Leica R3 troubles?

[certifiable]

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Hey,

 

I have a Leica R3 Mot Electronic and a Leica R3 Electronic, they both work fine, but the R3 electronic seems to have some quirks when winding the film/cocking the shutter:

 

Sometimes the lever gets stuck, pulling it back and engaging it again always seems to be the answer. So I started 'timing' it, it releases itself automatically after 1 or 2 seconds, you can actually hear a sound when you put it up against your ear.

 

I know it sounds weird, and you would probably never notice it when shooting real photos with it. (It just arrived so I'm just checking if everything works before I put film in it and this caught my attention)

 

I guess I'm just wondering if this is normal behavior or is it the sign of it breaking down? It seems to be working great and all the light seals are new on it and the only other is just some dust in the view finder...

[Dan States]

Didn't happen in mine. They are infamously dodgy bodies however, so if you can get a few good months out of one and then move on to the next you will be lucky. Early R4's were just as bad if not worse. Leica SLR's only got good again when the R5 came out.

[earleygallery]

Clearly somethings wrong, if you have just bought it send it back, it won't be worth the cost of repairing.

 

I have an R3 from new, it's a superb SLR and very much underrated. Much better than the R4-7.

 

The reputation for unrelaibility is not deserved. You've just got unlucky. Tell me you didn't buy via e bay?

[tobey bilek]

Something wrong. Return it.

 

Get a Leicaflex, Sl, or SL2, R6 or any later model. AVOID R4 or any varient there of at all costs.

[earleygallery]

The Leicaflex models aren't without there problems either, mostly age related of course.

 

I wouldn't say to avoid the R4 etc., again they had some reliability issues when first released but a working example today should be perfectly fine. It's just that if they break down the cost of repair will be uneconomical, easier to sell it on ebay for spares and buy another working example.

 

The R3 has a much better shutter action and mirror damping, but it's bigger and heavier, and only has AE and manual modes.

[tobey bilek]

Had an R4 and know others who did. Still say avoid it. There are issues that don`t fix unlike the R8 that can upgrade to better rollers etc. The big non fixable in the 4&5 is the non or poorly dampened mirror. Sold it and don`t miss it one bit. Leica had it back with sample pics and they claim it was ok. BS. Normal probably, ok not at all.

 

I have a few each of the R6, 6.2, and 7. Totally happy with them. The R8, while nice, is too big for me. If it suits you, buy one.

 

And yes early `flexes are starting to show age, they are also fixable and if you invest, they are a better camera than later ones. The viewfinder is superb. The downside is some lenses will not work.

[storybrown]

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I recognize & celebrate all the props of the R8 (I love mine), and I sometimes take up my CL (esp w/ the 40), but my R4sP is my favorite. I carry it everywhere, along with my Digilux 2. When mine goes the way of all aged machines (it's given me zip problems & much competence & joy), I'll be in the market for a "mint," "collector" R4sP, which I will use as long as I use film or until I go the way of all flesh, whichever comes first.

 

As for the R3, I've said before that, while I personally have never owned or used one myself -and, of course, I've heard a lot about it (usually pretty recycledI - I also have never personally met a photographer who did own or use one who didn't brag on it. I've never met earleygallery personally, but his contribution above is exactly typical of the several R3 users I have met over the years.

 

If you can get an R3 in good shape, by all means do so; ditto an SL or Sl 2 or R4 or 6 -- or obviously, an R8 - I personally would take an R8 over about anything, especially if staring out in Leica film. And all the R glass you can round up . . .

[Torquinian]

I have had one since 8th January 1980, no problems, but last year I had the light seals renewed.

 

I have a Leica R3 Mot Electronic and a Leica R3 Electronic, they both work fine, but the R3 electronic seems to have some quirks when winding the film/cocking the shutter:

 

Sometimes the lever gets stuck, pulling it back and engaging it again always seems to be the answer. So I started 'timing' it, it releases itself automatically after 1 or 2 seconds, you can actually hear a sound when you put it up against your ear.

 

I know it sounds weird, and you would probably never notice it when shooting real photos with it. (It just arrived so I'm just checking if everything works before I put film in it and this caught my attention)

 

I guess I'm just wondering if this is normal behavior or is it the sign of it breaking down? It seems to be working great and all the light seals are new on it and the only other is just some dust in the view finder...

[Hugh 38]

I an R3 electronic and it has always behaved in a similar way . I bought it second hand in 1987 . Most of the time I do not notice the problem , but occasionally if I want to shoot a moving target and shoot a succesion of pictures quickly the winder leer will jam . The camera has been serviced , but the occasional jamming winder is a feature of the camera , and it seldom causes me problems.

 

Regarding the R4s , I have an R4S mod 2 which is great and does not appear to be giving any trouble, while I have an R4 which does have electronic problems and the programe P and shutter priority T cause problems , however the apeture priority A works fine. THe R4 cost about £50 , 4 years ago.

 

My older Leicaflexes continue to work well.

[Torquinian]

I have had a R3 since the 8th January 1980, when I bought it new. I have had no problems apart from once replacing the light seals.. The only R series that gave me trouble was a R7 which developed inaccurate shutter speeds. I was sitting next to someone at lunch at the Leica Society meeting at Bath and he had had two R7s replaced under guarantee. If you buy any second hand camera over 30 years old it may not have been looked after too well

Often the original owner dies and it sits around unused for years. this is bad for any camera

I still use my R3 as back up to the R8.

[miha]

I got my R3 Mot in 2008 and it quickly became my favourite SLR. I prefer it to my R4s Mod2 mainly because of the extremely short shutter lag, and the sound of the shutter. It also looks good with a plain Summicron-R II mounted.

[Torquinian]

Hey,

 

I have a Leica R3 Mot Electronic and a Leica R3 Electronic, they both work fine, but the R3 electronic seems to have some quirks when winding the film/cocking the shutter:

if this is normal behavior or is it the sign of it breaking down? It seems to be working great and all the light seals are new on it and the only other is just some dust in the view finder...

 

I have had a R3 since 8th January 1980 . No problems at all except the light seals were renewed a year ago. Some secondhand cameras have had a rough life so are not such a bargain as they may appear.