PhotoFan Posted October 11, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 11, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 11, 2016 Posted October 11, 2016 Hi PhotoFan, Take a look here R7 or F4. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
T.E. Posted October 11, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 11, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 11, 2016 Share #3 Posted October 11, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 11, 2016 Share #4 Posted October 11, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted October 11, 2016 Share #5 Posted October 11, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoFan Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted October 11, 2016 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! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted October 11, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 11, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am only going to keep one of the two. I use velvia and Ilford B&W Why? If you use two film stocks doesn't it make sense to keep both? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 11, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 11, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted October 11, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 11, 2016 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 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 11, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) 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 October 11, 2016 by earleygallery Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_parker Posted October 12, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) 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 October 12, 2016 by robert_parker Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted October 12, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 12, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoFan Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted October 13, 2016 Thank you everyone, great help! I'm keeping the R7! I found an elmarit 135 2.8 at a good price that I will likely get this weekend. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giulio Zanni Posted October 14, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 14, 2016 I had both the F4 and the R7. The F4, while built like a tank, is huge. For street between the two I would with the R7. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
melanger Posted December 31, 2016 Share #15 Posted December 31, 2016 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. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted January 9, 2017 Share #16 Posted January 9, 2017 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....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted January 9, 2017 Share #17 Posted January 9, 2017 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....... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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