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R7 or F4


PhotoFan

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Greetings everyone.

I have not been in "touch" with photography for over a decade.

At this point in time, I am interested in film street photography

I have 2 cameras, both with standard lenses. I have the Leica R7 with the summicron 50/2 and a Nikon F4 with an AF 50/1.4

I know this is a Leica forum, but I I am still posting this question.

If you had to choose 1 of the 2 systems as I have them, which one would it be?

The Nikon F4 with the f1.4 is a faster lens, but a little on the heavy side, the Leica R7 with the summicron is lighter and sharper, but getting other lenses is more expensive.

I am only going to keep one of the two. I use velvia and Ilford B&W

I thank you in advance.

 

 

 

 

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Hello PhotoFan,

 

it'll be unlikely that you get an unbiased reply on your question  in this forum.

I can only vote in favour of the R7, albeit I've actually never owned or used Nikon gear.

What I particularly like is the overall size of the R7 with a 50 Cron, or my favourite Macro Elmarit 60 and the bright viewfinder.

The lenses proobably are more expensive now and are likely to rise further. On the other hand a R lens is kind of an investment that you can use for your hobby now and sell without loss in the future.

Also consider the choice of R lens adapters for various digital platforms, incl. most recent Leica cameras.

 

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I haven't used the R7 although I did have an R3 and R8 with a full complement of Leica lenses, and I've also owned 2 F4 bodies. Depending on your age, eyesight and how you plan to use the camera, I would say the F4 is the more versatile of the 2, the Leica more elegant. If you love the manual Leica lens' rendering, you can convert their mount using Leitax mounts, to use them on your F4 - giving you the best of both worlds...an AF body which you can use with your AF lenses (or manual Nikon ones if you prefer) as well as manual Leica ones. If you go this route just understand that the converted Leica lens' diaphragms will not be automatic in operation.

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Whilst I'm a Leica R user as well (R3) as you don't have multiple lenses in your position I think I would stay with the Nikon, assuming that you're looking to build a system.

 

Why? It's a more versatile camera having AF, and you have a much wider range of lens options from Nikon and 3rd party manufacturers to choose from, new or used. Also bearing in mind that the better R lenses have shot up in price since the introduction of the M/Visoflex and now the SL and some are going for extremely high prices. 

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I think you've got to weigh up the relatives importance of two main considerations:

 

(1) With its autofocus, the Nikon is a considerably more versatile camera. My subjects are essentially static, so for me that is less of a problem.

 

(2) Leica glass has its own unique look, and in my opinion, Leica lenses sit more at home on Leica bodies. But some R lenses are very expensive.

 

James makes telling points though.

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Thank you all very much for your helpful replies.

I really don't need AF, and I do prefer the Leica lenses. Being this is fr street photography, the only other lens I'll probably need is a 35mm

I didn't know you can use Leica lenses on the F4! That changes things, although it is a tad too heavy.

 

Thanks!

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Here's some interesting reading for you on the Leitax Leica-Nikon conversion http://www.leitax.com/leica-lens-for-nikon-cameras.html

 

I no longer have any R lenses or I would probably convert a 90. However, several years ago I converted a Sigma digital body (SD14), which used a Foveon sensor, to accept all Leica R lenses (it was a 1 hr job). I was very pleased with the resulting pictures....the Leica R lenses really shone on the Foveon sensor - the colors were breathtaking. However, somebody made me an offer for the body which I couldn't refuse...and I did have a complaint in that the buffer was quite slow compared to my Nikon DSLRs at the time. By the way, I wouldn't do a Leitax conversion of R lenses for another film body, but I would do so for a full frame digital body - although the mirrorless micro 4/3 bodies and their ilk take Leica (M&R) lenses with a simple adapter, making them a good alternative.

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I'll join the line of biased contributors, R7 and Summicron for me.

I have owned both, and the only real thing I recall about the F4 is it's size and weight. Given the AF is decades old, I would say the brighter prism and V/F in the R7 "could" be faster or easier even.

Thought about selling both, and simply getting a nice M and 50 (or 35) since your original post indicated "street film"?  Smaller, lighter, possibly more discrete even.

Gary

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Thank you all very much for your helpful replies.

I really don't need AF, and I do prefer the Leica lenses. Being this is fr street photography, the only other lens I'll probably need is a 35mm

I didn't know you can use Leica lenses on the F4! That changes things, although it is a tad too heavy.

 

Thanks!

Well in this case you've surely answered your own question!

 

The 35 Elmarit R is rather a bargain although I do really like my v1 Summicron 35.

 

Whilst you can use R lenses on the Nikon (after changing the lens mount) I really don't see the point in doing that to use them with a film body - it was more of a solution for R owners who wanted a digital body.

 

You're far better off using them on an R body.

Edited by earleygallery
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I own both Leica and Nikon film bodies and I would have to say that for me the Leica wins hands down as a versatile film camera.

 

Keeping it would also mean that you would have the ready option of some of the more expensive Leica lenses later, to use without adaptation such as the exquisite 80mm f1.4, the superlative 90AA f2 and the wonderful 180 2,8 APO - there is also the hard to get 50 1,4 Summilux.

 

The reason I say this is that as someone who has owned all of the above lenses and an R7 camera, I also believe that Leica glass is more at home on Leica lenses.

Edited by robert_parker
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I've had an R7 for the past 6 months. R lenses: 50 Summicron v2, 28-90, 80-200.

I had an F3/T for 25 years but can't comment on the F4.

 

The R7 is a great camera, I still preferred the handling of the F3, but the Leica R lenses outclass any of my old AI-s Nikkors.

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  • 2 months later...

Dear PhotoFan,

 

I just read your 10 October post.  I have a Leica R7 with (among others) a Summicron 50 f/2.0 and a Nikon FM2 with (among others) a Nikkor 50 f/1.4 AI-S.  Of course both are manual focus.   The Nikon is lighter, more ergonomic and, frankly, more fun to shoot.  But the Summicron renders substantially better color, contrast and sharpness than the Nikkor.

 

Hope this helps.     

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Leica R7 is the last "classic" R which started with the R4 - R5 - RE and R6(.2)

I owned two bodies before I switcht to Leica R8 which I think it´s the best manual

focus camera ever build by anyone.

 

The Leica R7 was a evolution - the Leica R8 was a revolution

and the Nikon F4 too if you take a closer look at the step from

Nikon F to F2 and the electronic F3.

 

If you compare the Nikon F4 to the Leica R7 the Nikon is superior.

If you look at the lenses the difference is not so big like anyone seems to know

but maybe it´s my very subjectiv point of view.......

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The R7 is a great camera, I still preferred the handling of the F3, but the Leica R lenses outclass any of my old AI-s Nikkors.

 

If you compare both systems Nikon offers your more, but if you take a closer look at the handling and possibilities

of the comon basics the Leica R7 is the better choice.

 

The Leica R glass shows just amazing results with the best resolution films and carfully, technical perfect taken pictures.

I never get it why people bought optics for thousands of Euros (Dollars) and claim to see the difference at high speed films

taken freehand in bad light situations.......

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