I want to test the Leica waters... starting with the R series. Advice on what to get?

[SteveYork]

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Saw this this morning if anyone is interested

SEALED-UNOPENED LEICA R5 BLACK BODY +35mm & 90mm LENSES | eBay UK

Pete

 

Someone got some nice stuff. Hard to imagine that new stuff being on a dealer's shelf all this time.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[tobey bilek]

Anything made after R5, ie R6.0 and later. I find the R8 too large, but others disagree. Depends on your hands. Pre R6 have poor mirror dampening unless you get the Leicaflex series. I hated my R4, same for the R5.

 

It is very possible replacement shutters are not available. R4 definitely not.

 

Lenses are basically like the M series, later ones getting more "clinical", ie very sharp and lots of micro contrast. Earlier ones have the Leica soft but sharp quality that characterizes their lenses from 1960 to 1985.

 

100 2.8 APO, 180 2.8 Apo, 280 4.0 APO are the finest lenses you can buy in those focals.

[plasticman]

Someone got some nice stuff. Hard to imagine that new stuff being on a dealer's shelf all this time.

 

What's the condition of cameras that have been boxed this long without use? I ask because I personally love these old boxed 'new' finds, and I would've bid on this myself if it'd been paired with a 50 Summicron, but I've heard a camera that has sat for 15+ years on a shelf never used probably needs a CLA. Is that correct?

[tobey bilek]

They need exercise and electronics need some current periodically.

 

So if it sat 15 years unused, there probably will be trouble.

[taskoni]

I have R7 and this what I can recommend only. I use Sumilux-R 50mm 1.4, Summilux-R 80mm 1.4, Elmarit-R 24mm 2.8 and Elmarit -R 60mm macro. Also Summicron 50mm f/2 - also very sharp!

Regards,

b.

[Ruhayat]

What's the condition of cameras that have been boxed this long without use? I ask because I personally love these old boxed 'new' finds, and I would've bid on this myself if it'd been paired with a 50 Summicron, but I've heard a camera that has sat for 15+ years on a shelf never used probably needs a CLA. Is that correct?

 

I bought my M6TTL boxed brand new from a dealer in Kuala Lumpur late last year. The camera worked with no problems. The dealer also had a brand new boxed R6.2, and from what I could tell it worked fine as well. Still, these are anecdotal examples, of course.

[SteveYork]

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Modern oils and grease don't gum up as bad as those found in 60's and 70's cameras. I've never heard the bit about having to pass current through the electronics.

 

Who's the dealer who still has a left over R6.2?

[Ruhayat]

Modern oils and grease don't gum up as bad as those found in 60's and 70's cameras. I've never heard the bit about having to pass current through the electronics.

 

Who's the dealer who still has a left over R6.2?

 

It's a small camera shop in downtown Kuala Lumpur, called Boeing (yes, really). To my knowledge they are not Leica dealers, yet when I came across them quite by chance I found brand new M6TTL and R6.2 cameras sitting in boxes with their warranties still unfilled. I bought the M as I already had the R-E at the time.

 

The R6.2 is (was?) the chrome model. Not sure if it's still available. When I first came across it the dealer offered me US$1,500 for it, but when I came back and bought the M6, the R6.2 price magically increased to US$2,000.

[SteveYork]

A couple ears ago I picked up a "new old stock" R6.2 when I was getting ready for a series of nature trips, but turned around and sold it a few months later when I decided that I liked the Leicaflex series better. Of course that was a mistake (never sell Leica), but that camera by serial numbers was made in 1991 and I purchased in about '09. So that's 18 years on someone's shelf. It was new, not only because it was impeccable, but Leica honored the original warranty. All the shutter speeds worked fine and the meter was spot on. Wish now I kept it.

[Ruhayat]

(never sell Leica)... Leica honored the original warranty. Wish now I kept it.

 

Do Leica warranties have a limit? Darn. Never bothered to check on mine.

 

Never sell a Leica. Oh, I agree from personal experience. I loved my Leica R-E (even started a "I love my Leica R-E" thread). It was such a gorgeous camera with all the basic features I needed and nothing more. But eventually I had to sell it off with the 50mm Summicron when funds were tight, coupled with buyer's remorse for having two Leica cameras. My friend still has it, and I still look on envious everytime we go out shooting.

 

I've since tried buying it back from him to no avail. So I suppose I'll just have to get that black M4-P that's been sitting on a dealer's shelf for donkey's years, then. But used Leica prices are typically overblown here in Malaysia, though. Thank God for KEH.

[plasticman]

Thanks for all the information. I'm a total sucker for boxed and unused cameras - bought a collector M6 that hadn't been used for 10 years, and recently a factory-new boxed Hasselblad 500C/M kit. Both of them work totally fine - but I'm not sure how long my luck is gonna hold if I always seek-out these unused (and usually overpriced) little gems.

[asiafish]

Not quite unused, but here is the R3 MOT I just bought from KEH in EX condition and the R6 that was in EX+. Both are lovely.

 

PS, on the R3, I didn't even want the body, but it came as an outfit with the 50/2 Summicron and a fancy wood case and burgundy leather pouch with some card describing the fancy Aztec Amatl bark it was finished with. The "outfit" was only $46 more than the same lens in the same condition by itself. Thought was, buy the outfit, keep the lens and sell the rest. Problem is, the R3 is gorgeous, was in a sealed bag from Leitz with a receipt for the CLA they performed.

 

 

[roguewave]

Short answer: R8 and late-model 50mm Summicron-R. The long answer will have to wait until I'm not on a borrowed computer (forum times out and I lose my post ).

 

In short, Doug is correct. I owm 3 R8 bodies and they are the most amazing SLR bodies I have ever owned. I use one with a DMR & the other 2 for B&W film work (TriX 400). The R8 is perfectly balanced, superb build and ave NEVER failed me. You will not find anything better.

[spydrxx]

Since you're coming from a Nikon F5, I think you'll find the R8 or R9 to have very similar functionality to the Nikon, but with manual focus. A wide (24mm or wider) lens will set you back a little more than you indicated you wanted to spend, but once you try it, you'll probably be hooked. Although I mentioned earlier which R models I owned, my very favorite was the SL2, because it was so similar in operation to the 1960s cameras I grew up with, and the viewfinder was superb. Whatever you eventually select, I'm sure you'll be a happy camper once you get used to the camera.

[H.Beatzel]

Hi,

In my view the R8 is the best choice.

I have the following lenses and are very satisfied with the complete package.

Summilux-R 1:1,4 80 mm

Vario – Elmar – R 1:3,5/35 – 70 mm

Elmarit-R 1,2,8/ 24 mm ROM

plus the following flash

METZ 54 MZ-4i digital flash

 

regards

Helmut Beatzel

[algrove]

Hi,

In my view the R8 is the best choice.

I have the following lenses and are very satisfied with the complete package.

Summilux-R 1:1,4 80 mm

Vario – Elmar – R 1:3,5/35 – 70 mm

Elmarit-R 1,2,8/ 24 mm ROM

plus the following flash

METZ 54 MZ-4i digital flash

 

regards

Helmut Beatzel

 

I notice you have the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70/3.5. How have you found this lens's images and quality of rendering considering it was made by Sigma? Do you find the 80/1.4 is your sharpest R lens?

[H.Beatzel]

I notice you have the Vario-Elmar-R 35-70/3.5. How have you found this lens's images and quality of rendering considering it was made by Sigma? Do you find the 80/1.4 is your sharpest R lens?

Hi,

You are correct, the Vario – Elmar – R 1:3,5/35 – 70 mm has not a very clear picture when taking a picture, but the result later on the film are perfekt.

Indeed the Summilux-R 1:1,4 80 mm is the sharpest lens I have, but the Elmarit-R 1,2,8/ 24 mm ROM has the same sharpness.

regards,

Helmut