svenning Posted May 13, 2016 Share #1 Posted May 13, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I found this wonderfull Picture from the good old days where the national Geographic photographer James L. Stanfield used plenty of Kadachrome film and Leica equipment on his assignments for the Society. Looking at the Leica equipment on the Picture - I believe he brought along the following: 1) Leicaflex camera & table tripod. 2) Leicaflex camera, 3) Leica R3 camera, 4) Leicaflex cmaera, 5) Leitz 180mm APO-Telyt f/3,4 6) Leitz 21mm Super Angulon f/4, 7) Leica R3 camera with motordrive and 60mm Macro-Elmarit f/2.8 and macro adapter. 8) Leicaflex camera 9) Leicaflex camera and Leitz 19mm Elmarit f/2.8 10) Leitz 180mm Elmarit f/2.8 11) Angenieux 45-90mm f/2.8 12) Leitz 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 13) Leitz 560mm Telyt f/6.8 14) Leitz 400mm Telyt f/6.8 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! 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/260424-leica-in-the-good-old-r-days/?do=findComment&comment=3044140'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 13, 2016 Posted May 13, 2016 Hi svenning, Take a look here Leica in the good old R-days........ I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stuny Posted May 14, 2016 Share #2 Posted May 14, 2016 All that for a simple wedding shoot? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenning Posted May 14, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted May 14, 2016 Dear Stuart, I remember my own days with Kodachrome 25 and Kadachrome 64 films and the Leica equipment. Now and then I miss the pleasure of opening the box with newly developed kodachrome diapositives and check them one by one. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted May 19, 2016 Share #4 Posted May 19, 2016 .... Now and then I miss the pleasure of opening the box with newly developed kodachrome diapositives and check them one by one. +++ ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckrider Posted May 19, 2016 Share #5 Posted May 19, 2016 (edited) +1! Jee, they gave us those colours! all gone forever.... sad Thomas p.s.:still there is a KC 64 box on the cupboard in my living room. Visitors are simply divided in to parts: those who ask, "what's this for" and the others - who know 'bout Man & God, these are most welcome next time again. ...and offered a premium Malt of course! Edited May 19, 2016 by duckrider Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 19, 2016 Share #6 Posted May 19, 2016 Hipster alert! Beardy with a retro film camera! Never heard of Kadachrome, was it a Chinese copy of Kodachrome ? Great photo though and with R3's he has taste! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted May 20, 2016 Share #7 Posted May 20, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Plenty of Kodachrome, indeed. In the picture, I notice that he mixed Leicaflex SL and SL2, but no Leicaflex as said in your listing. And also Nikon gear, at right. ... How he managed the transport, I wonder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a911s Posted May 23, 2016 Share #8 Posted May 23, 2016 I worked in a similar fashion to James in the late '80s. Pair of Leicaflex SL2 Mots, R3s, and more R4s (because they would breakdown). Multiple fixed focal lengths made of brass. Travel and access was easier, but weight was a challenge, as was keeping film cool in tropical environments. Glad to have seen the world back then... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenning Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted May 23, 2016 Dear a911s (Randy Wells), Very interesting to hear that you worked the same way as James L. Stanfield :-) Were the Leica R4 cameras not strong enough to be used for professional photography & usage? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted May 23, 2016 Share #10 Posted May 23, 2016 My R4 was a lemon, persistent problems with the shutter release which leica couldn't solve in 7 attempts. I went back to Nikon for reflex, and have an aversion to Leica and electronics ever since. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a911s Posted May 23, 2016 Share #11 Posted May 23, 2016 Dear a911s (Randy Wells), Very interesting to hear that you worked the same way as James L. Stanfield :-) Were the Leica R4 cameras not strong enough to be used for professional photography & usage? Until the R6, Leica SLRs based on the Minolta XD-7 chassis were problematic. You really couldn't use them with the motor drive professionally. The shutters would eventually jam. They would also fail without the drive - so you needed to pack 4 bodies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 25, 2016 Share #12 Posted May 25, 2016 Dear a911s (Randy Wells), Very interesting to hear that you worked the same way as James L. Stanfield :-) Were the Leica R4 cameras not strong enough to be used for professional photography & usage? My R4/R5/RE cameras struggled to remain working on heavy use in the African bush and needed service each time I returned home, including the straightening of the mount which used to get bent out of true by heavy lenses. I normally took three bodies in the hope of having one working after a couple of weeks. Jammed shutters due to the motor drive, parts falling off, automatic diaphragms failing. Still, they were great cameras to use. The only camera that was utterly reliable and bomb-proof was the R3. The R7 was better as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ns_ng Posted May 25, 2016 Share #13 Posted May 25, 2016 My R4 was a lemon, persistent problems with the shutter release which leica couldn't solve in 7 attempts. I went back to Nikon for reflex, and have an aversion to Leica and electronics ever since. Gerry R4 with S/N below 1,600,000 had unreliable electronics. My R4 purchased in 1982 developed electronic problems several years later. Eventually, I was offered a credit to upgrade to a R6.2 by the distributor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted May 25, 2016 Share #14 Posted May 25, 2016 Unfortunately my R4 was above the magic number, but still gave problems. Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenning Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted May 25, 2016 Same story here ! My Leica R3 has problems with the film advancing lever. The Leica R4 has problems with the Electronics. In my Kodachrome days I used both the Leica R3 and Leica R4 AND brought along a fully mechanical Canon F1 as a back-up camera. Many times the back-up camera came into use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a911s Posted May 25, 2016 Share #16 Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) The only R4 that seemed to work (kind of) for professional use was the R4S Mod P. The R6 was a big improvement, but even that would fail on occasion - it had similar reliability to an R3. The most reliable Leica SLRs by far were the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL2 - they never failed for me and I always carried one in my kit. Their MOT motors would fail on occasion, but they had very complicated internals. As a working pro, it's been a real challenge to remain loyal to Leica. Thank goodness for the M.. and the converters that allow you to use R lenses on a Canon. Edited May 25, 2016 by a911s Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarav Posted May 31, 2016 Share #17 Posted May 31, 2016 For my job I've been using Leica gear for 20 years, fortunately with R-Cameras (R7, R8 and R9) I've never had a problem (excep with the DMR which in 2005 travelled to Solms twice, now I sold it because of very good offer from a friend and because I didn't use it anymore). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steppenw0lf Posted June 16, 2016 Share #18 Posted June 16, 2016 The only R4 that seemed to work (kind of) for professional use was the R4S Mod P. The R6 was a big improvement, but even that would fail on occasion - it had similar reliability to an R3. The most reliable Leica SLRs by far were the Leicaflex and Leicaflex SL2 - they never failed for me and I always carried one in my kit. Their MOT motors would fail on occasion, but they had very complicated internals. As a working pro, it's been a real challenge to remain loyal to Leica. Thank goodness for the M.. and the converters that allow you to use R lenses on a Canon. My old R4 is still working today, without any failure ever. But I was always very closefisted with film and never used a motor drive. (only amateur use) And took turns with the R5. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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