Locutus Posted July 8, 2015 Share #1 Posted July 8, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, a while ago i decided i wanted a nice manual focus SLR system and after finding out that a Leica R system was not totally insane price wise nowadays i decided to bite. I got myself a R8 and a Summicron-R 35/2 E55 to start with. The R8 is definitely one big brick of metal but after using it to shoot a music festival last weekend i'm definitely very happy with the body. Cant comment on the lens yet as the slides arent back from development. The definitely good parts: Viewfinder: As amazing as everyone writes, bright, large and snaps into focus really well. Manual focus is definitely a joy with it. Ergonomics: Very very strange at first, but after a couple of days definitely has been growing on me. Especially the huge shutter dial which i thought be more of a cool looking gimmick but i've found it to be really nice in use. Metering: having the choice of metering systems directly at the fingertip is great, i mostly used it in Spot Meter mode over the weekend and it seemed perfectly accurate to me. The not so good parts: Ergonomics: the strap attachments are in a weird place, the way i hold the camera they end up between my index and middle finger, its not bad but its strange. The exposure compensation rocker is definitely in the wrong position, luckily i shoot mostly in metered manual so its not a terribly big issue. Noise: Holy crap, i expected the mirror slap to be way less louder then it is. its definitely louder then my old Nikon F100. So except for the exposure compensation rocker and the mirror slap noise i am very happy with it. Which brings me to a couple of questions about things i'm not sure if i am doing something wrong or if the body i have is worn. Film rewind seems to be stiff, i press and hold the silver button by the winding lever but resistance to rewinding the film feels very stiff as if i am pulling against the winding mechanism, i will have to see once i get the slides back if it damaged the film. Should the button click at some point? The matrix meter quite often gives results i am not sure about, compared to my RX100 it seems to be off by up to 2 stops sometimes. I'm not sure if i dare to trust it on exposing slide film right. Spot and Center weighted are perfectly accurate however. DOF preview lever seems to have quite a lot of resistance, In practice its not a real problem but i expected it to be smooth. Is this how it is or is it sticky from disuse? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 Hi Locutus, Take a look here New to the Leica R. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jip Posted July 14, 2015 Share #2 Posted July 14, 2015 Have fun with the camera and the lens... My R8 DOF preview lever is 'heavy' but not 'sticky'... But yes it does need quite some 'pressure' for it to go down/close the aperture. With me all the metering modes are accurate however, not sure what is wrong with your matrix metering mode... REWIND: Click it ONCE and it will remain down (the silver button) make sure the double exposure lever is all the way to the right, don't slide it to the left over the silver button. I use the R8 daily with various lenses, great system... Might pickup a R9 sometime simple because it's lighter. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted July 14, 2015 Share #3 Posted July 14, 2015 (edited) Also you might enjoy the following articles I've written: http://jipvankuijk.nl/summilux-r-80-leica-r8-m-typ-240/ (It's about the Leica Summilux-R 80mm) http://jipvankuijk.nl/scanning-film-nikon-coolscan-4000/ (It's about scanning colour negative film) https://www.flickr.com/photos/jipvankuijk/sets/72157635480749609 (Flickr album with a lot of photos taken with the R8) Edited July 14, 2015 by jip 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 14, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted July 14, 2015 Thanks for the reply and the explanations, I came across your website while googleing for information on the R system. The 80 Summilux is awesome, however the next lens on my to-buy list is the 90 Summicron as its smaller, lighter and not to mention cheaper. Bedankt! (-: 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted July 15, 2015 Share #5 Posted July 15, 2015 1st of August I'm hosting a Leica meeting in Rotterdam, if you want to get to know Leica enthusiasts and or people who use the R system possibly (including me) let me know, send me a personal message! Jip Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted July 15, 2015 Share #6 Posted July 15, 2015 Thanks for the reply and the explanations, I came across your website while googleing for information on the R system. The 80 Summilux is awesome, however the next lens on my to-buy list is the 90 Summicron as its smaller, lighter and not to mention cheaper. Bedankt! (-: Also depends on what summicron you are gonna get, the 90 APO Summicron is also quite expensive Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted July 15, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey, I'm Dutch, but live in Finland. I fear i wont be able to make it to Rotterdam! But thanks for the invitation :-) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 17, 2015 Share #8 Posted July 17, 2015 The R8 is a superb camera, but does have a problem with its meter. Mine sits on the shelf now as a repair to the meter was uneconomic. If the meter does fail (usually only one of the modes), then buying a replacement body is usually the best option. AFAIK, the R9 meters are much more reliable. Ergonomically, the camera is vastly improved by the addition of the winder. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 17, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted July 17, 2015 I've fiddled a bit more with the Matrix meter on my R8 and it almost seems as if the integration time is way to short. No idea if that is how its supposed to be but in steady outdoor light it seems fine. I plan to pick up a second chrome R8 at some point to have both Color/B&W at the same time, so i can compare then. Its not really a issue as i mostly use spot metering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted July 25, 2015 I shot some rolls with it now and just relied on the in camera meter, every single exposure turned out to be perfect so i'm sure i was worrying to much. http://locutus.puscii.nl/picture.php?/105/category/1 http://locutus.puscii.nl/picture.php?/110/category/1 http://locutus.puscii.nl/picture.php?/109/category/1 http://locutus.puscii.nl/picture.php?/106/category/1 Summicron 35mm E55, Delta 400, scanned on a Plustek 8200. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted July 28, 2015 I ehh, had a weak moment in the knees and bought a 19mm Elmarit-R, damnit! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted July 28, 2015 Share #12 Posted July 28, 2015 Fabulous lens. Just look after that front element Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan.y Posted July 29, 2015 Share #13 Posted July 29, 2015 Elmarit 19 v1 or v2? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted July 29, 2015 The saucerplate V1 version, obviously not as good as the great V2 but i paid 825E for it and from the sellers pictures the glass looked great, with just some rubbed off markings on the distance scale. Which brings up a question about the lens: How is the filter options? I know it has 82mm filter threads but is it possible to use a filter and the hood at the same time? Would i need slim filters for this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a911s Posted July 29, 2015 Share #15 Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) You can use 82mm filters on the V1 19mm R lens, if you need to. Vignetting is minimal. I've never used the hood on mine, so not sure it will fit over the filter or not vignette. My favorite R lens is the 80mm Summilux. I use it and 35 or 50mm Summicrons for most of my film work. Edited July 29, 2015 by a911s Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted July 29, 2015 Thanks, i'll take a look for some slim filters then to minimize vignetting although finding Red/Yellow ones is probably going to be a challenge. After this it will be some saving up and then the 80mm Summilux, i saw one for sale for 1200E and it was a toss up on either to get the 80 or the 19 first. I've been suprised by how little decent samples images i could find online of the 19 V1, i'll make sure to put up some test shots of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted August 3, 2015 (edited) Just got the 19mm Elmarit in the mail, cant wait till i get a chance to shoot it. Its a big, yet squat piece of glass and the lenshood makes it even bigger. http://locutus.puscii.nl/i.php?/upload/2015/08/03/20150803151945-e3b38bf5-la.jpg http://locutus.puscii.nl/i.php?/upload/2015/08/03/20150803151941-e966ea76-la.jpg I already like it :-) Edited August 3, 2015 by Locutus Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 38 Posted August 7, 2015 Share #18 Posted August 7, 2015 That is the 19mm I have . It is very good , though large at the front. I mainly use it for interiors and it does not curve the edges too much . When I take the 19mm off and put on say a 90mm , have to remember to focus the 90mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted August 10, 2015 I bought some Hoya HD Slim protector filter and it fits under the hood. Now as soon as i get film back from C41 development i can see if it vignettes. Fun lens to shoot with, although 19mm is a challenge to compose with sometimes. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locutus Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share #20 Posted August 25, 2015 I've just scanned some shots with the 19mm, and it does not vignette at all with the filter on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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