Jump to content

Why so little about the R6?


pgk

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Looking at the wiki here I see no links to threads about the R6. The R6.2 seems to be acknowledged as the better camera when searching the web, but is there anything wrong with the original R6? As the first mechanical R camera I'm surprised that it does not get more attention. Any R6 owners out there prepared to comment on the camera?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Short answer: 1/2000 sec.

 

That is the only difference between the R6.2 and the R6.

 

The R6 was introduced before the R6.2. Years ago, when it became time to buy a second R body to backup my R9, I went for an R6.x, since they are entirely mechanical. Then I started looking for a mint R6.2. Why? 1) I could afford it. 2) Why not!

 

I am not claiming that this is entirely rational!

 

Guy

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I used a Leicaflex SL as a compnion to my M4 for many years after buying them in1968. After getting an M6 in the 1980s I eventually found the R6 an ideal companion to it due to the similar action of the meter readout. It makes switching between them painless.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Pasted from the Leica FAQ site:

The obvious one is that the R6.2 has had its max shutter speed increased to 1/2000th - a stop faster than the R6's 1/1000th.

 

There are a few other subtle differences as well. According to Bill Larsen:

 

… The exposure counter was relocated so it is adjacent to the metering selector switch and is magnified. The shutter blade mechanism was changed is lighter in weight and supposedly has better accuracy. They both have TTL using the same Metz adapter. Both are basically mechanical cameras and will function without a battery. For flash use, both have a electronic shutter release that is activated when the shutter speed is set on "x". Both require a circular polarizer since metering is through the mirror.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I still have my R6 although it's a museum piece now. I love that camera. Pinnacle of the R line. Salgado used it a lot including his photos of the Gulf war and aftermath. The R6.2 was a little tacky in that they cut out the R6 engraving on the front of the camera and welded in a patch with R6.2 engraved. They must have had a lot of unsold R6 camera shells laying around.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I love mine and I'll never part with it.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Because it wasn't made in Germany and was based on a Japanese camera.

A web search suggests the R6 to be German designed and built with Portuguese sub assemblies, but then the web can be wrong;).

Link to post
Share on other sites

I had both (6 and 6.2). As a decades-long M shooter, the 1/1000 top speed wasn't something I really bumped into all that often. As it tends to be with most things Leica, whatever feature the successor model happened to have that the predecessor didn't, was quickly touted as indispensible and thus relegated the previous model to the owner's Hall of Shame :D

 

That said, one glitch that I recall reading the R6 sometimes had was that the shutter brake was some rubbery substance that some of them over time became sticky and caused the shutter to hang. Never happened to mine.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

from The R series cameras the only made in Germany are the R8/9 right? Or am I wrong? Also my R8 is from Portugal.

 

All of the R series were Made in Germany at some level but it's well known that the R3 was based on a Minolta design.

The early SLs were 100% German. R4 to R7... Mostly German and Portuguese. (and a further development of the original R3 design)

R8/R9 100% German design but you're right some mid production R8s were Portuguese and as it turns out "some say" these are the most reliable R8s made.

 

With regards to manufacturing in general. Even if something is actually Made in Germany often the workers in that factory are immigrants to Germany.

 

So does really it matter? To me it doesn't...... It's the people, company philosophy and culture behind the design that's important.

  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Before I bought my well used R6 I read comments about the degree of shutter lag there was with the camera and how surprising it was that Salgado would use such a flawed camera. I've been looking for this post today to try to get more detail but I can't find it. With my R6 there is a very noticeable delay between pressing the shutter release and the shutter tripping. It's almost like a two stage action - firstly the lens stops down to the required aperture then there is a delay before the shutter trips. Now this might be some sort of flaw with my particular camera but it is noticeable and unlike any other camera I've used (and I've used a few!).

Link to post
Share on other sites

The shutter delay comes mainly from the mirror damper. The oil in there get's sticky. After 25 years of usage, it might be time for a little service. The time delay of a good R is very little.

 

 

Torsten

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Maybe it´s from some interest: Just checked in an Photo Revue Test Magzine from 1985 some shutter delay times on a few cameras:

 

Canon AL 1: 80ms

Canon T 50: 70ms

Contax 137MA: 110ms

Leica R4 S: 150ms

Minolta X 500 100ms

Nikon FE2: 60ms

Nikon FA: 215ms

Olympus OM 4 60ms

Pentax Super A: 150ms

Ricoh XR P: 370ms

Yashica FX 70: 70ms

 

(checkpoint was mid of frame)

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...