Bill W Posted October 30, 2015 Share #1 Posted October 30, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am considering a used R body as I have a very nice R Zoom lens. I have not shot film in a while but when I did, I had at various points the R4, R4s and R6 bodies. R6 bodies command a premium price for their manual shutter. What about the R7? I have never onwed one or even handled one. Are there any issues with them? I am not a fan of the R8 or R9. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 Hi Bill W, Take a look here R7 Would You. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
otto.f Posted October 30, 2015 Share #2 Posted October 30, 2015 The least issues has the R5, from the smaller R's that. With longer lenses I would prefer the R8 above the R9 qua value for money Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 30, 2015 Share #3 Posted October 30, 2015 The R7 is of course one of the later models. I have an R3 which sadly might have a shutter fault - going to shoot a test roll in the morning…. The thing is, if any R gets a fault now, it's likely to be uneconomical to fix. The R6, being all mechanical, is probably the exception. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted October 30, 2015 My main concern is the shutter issue and the fact that the older R's are over 20 years old and some are 30 I guess. I have seen on ebay two "new" old stock bodies, one is the R5 and one is the R6. Both are in Germany. The R6 is over $1,000 USD. The R7 I am consiering is in Florida and is mint like new. Any more advice is welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 30, 2015 Share #5 Posted October 30, 2015 You can buy working R4's and R5's in the UK for £100. I wouldn't spend a lot more because if a fault occurs you're at the same dead end whatever you spend on buying it! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted October 31, 2015 Thanks James. There are plenty here as well, some are pretty ugly though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anlotti Posted November 1, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 1, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I still have three working Rs - two R7s and an R-E (and had a fourth, an R4s, but gave that away). I like the R7s. They were excellent cameras in their day. You should be able to get an R7 at a reasonable price because it's the R6 family that holds its price and attracts the conventional admiration among the pre-R8 designs. After that I never felt the R8 and R9 were radically different enough (looks notwithstanding) to warrant trading up, and the fabled digital backs were/are as rare as hens' teeth. And now the whole R world is obsolete so those kinds of consideration are all fading into insignificance. Incidentally, the R7s have a very slightly taller body than, say, the R4. Perhaps ask to shoot a roll of film before committing, even out of the doorway of the dealer to take away and check, which will e.g. show basic functions are about right and whether the back seals are OK (cheaply fixable DIY if not). Check for battery compartment corrosion too - obvious things like that. Also, if you find an immaculate one it will probably have had little use and though there'll be no wear the mechanics and electromechanics may be pretty dry. If so, and given that an initial CLA would be uneconomic, when I got it home I'd be inclined to put it in a warm (not hot) place like an airing cupboard or radiator shelf for a while to help soften the lubricants and then indulge in an orgy of winding on and shutter firing at different settings. Would I repair an R7 if it failed? If just one of mine failed I'd probably downgrade it to paperweight or exhibit, but if both did I'd probably get one of them repaired. They don't get out much these days, but looking through those viewfinders is a pleasant experience, and (for me) the cameras feel good in the hand. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anlotti Posted November 1, 2015 Share #8 Posted November 1, 2015 PS I forgot to mention another thing to check, which is the depth of field (stop down) preview lever at the side of the lens mount. These can stiffen up, but if it's not free at first then ease it very gently (after the warmth treatment) because they can crack if forced. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted November 1, 2015 Unfortunately I would not be able to test a used R. There are none available at the local dealer. I would be buying online probably. I am settling on either the R6 or R7. Leaning to the 6 since it is a mechanical shutter. I had two of them many years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anlotti Posted November 2, 2015 Share #10 Posted November 2, 2015 Ah right. Good luck with the search. R6s seem to attract a premium. I guess it comes down to the usual judgement about how much to risk on an unseen online purchase. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted November 13, 2015 Share #11 Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) I have a 2.8-4.0/28-90 Vario-Elmarit-R and 4.0/80-200 Vario-Elmar-R to use with my M240 (and I have access to a nice 2.0/35 Summicron-R) but I have wanted an R body for a while to use these lenses with film. Have been trying to decide between an R6.2, R7, or R8/9. I decided against the R6.2 for the same reason I chose an M7 over an M6 - I wanted the option of auto exposure. Furthermore, even a pristine R7 is less than half the price of an R6.2 and this is a camera I would only use occasionally. I had always wanted an R9 but these images I found on a Japanese website unequivocally put me off the R9 irrespective of it's tempting ergonomics and features. 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! So I've just bought an R7 and am awaiting delivery. Edited November 13, 2015 by MarkP Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! So I've just bought an R7 and am awaiting delivery. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/252357-r7-would-you/?do=findComment&comment=2927635'>More sharing options...
otto.f Posted November 13, 2015 Share #12 Posted November 13, 2015 I don't understand why these Japanese images could put you off a R9. The price, yes, but... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted November 13, 2015 Share #13 Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) Primarily because The R8/9 is too bulky. Price is a secondary consideration but I'd being paying more for a camera also with limited repairability. I could replace this R7 if it fails and is unrepairable and still have spent less for both cameras than for an R9. Current prices for good R9s and R6.2s are similar so I also didn't want to over invest in a camera for occasional use. For film I have the M7, CL, and Contax T3. This is only so I can use the two zooms with film. Edited November 13, 2015 by MarkP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted November 14, 2015 Share #14 Posted November 14, 2015 My RE stopped working today... In fact the same problem. Which other R camera would be a good replace? At the moment I do have 3 good working Leicaflex SL's. But not all the lenses suit the Leicaflex e.g. Elmarit 2,8/24. I heard here on this forum (otto.f) that the R5 have the least technical problems of the smaller R camera's... I know that are two versions of it: Portugese and German. Are there any differences in quality and price? So the choice could be between the R7 or R5... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 38 Posted November 17, 2015 Share #15 Posted November 17, 2015 I bought an R7 ten years ago from some one who used it a lot and had put a lot of film through it . After about a year the shutter stuck open a couple of times . I had the camera serviced , the only time it has been serviced. That is the only problem I have encountered with it . I really like to use it. Put it on Programme and I can work fast , point , focus , shoot and I get good pictures . Good bright , sharp view finder , easy to focus with a variety of lenses. All the information you want is in the viewfinder. The TTL flash function is good. I have photographed some parties and social events with it . I use a Metz 45 'potato masher ' flash which is connected with t he SCA 351 adapter and the flash exposure is spot on . It reads the DX code on the film , which can be overridden if you want. I have only limited experience with an R5 and I prefer the R7 . I would certainly consider getting it repaired if needed. Certainly give one serious consideration. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted November 18, 2015 Share #16 Posted November 18, 2015 To answer the question, I had several R7's and the only issue I had with them is unfortunately common with all R's from R4-R7, the DOF preview lever sticks, and it's rather expensive to get it fixed. But if you rarely use it, pulling it out by hand isn't such a huge inconvenience. I would definitely not pay more for any R body than you're willing to lose, because if something does significantly impact its operation, the repair is likely to be uneconomical. At this moment in time, KEH.com has an R5 in EX for $159 and an R8 in EX for $432. They also have a 14-day no-hassle return policy with no restocking fee (just pay shipping both ways), and a 6-month warranty. If something does go wrong and they can't repair it they would exchange or refund. To me that makes more sense than buying off fleabay but YMMV. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 19, 2015 Share #17 Posted November 19, 2015 I just missed bidding for a live auction for an R7 - it sold for £40!! I wonder if people who were there spotted a fault though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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