DMR Sticky?

[gbealnz]

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Is there one?

I am waiting for a used DMR to arrive, it seems my destiny is to stay with R, having a small selection of R lenses, plus a pair of SL's.

The DMR was purchased with the view I'd try it and see. Mind you I also need to source an R8 or R9, and am actively looking at the moment.

So, is there a sticky that details what works, and why, and how to make it work?

I'm hoping it has a full instruction manual, but won't know until it arrives in my hands.

Any gotchas that are best known before rather than after?

All I've heard is happy owners waxing lyrical about them.

Gary

[stuny]

Once you find an R8 or R9 to go with it you might have to send them both to Leica to have them adjusted for one another - that happens some of the time.

 

There have been a number of instances in which the R8/R9 meter needed replacement, and that is expensive.

 

Battteries for the DMR are no longer available, but there is one place in Germany and another in the US that will put new cells in your old battery case. You should have at the very least two batteries since they do not last as long as batteries for other cameras.

 

Leica no longer has parts for the DMR. Mine required a motherboard replacement, which was expensive. Now there are no more to be had. One or two Forum members wrote that they were looking into having the mother boards themselves repaired but I do not recall seeing any report of the results.

 

The DMR is an amazingly good performer and you'll be most pleased with the results. One Forum member believes the files it produces are better than the ones from his M9.

 

I have PDF copies of the DMR manual and of an LFI article on the DMR. Send me your email address and I'll send those docuemnts back to you: stuart.nordheimer@opco.com

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[topoxforddoc]

1) Buy SD cards soon. You can only use 2GB (or 4GB with firmware 1.3) SD cards. You cannot use SDHC cards. The most readily available high speed SD cards are the Sandisk Ultra II. BUT these have now been discontinued, so you will need to buy soon.

2) Buy a spare battery or two. Rebuilds can been done by the Leica approved company in Germany, Marac (LUF member), or Michael Bass in the US. The controller card/chip needs to be working (normally it's ok).

3) If you shoot low light, use ISO 400 and up to minus 2EV and shoot RAW only. Don't use ISO 800 - far too noisy.

 

Charlie

[gbealnz]

Thanks Stu and Charlie.

Points well taken.

I think there is at least two batteries, will have to wait and see.

The "connectablitiy" to the camera was my main concern.

Any old R8/9? Or does the camera need to "modified" at all?

Exciting times, I always seem to have the oldest bit of kit. I still have an original Leica Digilux 4.3, box, case, the whole lot.

Gary

[stuny]

Gary -

 

Excellent advice from Charlie. I'm a bit lazier than Charlie and mostly use my DMR for jpegs at the highest density.

 

Don't forget to send your email address if you'd like me to send PDF files of the DMR manual and DMR article from LFI.

Edited October 18, 2013 by stuny

[topoxforddoc]

Gary,

 

Any R9 should mate up with the DMR without any problems. Some of the earlier R8s may need adjustment at Solms to match up with the DMR. You don't need to modify the camera.

 

From time to time, you will need to take the back off and clean the gold contacts on the DMR and R8/9. Do this with a Q-tip wetted with a drop of something like isopropyl alcohol.

 

Charlie

[gbealnz]

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Thank you again guys, a great help.

The DMR has arrived, and I am digesting it as we speak. Waiting on an R8 to come, but that will be a week away at least. If it needs a trip to Solms I am stuck, it won't happen, too hard/expensive.

Point noted about the contacts.

Lovely kit, like I said to Stu, feels like I have returned in time, the quality it exudes.

Can't wait to try it. If only it interfaced with my SL's.

Gary

[wildlightphoto]

If only it interfaced with my SL's.

 

My thoughts too! But the R8 isn't bad and the DMR's image quality has my SLs mostly gathering dust.

[sc_rufctr]

I love mine. I was lucky that it came with four batteries. Two are good but two need the sells replaced.

My only concern is a terminal failure but there are reports of them being very reliable.

 

Good luck with yours.

 

The next lens I'm considering is 24mm Elemarit. With the DMRs crop factor it's equivalent to a 33mm although a 21mm Superangulon is very tempting. (28mm)

[gbealnz]

Thank you Peter.

My only real issue with the 24mm is that I heard it didn't fit well (or at all) onto the SL.

Already have the 21mm SA. Hoping that will provide my wide fix.

Gary

[topoxforddoc]

Gary,

 

If you have the funds, then the 21-35 asph is a truly excellent wide zoom. That would be my choice apart from a 19.

 

Charlie

[gbealnz]

Charlie.

Funds? LOL, I don't unfortunately, and that's the reason I ended up with an R8 not the R9, simple economics.

Mind you, this toe in the water could prove to be the catalyst that opens up the wallet, stranger things have happened.

I just can't wait to try it. It's nice as well to have the support like this, for those curly questions.

Gary

[tobey bilek]

Is there one?

I am waiting for a used DMR to arrive, it seems my destiny is to stay with R, having a small selection of R lenses, plus a pair of SL's.

The DMR was purchased with the view I'd try it and see. Mind you I also need to source an R8 or R9, and am actively looking at the moment.

So, is there a sticky that details what works, and why, and how to make it work?

I'm hoping it has a full instruction manual, but won't know until it arrives in my hands.

Any gotchas that are best known before rather than after?

All I've heard is happy owners waxing lyrical about them.

Gary

 

Dan@Tamarkincamera had a nice looking one last week, R8. I did not pick it up and it was in the case.

[sc_rufctr]

FWIW... I saw a brand new Anthracite R9 on eBay. Asking $2,450 USD.

 

Still lots of good second hand R8/9s around but I thought it was interesting they're still available new and used.

That price may seem "not cheap" but what did they retail for when they were still in the catalogue?

[gbealnz]

Thanks guys. I have a used R8 on the way, slow boat of course because I am waiting, but hopefully this weekend, or early next week.

Interesting times ahead.

Gary

[topoxforddoc]

FWIW... I saw a brand new Anthracite R9 on eBay. Asking $2,450 USD.

 

Still lots of good second hand R8/9s around but I thought it was interesting they're still available new and used.

That price may seem "not cheap" but what did they retail for when they were still in the catalogue?

 

That’s not far off list price when last sold new. There were a number of NOS R8s for sale in Holland until about 2 years ago. They were very reasonable.

 

Charlie

[gbealnz]

Well the R8 arrived, and I couldn't help myself, I put it all together. OMG, it's huge, and heavy, really huge. While not a masterpiece, I took a nice first pic with it. More trialling this weekend I reckon.

Gary

[topoxforddoc]

Well the R8 arrived, and I couldn't help myself, I put it all together. OMG, it's huge, and heavy, really huge. While not a masterpiece, I took a nice first pic with it. More trialling this weekend I reckon.

Gary

 

But ergonomically excellent. Put a tele lens on and it balances beautifully. Shoot RAW (esp at ISO 100) and you will be amazed.

 

Charlie

[gbealnz]

Yes Charlie, it feels and handles nice, just huge, especially if you have been used to the likes of the NEX system of late.

One encouraging picture so far, more to test it out, taken with the longest lens I have, the 100 Macro.

Gary

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Hallo,

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[sc_rufctr]

35-70 F4.0 Using MACRO. I'm still getting used to the handling.

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