I Love My R-E!

[Ruhayat]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well, given that there are only an estimated 6,000 units in the market, this is probably going to be the least popular "I Love My..." thread. But, yes, I LOOOOOOOVE my Leica R-E!

 

Was actually in the shop to get a 35mm lens for my M6TTL because I just couldn't get used to shooting events with the 90mm Summicron. They didn't have one in stock, and I needed a wider lens for an event that afternoon. But I did have 2 Leica R lenses. So getting a second body for the price of that secondhand 35mm felt like a good idea.

 

I'm glad I went for it. The R-E is the "limited" version of the Leica R5, like the R4s is to the R4 (but even more reliable, apparently), but it has all the features I need so the two major limitations actually make it more of the logical camera for me:

- 90% of the time I only use my SLRs in Aperture Priority mode, anyway (the rest in Manual).

- Plus, I don't use flash... don't even know how to if I had to... so the lack of TTL flash whatever is of no consequence to me.

 

It feels good in the hand. Not as smooth as the feel of the M6, but robust. Balances better with the 28mm Elmarit than the 50mm Summicron, but I bought it to shoot portraits mainly so the 50mm is probably going to live on it unless I go travelling. The mirror sound signature sounds sexier and quieter than the R4 I tested next to it -- it goes a pleasant "shhhh" rather than the jarring "clack"; even the R6.2 goes "clack".

 

And it's black! All in all, a superb package with a pro-like feel and look. I spent the whole afternoon shooting two rolls of T-Max with it. It feels just great. I dare say I'm getting more fun out of using this new combo compared to my M6, actually... still not getting used to the M mentality as yet.

[Ruhayat]

On page 46 of the manual it says you can use M lenses with the R-E with an adapter. Now that's interesting. I'd imagine the 90mm Summicron would be easier to handle for portraits on the R rather than the M (for me, anyway... and for now, as I get used to seeing in M terms).

[jpk]

Hey, I also love my R-E! I changed the sealings, it was very easy using the instructions and excellent material from "kameradoktor".

 

I much prefer the R-E with Lux-R 80 for portrait work over the M7 with SAA90, I am very happy to use both systems.

 

Yesterday I shot a roll of Fuji Reala and a roll of Tmax 100 with my R-E - great fun!

 

But my R-E's sound is louder than the R4s which I tried next to it...

 

For travelling I use the M7 with only one 35mm lens, backed up by a Fuji F31 compact digital cam...

 

I love the R-Es and M7s aperture priority mode which I also use most of the time!

[Joop van Heijgen]

I own the RE since 1998 and made many pics with it. Never had (technical) problems with the camera, it allways working fine...The metering system is very accurate.

A very strong point of this camera is the very clear finder under dark circumstances...

Only one negative point for me is the rather little finder compared with the Leicaflex SL....

But the Leicaflex have the most beautiful SLR finder ever...

[Ruhayat]

The more I use this camera the more I love it. I've been struggling with the M6TTL and had been thinking of swapping it for either the M7 or M8, mainly to gain auto exposure so that there's one less thing for me to fuss with. But then along came the R-E and I'm now quite happy to have a 2-system camera set up.

 

The camera is just basic enough to have all the features I need and nothing more. I often use it without thinking, and it leads to a looser style compared to when I use the M6TTL. These days I use the M for static or posed shots and the R-E for events and candids. Neopan in the M and Tri-X or colour film in the R.

 

The only thing that might make me happier right now is probably swapping the chrome M6TTL for a black M6 or M4-P -- it's just so handsome! The black R-E is almost as good looking, but the black M's look like something Batman might own.

[Joop van Heijgen]

"often use it without thinking, and it leads to a looser style compared to when I use the M6TTL. These days I use the M for static or posed shots and the R-E for events and candids. Neopan in the M and Tri-X or colour film in the R. "

 

I just do the opposite: I do use my M4-P for a 'looser style', (sunny 16 rule) for fast pics and my RE for 'posted shots' like interiors and architecture...

[Ruhayat]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

"often use it without thinking, and it leads to a looser style compared to when I use the M6TTL. These days I use the M for static or posed shots and the R-E for events and candids. Neopan in the M and Tri-X or colour film in the R. "

 

I just do the opposite: I do use my M4-P for a 'looser style', (sunny 16 rule) for fast pics and my RE for 'posted shots' like interiors and architecture...

 

Haha. That's probably because by accident of history I have my lenses the "wrong way" around: 90mm on the M, 28 and 50mm on the R. Plus, the R-E has Aperture Priority whilst the M6TTL is fully manual, so I find the R-E much easier for quick response action and candids.

 

But if I had something like 35mm on the M I might start using it for candids too, using hyperfocusing. I really should get that 40mm for the M. Still looking...