mwilliamsphotography Posted February 17, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted February 17, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I currently have a DMR9 and a nice spread of R glass including 21-35/3.5 ROM ASPH, 28-90/2.8-4.5 ROM ASPH, 35/1.4, 50/2 ROM, 80/1.4 ROM, 70-210/4, 135/2.8, 180/2.8 ROM APO and an old Leica 500/8 mirror (aka, Minolta). I still need a macro and a 1.4X for the 180 (or a longer Leica lens). Â While I do most color work using the digital module, when shooting weddings I prefer B&W be done with film. Swapping DMR backs mid-wedding is not an option. I have a M8 and MP3 that I use in that same manner, and was thinking to do the same with the R kit. Â The R9 is the only option I was considering because it would also act as a back-up for the DMR/9 should the camera itself go down. Â To the horror of most on this forum, I will be selling my M7 to fund this idea. The M8 and MP3 is plenty good. Â Also note that I do shoot film with the MP3 as well as a Hasselblad 503CW, and have invested in a Imacon 949 scanner to take those images into the digital darkroom. Â What I would ask is does anyone else do this (have a DMR and a film R)? Should I also get the motor or the winder or neither? If so, what is the battery situation for those options? Â Are there any other considerations ... like I have old eyes that forced me to use a magnifier on the DMR and it's etched frame screen, and would assume the same for the R9's full screen ... is there a focusing screen that is good for all these lenses from a 3rd party or Leica? Â Anything else I should consider when rounding out this kit? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 17, 2007 Posted February 17, 2007 Hi mwilliamsphotography, Take a look here Considering a R9 for film use. Need advice.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lieberdavid Posted February 17, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted February 17, 2007 Hi Marc, Â I don't know about advice - you are a professional photographer and I merely an amateur - perhaps a suggestion or two might be the better way to describe anything I might be able to add. I have been an R user for nearly 30 years, though, and have owned all of the R models from R3 to R8. (I still have the R6, R7, and R8 and use them a lot, but not perhaps as much as before, since I have joined the M community recently also, with an MP.) I do not own a digital camera. I also have quite a few R lenses. Â Since you have an R9/DMR set already, it does make a lot of sense to get an additional R9, instead of some other model for back up, although my R8 has been completely reliable. Since you have the DMR you know already how much weight and size it adds to the R9. It's too much for me, I have to confess, so I went with the winder on the R8. R8/R9 models work especially well with motor or winder, and the winder works out perfectly for me. In your case, since you already are accustomed to the weight and size of the DMR, you might prefer the motor, which is, as you probably know, about the same. Also, the motor will give you 4 frames per second as well as auto bracketing. In your position as a professional, you may well want these extra features of the motor. Â I wonder if you could respond to a question or two of mine. How do you like the Summilux-R 35/1.4 ? I like fast lenses and have been thinking of trading up from my Summicron. Finally, I have been using a Koinica-Minolta Scan Elite 5400 Mark II. I suspect that this may be the weak link in my chain. I don't feel my prints are as good as they used to be when I just sent the slides out to a commercial chemical printing lab. Any thoughts? (How good is your Imacon, and how much does one cost?) Â By the way, I am in the market for a .85 x M7. Â Best, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bernd Banken Posted February 17, 2007 Share #3  Posted February 17, 2007 Hello Marc,  I'm not quite sure wether you know "Katzeye" screens. Here is the link in which there is no info about Leica SLRs. But it could be that these guys are skilled and flexible to meet your needs.  metering @ KatzEyeOptics.com  PS your pics are amazing for me and after I jumped on the Leica train with a s/h M6 a M7 0,58 will arrive hopefully next week. As an amateur film delivers the magic of grain to me which I missed for years...  Bernd Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted February 17, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted February 17, 2007 Marc, Â As a R9 owner, I have used it in both film and DMR mode. Now my DMR is on, I haven't gone back to film, trusting my M6 to tale my available light B/W shots. The R9 alone feels very balanced. Would you really need a winder or motor for your back up B/W body or would you be using it like a M capturing that important moment at the wedding? Â It would make perfect sense to buy a second R9 body (new or second hand). Only you know whether the extra weight etc of the winder etc is offset by the pictures that you might miss if you use manual wind. Â Charlie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RG Beaulieu Posted February 17, 2007 Share #5 Â Posted February 17, 2007 Marc: Â The answer is very easy here. Purchase the second R9 for your film use during wedding shoots. I did weddings for many years using a Hasse. I always carried a second Hasse body as a back up. The confidence obtained by having common equipment during important shoots cannot be overstated. Â Dick B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share #6 Â Posted February 17, 2007 Thanks Dick, I do know that you are right. I have 2 of everything with me and often a third in the SUV. Â I don't use the R stuff enough at weddings due to the less than excellent high ISO low light ability of the DMR compared to a Canon 5D. But in light that it CAN shoot in, it and the lenses are steller. To take it to those weddings it can participate in really does require a back-up. Â It sounds like a winder would do the trick, I don't hose off shots with any camera, so a winder just helps keep the camera to the eye. Is there any kick back from the winder? I hated the kick back on the newer M winder. Â Hi David, the R 35/1.4 is one of my favorite lenses. There are sharper ones out there, but the over-all character of this lens is what won me over. Good companion to the R80/1.4. Â Imacon scanners require a real dedication to film photography (which I have), and a lot of disposable income to purchase, which I also have since all my kids are long done with college : -) I used the Minolta 5400 version I and a MultiScan Pro MF scanner prior to stepping up to the Imacon. It's better. A lot better. How much that is worth to you is a question only you can answer ... look for a previously owned one, or a demo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brt Posted February 17, 2007 Share #7  Posted February 17, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Marc,  I am an Amateur owning R Cameras for 25 years now.  Professionally I am using a Canon 20D for medical documentary and macro work. It is light, quick, easy to use and always on spot. Resolution is more than adequate for beamer presentations and A4 prints. But for my liking digital images show the naked truth and nothing but the naked truth. Something is missing.  Thats why my heart belongs to Leicas and film. Film is rendering shadows in a another way than digital and produces grain, which no Photoshop plugin can simulate perfectly. My professional Lab nextdoor has made perfect chemical prints from slides up to 90x60cm, which is big enough for my purposes.  The DMR is much too big and heavy for me. I don´t need a winder. I love my Lux 35, which does wonders indoors. My R8 is an old one. It had to be repaired in Solms shortly after I bought it and has done a perfect job ever since. Should I buy the Lux 80 or the Cron 90 ASPH?  If you can afford a second body, go ahead!  Berend Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share #8 Â Posted February 17, 2007 That reminds me, I forgot to list my 90/2 AA, which is a phenomenal lens. Â I would say to get both, but that is impractical, so I'd go for the 90 AA and get a Zeiss Softar I for doing portraits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieberdavid Posted February 18, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted February 18, 2007 Hi Marc, Â Thanks for your comments. I think the 35/1.4 will be in my future at some point. I had the 90/2 but gave it away to an old family friend who is still happy with his R3. I now use my 100 APO Macro/2.8. So the 80/1.4 can wait a bit, but it will be nice to have that too. I think I'll stick with the 5400 II scanner. For small prints it does a good job, and I still have my slide projector. When I get a digital R10 or M8 or M9 I won't need a scanner any more I guess. Â I forgot to mention about batteries in the winder or motor drive for the R8/R9 cameras. The winder uses 123A and the motor AA's. Both are readily available as you know. The 123's I use in the winder seem to last a long time. What's more they do not continue to drain the batteries when a partially used film is left in the camera and the camera is turned off. This was an annoying problem with the motors and winders of the R4-R7 cameras. Â As for focusing screens I prefer the one with the grid lines, but the universal screen also works well for me. I also like the accessory rubber eyecup. Apart from that I don't seem to need any further help in viewing or focusing. Â Take care, David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikau Posted February 18, 2007 Share #10 Â Posted February 18, 2007 I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a DMR for my R8 for a couple of weeks shortly after they first came out. As part of my evaluation I tried for a couple of days to use it as both a film and digital camera. Despite it being quite easy to make the changeover, it was in reality a real pain, especially in the field. I'd never recommend anyone change back and forth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dentkimterry Posted February 18, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted February 18, 2007 Marc, The winder doesn't kick back like the M one does but it has only multi shot mode, you must get your finger off of it quick or you'll take 2 pictures. I prefer the drive because it has single shot mode but the combo equals the DMR in size and weight. All that said I prefer to shoot without any drive. The camera alone is a delight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brunom Posted February 21, 2007 Share #12 Â Posted February 21, 2007 Marc One other point in favourof the drive[ for me] is that it has the extra release for vertically framed shots. My one has a sealed rechargeable battery. I really do hope Leica base the R10 on the R8/9 +drive combo, but at about 60% of the size? Â Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share #13 Â Posted February 21, 2007 Thanks everyone. Â My dealer has an Excellent + R8 and winder for under $900. and that could be just the ticket since all I need is a box to put the film in. I will run a roll through it to make sure it isn't one of the old ones that scratches the film. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnelson Posted February 21, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted February 21, 2007 Marc... Â Which Imacon scanner did you buy? I'm considering one also. Â Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted February 21, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted February 21, 2007 Marc I have a pair of 'pre-owned' R8 bodies and paid about what a used R9 in lesser condition would have cost, for the both of'em [just a consideration] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share #16  Posted February 21, 2007 Marc... Which Imacon scanner did you buy? I'm considering one also.  Bill   Hi Bill. I went all the way and secured a Imacon 949.  Last Spring, my dealer loaned a 848 to me for over a month. Prior to that I was using a Minolta 5400 for 35mm, and a Multi Pro for MF films. The 848 was a revelation. I then investigated what the differences were between the 848 and 949. The more diffused light source, scan speed, slightly better D-Max and batch holders of the 949 won me over .... but I balked at the price tag. So, I waited.  When the Imacon line-up was revamped and rebadged as Hasselblad products my dealer called me with close out prices. I could not see any difference in performance specs of the new high end Hasselblad and the 949, so I bought the 949 for about $5,000. less.  Very expensive, very fast, very very good quality scans. I actually like scanning now. It was worth the money IMO. I love the look of film, and this assures I can control what the images look like.  Garyp, as I mentioned in an above post, that is exactly what I'm doing ... a used R8 is on it's way to me right now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterGA Posted February 22, 2007 Share #17 Â Posted February 22, 2007 An R9 in 'anthracite' is way cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted February 23, 2007 Share #18 Â Posted February 23, 2007 Marc: Â You will probably want to go with a R9 rather than a R8. I found with my R8, the mode dial would often get moved between modes and I would have the perfect shot, press the shutter and nothing would happen. I was shooting film at the time and using some of the larger lenses with strap lugs. When hanging the camera/lens combo off your shoulder be the lens strap, it oftens hits the mode dial and gets it between modes, so the camer is off. Â The lock on the mode dial is worth the extra expense of the R9. The R9 is also more likely to work as a backup for the DMR. Â In regards to motor versus winder, the motor is about the identical size of the DMR power unit. The winder is only about 1cm thick. If you can do with only about 2fps, go with the winder. Â Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrisfoto Posted February 27, 2007 Share #19 Â Posted February 27, 2007 Since you are a professional photographer, your needs may differ from mine, but: I have been using the DMR and an R8 for about 1 year. I also carry an R6. The R6 is light, and I can use it in places that I don't want to take the R8+DMR. (like street demonstrations etc.) As long as I have film, I don't have to worry about batteries, because it is mechanical. Every time don't have it with me, the battery on the R8+DMR runs out. I try to shoot about 1 roll of film a month, just to check the system, and carry at least 2 rolls of film. An R6 can be had for about $700 to $750, an R6.2 is a bit more pricy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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