the incredible lenses are available for very low prices. The performance of both is very good IMO.

If I had the money, an R6.2 or an R9 would be sitting on my desk as well.:angel:

 

[taskoni]

R3 is a good camera, unfortunately they do fail as previously noted, even though I still have one and it keep working like a charm. I remember when I got my R7 there was a rumor that they fail pretty often too and the recommended R was 6.2 all the way. I keep shooting the R7 with no problems either.
Back OT, 100 $ seems fair price and if you find a Summicron-r 50mm f/2 for good price you'll be set for a while. My cron on the R3 is made in Canada - it is great lens, contrasty and dead sharp wide open. There's virtually no difference between the canada and germany made R lenses as far as I can tell. Summilux 50mm 1.4 is rather cheap too (for Leica lens) and great performer.

 

[dave lackey]

R3 is a good camera, unfortunately they do fail as previously noted, even though I still have one and it keep working like a charm. I remember when I got my R7 there was a rumor that they fail pretty often too and the recommended R was 6.2 all the way. I keep shooting the R7 with no problems either.
Back OT, 100 $ seems fair price and if you find a Summicron-r 50mm f/2 for good price you'll be set for a while. My cron on the R3 is made in Canada - it is great lens, contrasty and dead sharp wide open. There's virtually no difference between the canada and germany made R lenses as far as I can tell. Summilux 50mm 1.4 is rather cheap too (for Leica lens) and great performer.

+1 and Bobby should know. Check out his photos with the R7!:angel:

 

[santino]

I'll visit the seller probably tomorrow, he has a Leicaflex SL too, I'm curious about the price.

btw. is it true that the more unreliable cameras were the R3 MOT ones? (I don't mean jam but also electronic meter failure?).

 

[Rhodes]

My R3 is a MOT one, I pay 200€ (285$) for it with a tamron 38-105 zoom lens, 2 years ago and it is still impeccable.

 

[santino]

thank you for all posts!
I decided that I'll save my 100$ and add some more to get a Leicaflex SL. I held both in my hands (R3 & Leicaflex SL) and man does the Leicaflex remind me of a M! That'll be my next SLR to buy 😀

 

[Teuthida]

thank you for all posts!
I decided that I'll save my 100$ and add some more to get a Leicaflex SL. I held both in my hands (R3 & Leicaflex SL) and man does the Leicaflex remind me of a M! That'll be my next SLR to buy 😀

You won't regret the SL. Best SLR ever built. The viewfinder is a marvel, and the camera is built like a brick. I LOVE mine. It's the M4 of SLRS.