Thinking of buying a Leica R8

[Steve_F]

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Hi all,

I'm looking for a film SLR. I sold my last Nikon one a few years ago to fund my M6 TTL purchase. I love my M images so much Im looking for an R8. I heard mixed views on their reliabilty and was looking for further info.

Anybody have any experience with one.

Glass seems cheap compared to M and I love the style of the body. Simple as that really.

 

Thanks,

Steve.

[robconti60]

I bought a second hand R8 about 8 years ago, it's a super camera. I've never had reliability problems.

regards,

Roberto

[jaapv]

Kameraexpress had factory new ones, maybe still has.

[FiZZ]

I used an R8 for a while back in college. A great camera, but too big for my liking. I switched to an R7, and it is superb. The light meter is incredibly accurate down the the half stop like the R8, but much smaller. That said, the R8 is still fantastic.

[stunsworth]

The R8 was the finest SLR I ever used. Ergonomically it is outstanding, and the lenses are spectacular. I doubt that you will be disappointed.

[Carl E]

I had an R8 a few years ago, before I went digital, and sold it to fund an M8. I have regretted that decision ever since, so I bought another R8 this summer to use with my wife's R lenses. I can only recommend the R8 as the best film SLR I have had, ever!

That said, I also enjoy my Olympus OM-4, but "horses for courses".

 

If you do consider an R8, make sure you get the winder. The R8 is a fairly heavy camera, but in my experience the advantages of the added winder far outweigh (no pun intended) the added weight.

[spydrxx]

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I recently sold my R8 after owning it around 8 years. It was a truly outstanding camera and the lenses likewise, with judicious selection were terrific also. I had originally purchased it to use as a digital, but found the DMR too expensive. I kept 4 of my favorite lenses to use on a digital body by Sigma I had converted to use Leica R lenses, as well as on my SL2. Being perfectly honest, the R8 IMHO, was about the same as my Nikon film bodies in terms of functionality, but the ergonomics of the R8 weren't as good for me. BTW I never had any of the reported or discussed problems with the R8, and I was the 2nd owner of it. So it gets high marks from me.

[Guest Randle P. McMurphy]

Leica R8 ? Best SLR ever build by Leica. I work with one some years ago.

Used a 2,8/19mm and a 4,0/80-200mm lens with it.

[hamey]

Simply Superb.

 

Had mine for years, never a problem.

 

Ken.

[andybarton]

Either buy one of "Jaap's" new ones, or make sure you get a warranty if you buy used.

 

The meter failed on mine and they are uneconomic to repair. This is not a common problem, but it is a known one.

 

That said, everything everyone else has said about them is true and, despite the slightly heavier body, IMO, they are a better camera than the R9, if only for the fact that they don't have the stupid mode lock. They are much beter balanced with the winder or motor-drive.

[RFNewcomer]

I've had an R9 since December last year and have been very happy with it. As the differences between the R9 and the R8 aren't all that big, the latter is likely to be a good buy too, assuming that it's in good condition and has no reliability issues.

 

I used a Nikon F5 for many years previously and find the significantly lighter weight of the R, together with all its other benefits, not least the great R lenses, to be a real bonus. By the way, the mode lock is not an issue for me, whether it's an improvement or not is another question. I also have an R7 and find the R9 a better camera all around. If I need something smaller or lighter, for travel for example, I simply use my M7. The best of both worlds.

[masjah]

I have both the R8 and the R9, and I can heartily recommend either. I'm in two minds about the lock button on the mode dial of the R9 - but I don't feel that strongly about it; at times it's a nuisance when changing the mode, but at times I've accidentally displaced the setting on my R8. What I find most helpful on the R9 is a really small thing - the possible illumination of the back display. I do a lot of architectural work inside churches, mirror lock-up and delay timer on a tripod, and it's easier to set the timer in dim light if you can illuminate the display.

[EJohnE]

I have only one growl about the R8. It has a shallow tripod thread, and I wrecked my first (2nd hand) one by screwing it onto a 30 year old, longer threaded ballhead. That ruined the shutter blades. The repair quote from Solms was uneconomic, so I sold it for $125 for parts. For safety's sake use a winder/motor on it, or ensure the thread size is safe.

That I bought another one shows either that I am a masochist, or really liked most of its attributes. Its built-in flash metering is an attractive feature.

John.

[thrid]

I have one. Great camera, minor complaints.

 

Compared to an M body the R8 is a little on the heavy side. Also the shutter speed and exposure mode/power dial turn a little too freely for my taste.

 

It uses two CR2 batteries, which mine seems to eat at a prodigious rate (even when the camera is turned off), but that may be particular to my camera. I haven't heard about this problem with other cameras.

 

Other then that it's a great camera.

[andybarton]

+1 on the tripod thread. My shutter was damaged by a new, at the time, Manfrotto. Manfrotto paid for the repair, as their thread was not to industry standard spec length. The R8 socket is _just_ on spec.

 

Manfrotto have since change the length of their threads and R9s have deeper sockets

[Steve_F]

Thanks for all the replies, and all so positive. I had an F5 for about 10yrs and sold it to fund my M6TTL purchase. SLR's do of course have their own advantages and I'm damned impressed by M glass wide-open. Some of my Nikon primes were a touch too soft in the corners wide-open and the R system is a relative bargain these days. Win-Win.

 

Steve.

[masjah]

I have one. Great camera, minor complaints.

 

Compared to an M body the R8 is a little on the heavy side. Also the shutter speed and exposure mode/power dial turn a little too freely for my taste.

 

It uses two CR2 batteries, which mine seems to eat at a prodigious rate (even when the camera is turned off), but that may be particular to my camera. I haven't heard about this problem with other cameras.

 

Other then that it's a great camera.

 

I think this issue affected some very early samples - my friend sent his (early) R8 back for this. Mine has been fine, as has my R9. I find they last a long time (but then they don't drive motors or flash).

[Guest Randle P. McMurphy]

Some of my Nikon primes were a touch too soft in the corners wide-open and the R system is a relative bargain these days.

 

Haha I never think that Leica is a bargain ever, maybe there is a little difference

between the M and the R what I never really understand because Leica SLR´s

can do much more and the optics are just as good.......

 

By the way I actually use an old Nikon F Photomic with a 2,5/105 Nikkor

for portraits and was impressed about the mechanics and the outstanding

optical quality.

[Steve_F]

By the way I actually use an old Nikon F Photomic with a 2,5/105 Nikkor

for portraits and was impressed about the mechanics and the outstanding

optical quality.

I never used the 105/2.5 when I owned my F5, F90X or FM3A. I gave up on Nikon film after the stopped manual lenses and film SLR's. My film system now is M and Mamiya RZ67.

Although R is discontinued it could be enjoyable.

I have yet to find Nikkor 35mm that performs as well wide-open as my M-35'cron.

 

Steve.

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[Toby Madrigal]

I’ve used Leicaflex SL cameras for years now but as my meters don’t work I have to use handheld. Two months ago, I gave into temptation and bought a black R8 from ebayuk. Only one of my lenses has two cams - 180mm f2.8 Elmarit R and it’s used is not advised on the R8. The other 8 are either 3 cam or 3rd cam only. I liked the R8 immediately. I’ve got over my distrust of all electronic  battery dependent bodies. Reading columns like this have helped me tremendously. Onboard meter, four programs, three metering patterns, quick loading for the films, DX coding for the iso etc. All this is new to me and delightful too. I’ve now bought a second body, funded by a loan from my long-suffering boyfriend. XP2 in one, Ektar 100 in the other and I’ve got three rolls of Velvia 50 to use with bodies with accurate metering. I hope the OP finds a body at a great price and is as delighted with it as I am with my pair.

Just off to take a shot of one of them next to a Leica 1a circa 1930, still in regular use even if film loading can be’a fiddle’.