Which Leica R to choose? Which one is the best?

[unikad]

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Thank you very much all for your advices!! And what if I want you use telecovertor. I often use 180/2.8 + 2x extender. I´ve read that Leicaflex SL is less sensitive for low light condition. May that be a problem?

And how much could the recalibrating for 1.5V cost approx.?

 

To wildlightphoto user: You have wonderful pictures on your website! Are they all taken by Leicaflex?

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[dkCambridgeshire]

Thank you very much all for your advices!! And what if I want you use telecovertor. I often use 180/2.8 + 2x extender. I´ve read that Leicaflex SL is less sensitive for low light condition. May that be a problem?

And how much could the recalibrating for 1.5V cost approx.?

 

To wildlightphoto user: You have wonderful pictures on your website! Are they all taken by Leicaflex?

 

It is less sensitive but you could use a handheld meter on those occasions. The brightness of the finder would be a bonus in low light conditions.

 

dunk

[wildlightphoto]

Thank you very much all for your advices!! And what if I want you use telecovertor. I often use 180/2.8 + 2x extender.

 

The 2x APO extender has mirror box clearance problems on the SL.

 

And how much could the recalibrating for 1.5V cost approx.?

 

It's best to contact a repair technician directly. About US$50

 

To wildlightphoto user: You have wonderful pictures on your website! Are they all taken by Leicaflex?

 

The ones made between 1979 and 2006 were almost all made with Leicaflex SL or SL2. From 2006 to the present almost all were made with the R8 with DMR.

[roguewave]

I own 3 R8 bodies. I had an R9, bur sold it. The R8 is the best film SLR I have ever used. It is not too big at all. I also have 2 full motordrives, which though they add weight, make the kit very well balanced with almost infinite battery life. You just can't buy a better camera. Biggest & best viewfinder, by far. Superb craftsmanship. Works in the rain & snow.

[holmes]

Best is subjective in almost all cases. I have an R 7, plus two R 6.2s. I've never handled an 8 so I can't give an opinion. Subjective.

[storybrown]

Well, that's true enough, but there's subjective as in simple egalitarian relativism ("Kodak Disposable's as good as an upscale MF," &c) and subjective as in varying according to skill, sensibility & experience. However, for my own part, I happily agree about the pinnacle represented by the R8 & the R lenses -- R8 + DMR seems as good as a walkabout camera gets, & I wish DMRs were as plentiful as Rs. Not everyone needs this, naturally -- Gisele Fruend didn't have one, etc.

 

Of course: Anything in HCB or Leni's, and the rest, hands (she especially liked the R3mot, I think, before going underwater) . . .

 

For various subjective reasons (because quick & smallish?), I'm also especially fond of my R4sP & CL, even more than my SL/SL2 & IIIf -- but they're not R8s -- I admit that I've never handled an R9 (didn't know of Leica's statement about it).

 

I always like these kinds of threads & the kinds of posts they elicit, but, in truth, if the idea of film & nonspecialized cameras & Leica occurs to you as of interest in the first place, as it obviously has to the OP, I don't think you can go wrong for film with any R model or with the R lenses. They're all so inexpensive for really first class pieces -- esp maybe the R6 . . .

[theendlesshouse]

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I used an R4 for many years until I dropped it from height, the repair was not cost effective! I have since migrated to the M Leica but am finding I miss greatly the R cameras, were I to get another it would be a 6.2, camera for life. I may even sell my MP to fund the purchase of it and some lenses? I have found the M's while exceptional are not for everyone.

[unikad]

So after all I´ve decided for the Leicaflex SL and now I´m waiting for it.

Of course, if I had enough money, I´d buy both SL and R8, and R6.2 and my dream 400/2.8:)

I think that every Leica camera is superb, and some of them may be a bit better. So I´m curious about the SL.

[Joop van Heijgen]

The 'inside' of the Leicaflex:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-sammler-historica/55695-leicaflex-und-ihre-inneren-werte.html

[FiZZ]

I have an R7. Had it for 4 years after a friend left it with me.

 

At one point it fell and the fresnel lens and the prism misaligned, so everything was blurry in the viewfinder.

 

I got it fixed and it works like a charm now.

 

The camera is heavy and large. It's bigger than my other 35mm's. I have the 35mm f/2.8 and it's a wonderful lens. Nice and sharp, with great colour rendition.

 

The problem is, as mentioned before, the battery. This does make the shutter quieter and more stable, doesn't vibrate as much, than a mechanical camera. I was in Istanbul and it died on me. I realized that I had it for four years, and god knows how long the guy before me had it, and the batteries haven't been changed, so it was an easy solution. Then it went back to normal. I still think it's a great camera to use. Don't know about the cost.

[leicaoptik]

My first Leica was the R8, I got it new when it came out, she was one of the early series.

In the beginning there where electronic problems but after sending her three times to solms and in the end bringing her to solms and getting a new whole platine, she works like a rolex watch.

I love her- but I also got a R6, as backup- she is very robust and does not quit working in hard use, winter time or climbing sports activity with several bumps and hits.

I can not say which one is the better camera- the R8 is better when U have to do kind of special work- like shooting a festival at nighttimes- or in very highlight values with a fast lens- the Lux 80mm f. e., everytime U need fast shutter times.

The shutter sound of the R6 is nicer, and I love the haptic feeling, she is a very nice worktool and gathering people ask what time I am living in, ha ha.

I would never sell one of the Rs.

If I have to decide I would say the R6 is the lady I would have on my side in my coffin.

The R8 is the girl to be with me on the next techno party.

But the problem is that here there are two other Leicas to choose from- the lovely M6- and the glorious MP3.

 

But the asking of this thread was for the best R, so decide of the words above-

 

with greetings-

Philip

[leicamr]

On the other hand because I travel a lot with my Leicas abroad, I´m a bit afraid of having modern-looking cameras like R8. Because I also own one modern DSLR and I really hate it has sooooo many functions and it really disattracts me from shooting. That´s why I definately went back to film cameras.

 

UniKad, Don't confuse the easy of use functionality of an R8 or R9 with the complexity of a far eastern made DSLR. My R8 and DMR is far easier to setup and use than any other DSLR (I do own a Nikon D300 so I know what I am saying).

 

Back to the "best R". I would go for R8 / 9. R8's are so under priced. But R8 or R9 are bargains. I would then consider R 6.2 or R7.

 

regards

 

Mark

Edited August 12, 2010 by leicamr
Spelling corrections

[holmes]

Well as I sit with a twisted knee, the weather is nice. Makes want to get out. However after a bad fall yesterday in my bedroom, in order, hip, shoulder and head. Common sense says stay home until I get a brace for my knee. This just written has nothing to do with photography, while yes it does. Loose your mobility and you are stuck. Forget my knee. The question is, which 'R'? It so happens that I am the the proud owner of three Ms and three Rs. Several of each have been fitted with winders/motors. In all but one I found a clean ( dare I say NOS). The others are fine and I have an extra should become necessary. I bought the good leather straps for the 'R's. This in deference to the weight on the lens mount on the camera body. I left the thin straps on the 'Ms'. I still have not answered your question. Research, research. Half you had to do that in college. From the practical, I will rate the R6.2s as the best mechanical camera ever made. You control the camera, instead of the other way around. The battery serves to operate the camera's battery. Period. My R7, along with one of the R 6.2s have motor mounts. Big difference. I won't get technical, I'm not a Leica technician. With the R7 the camera can do a lot for you. The R.6.2s, they give super metering. Well that's all I'm going to say. Basically does it feel right in your hands?

[leicaoptik]

Good arguments, holmes,

I have my R6 equipped with a motor drive, without handgrip.

It fits perfect to my big hands and I can hold her like a baby in my arm, even when she wears my Apo- Telyt 2.8/280mm...

 

Good luck 4 your knee, holmes.

Philip

 

Well as I sit with a twisted knee, the weather is nice. Makes want to get out. However after a bad fall yesterday in my bedroom, in order, hip, shoulder and head. Common sense says stay home until I get a brace for my knee. This just written has nothing to do with photography, while yes it does. Loose your mobility and you are stuck. Forget my knee. The question is, which 'R'? It so happens that I am the the proud owner of three Ms and three Rs. Several of each have been fitted with winders/motors. In all but one I found a clean ( dare I say NOS). The others are fine and I have an extra should become necessary. I bought the good leather straps for the 'R's. This in deference to the weight on the lens mount on the camera body. I left the thin straps on the 'Ms'. I still have not answered your question. Research, research. Half you had to do that in college. From the practical, I will rate the R6.2s as the best mechanical camera ever made. You control the camera, instead of the other way around. The battery serves to operate the camera's battery. Period. My R7, along with one of the R 6.2s have motor mounts. Big difference. I won't get technical, I'm not a Leica technician. With the R7 the camera can do a lot for you. The R.6.2s, they give super metering. Well that's all I'm going to say. Basically does it feel right in your hands?

[mhoersch]

I don't know if it is the best R, but the R9/DMR combo is quite simply the best (D)SLR I've ever used.

[leicamr]

I don't know if it is the best R, but the R9/DMR combo is quite simply the best (D)SLR I've ever used.

 

+1

 

Mark

[bocaburger]

I had (at various times) SL, SL2, RE, R7, R6.2 and R8. To my taste, there was no contest, the R8 was the best by several lengths.

 

The R8 has a high enough flash syncro speed to be useful for daylight fill (1/250, vs 1/100).

 

R8's meter is far greater in low-end sensitivity than all but the SL2 which is much slower to react (oweing to CdS cells) and R8 has a Matrix metering option that works quite well 95% of the time, a boon in quick shooting with changing light. All metering modes work in all exposure modes also (RE and R7 have some restricted combinations).

 

R8's film loading is much faster. It's like any modern SLR, just lay the leader out, close the door and wind.

 

R8's shutter range is greatest (32" to 1/8000).

 

R8's TTL flash capabilities much more flexible.

 

R8's viewfinder is brighter than earlier R series (excluding SL and SL2).

 

Viewfinder display is graphic and easy to see and read.

 

My RE, R6.2 and R7 all developed sticky DOF previews, which were very costly to have fixed. It's a common problem, the achilles heel of that entire series.

[unikad]

The 2x APO extender has mirror box clearance problems on the SL.

 

 

I´ve got 2x extender-R, non-APO version. It doesn´t fit to SL. Is it possible to modify something so that I can use the teleconvertor? Or what would be some other possibilities to connect this extender? If there are any...

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Hallo,

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[wildlightphoto]

The 2x APO extender has mirror box clearance problems on the SL.

 

 

I´ve got 2x extender-R, non-APO version. It doesn´t fit to SL. Is it possible to modify something so that I can use the teleconvertor? Or what would be some other possibilities to connect this extender? If there are any...

 

There were two versions of the non-APO 2x extender, optically identical, one version for R bodies and one for Leicaflexes. The Leicaflex version has no meter or aperture couplings - strictly manual. I suspect (but I don't know for certain) that the R model can be made to fit the Leicaflexes with a simple modification. Or, the Leicaflex SL can be modified to allow the R extender to fit (also a simple modification that also allows many ROM lenses to fit). Are you anywhere near Sacramento? I would be intersting to see if it fits my ROM-compatible SL body.

[unikad]

Unfortunately I´m from the Czech Republic:( The extender has written on its body just this: Extender-R 2x, for Leica-R, Leitz, Lens made in Germany. I´d guess it could be the version for Leica R.

If I put the extender into the Leicaflex body, I can´t turn it to clip it to the body. Something doesn´t allow to do so.

I bought the Leicaflex SL to "replace" my Leica R5 in my bag but now I need to carry both of them so that I can use my 180/2.8 + 2x extender:(

So if it´s possible and easy to modify either the camera or the extender, I´d be so glad!!