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Best manual SLR


S. Wong

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I have become very dissatisfied with my R4's dim screen, especially after seeing a D80 @ f/3.5 being brighter than the R4 @ f/1.4.

 

I find that I use the camera in all-manual mode 99% of the time, so I don't really need the p/a/s settings

 

My budget is tight, and I'd like to spend less than $500.

Used/working is fine

 

What would you recommend?

 

Thank you for your time

-Steven

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Steven, I don't know whether it is possible but explore the possibility of getting a modern replacement screen. That would be the cheapest solution assuming you still like the camera.

 

David

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I have become very dissatisfied with my R4's dim screen, especially after seeing a D80 @ f/3.5 being brighter than the R4 @ f/1.4.

-Steven

 

Steven,

 

I find it hard to believe that the finder of a D80 with a 3.5 lens is brighter than a finder of an R4 with a 1.4 lens.......

 

Are you sure that the auto aperture mechanism of the Summilux is working fine and that the lens is indeed fully opened when on the camera? Also - what type of screen are you using in the R4?

 

Just a thought....

 

Jan

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As to the best manual SLR - since you already have Leica glass, I will second 'the other Jan's' recommendation - a Leicaflex SL2 or SL are probably the most robust 35mm SLR's built. Their finders are superb.

 

If Doug Herr (another old-timer of this Forum) joins this discussion, you will hear nothing but praise for these workhorses.

 

Best,

 

Jan

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David:

Where would you advise I look to for a replacement screen?

 

Jan:

The Lux is indeed wide open, and looks much brighter off camera than on.

I have the split-image focusing screen, same that came with the camera years ago.

It went in for a cleaning several years ago, and I was satisfied with it, having never used an SLR before, and thus nothing to compare it to. I really started wondering about viewfinder brightness while using an f/6.9 200-500. I had trouble focusing it in the center because one or both of the split-image sections would go black.

 

I don't know if it has gotten darker over the years, or if my eyesight is just going (possible, I no longer have 20/12 vision)

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I am yet to find the "best manual SLR".

 

Each of my SLR cameras has features I would like combined in one.

 

The 1964 Leicaflex has my favourite screen and also mirror lock-up, however is limited by its metering system which reached its apotheosis in the R4 - R9.

 

From the SL2 onward enough information was discreetly provided in the viewfinder.

 

From the R4 onward, the motor drive/winder became useable.

 

Superb and ergonomic camera the R8 and 9 may be, but too big for my liking. When travelling and in a hurry I have found the R7 with winder and wrist-strap attached to the tripod bush is comfortable and not tiring.

 

For delay, the time between pressing the shutter release and the shutter actually firing, as well as the speed with which the mirror moves, you can't beat the Leicaflex series.

 

I have confined my criteria to the cameras I know best, however there must be other features from other manufacturers which I am unaware of.

 

I think this thread is like "finding the perfect woman" !

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I´ve owned, and heavily used, two SL´s one SL2, one R6, and lately a couple of non-Leica dSLR´s (latest one being a D200). My impressions were slightly different from the majority here, in that I actually preferred the R6 finders over the SL´s or SL2, although the difference was slim.

 

However, no dSLR finder I´ve ever looked into has ever come even distantly close to those classic Leica´s; each time I get them out and look through them, I almost cry when seeing what I´ve lost. But, practical considerations force me to re-shelf them, and grab the D200 (let´s not discuss why, ot this thread will go astray...).

 

Anyhow, if you do prefer the D80 finder to the R4 one, something is VERY SERIOUSLY wrong with the latter, and you´d better find out what it is, and repair it. It will be worth it, far more than any swapping you could do for those $500 (I´m tempted to say, for any amount...).

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I have become very dissatisfied with my R4's dim screen, especially after seeing a D80 @ f/3.5 being brighter than the R4 @ f/1.4.

 

I find that I use the camera in all-manual mode 99% of the time, so I don't really need the p/a/s settings

 

My budget is tight, and I'd like to spend less than $500.

Used/working is fine

 

What would you recommend?

 

Thank you for your time

-Steven

 

F3 HP

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I owned 2 SL's and a SL mot and found them to be very difficult to focus due to the fine texture of the screen and extremely fine microprism center. It has to do with individual eyes.

 

I did not mean SL...:D ..I mean SL 2...:rolleyes: ..

 

I had the same problems with the Microprism center of the SL...;)

 

The SL 2 has a different sceen in, the classic on...

 

regards,

Jan

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The 1964 Leicaflex has my favourite screen and also mirror lock-up, however is limited by its metering system which reached its apotheosis in the R4 - R9.

 

From the SL2 onward enough information was discreetly provided in the viewfinder.

 

From the R4 onward, the motor drive/winder became useable.

 

 

I think this thread is like "finding the perfect woman" !

 

The Leicaflex mot versions are using motor drive..R4 was not the first (Leitz/Minolta) with motor drive..

 

He ask for the best viewfinder and the answer is easy, because there was never a better one like the SL 2 ..and this was the Penta-prisma with the different shape..

 

regards,

Jan

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David:

Where would you advise I look to for a replacement screen?

 

Jan:

The Lux is indeed wide open, and looks much brighter off camera than on.

I have the split-image focusing screen, same that came with the camera years ago.

It went in for a cleaning several years ago, and I was satisfied with it, having never used an SLR before, and thus nothing to compare it to. I really started wondering about viewfinder brightness while using an f/6.9 200-500. I had trouble focusing it in the center because one or both of the split-image sections would go black.

 

I don't know if it has gotten darker over the years, or if my eyesight is just going (possible, I no longer have 20/12 vision)

 

If you are using any split image screen then it will go black when using a telephoto or longfocus lens ... and at f6.9 any screen is going to appear dull compared to using a stanadard lens wide open ... spare screens are readily available for the R4 ... try using a plain screen without the split image .. a plain screen with a grid might be a good choice

 

What make is the 200-500 lens??

 

Dunk

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Leicaflex SL, or if you need diopter correction, Leicaflex SL2. The split-image viewscreen of the SL2 can be installed in the SL, likewise the microprism screen of the SL can be installed in the SL2. The SL MOT and SL2 MOT ordinarily have a plain matte screen which is not as bright as either the SL's microprism screen or the SL2's split-image screen - but the plain matte screen is interchangeable (by a repair technician) with the Sl or SL2 screen.

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I love my Exakta VX500 with Zeiss Jena 50-2.8 lens.

If the D80 is a wide screen tv set, the Exakta must be a grand cinema screen.

But it's old, for reliability you'll need something else.

Just love it like the MP.

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