AB007 Posted May 19, 2012 Share #1 Posted May 19, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I found one DMR for sale. I have some good R Gear with which I can use the DMR. I have never used a DMR. I shoot Nikon too and have converted some R lens for Nikon. Should I get the DMR or place an order for the Nikon D800/E? I know it's an older technology as compared to the Nikon however some respected members of this forum love the DMR. Your advice is appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 Hi AB007, Take a look here LEICA DMR vs Nikon D800/E. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted May 19, 2012 Share #2 Posted May 19, 2012 This is a question that is very hard to answer. The DMR is antique in digital terms. When it was new it beat the Canon 1 D. However comparing it to a new top camera is like comparing a RR Silver Shadow against a new Audi A8. I will take the Roller any day, but practical it is not. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyedward Posted May 19, 2012 Share #3 Posted May 19, 2012 Nikon D800 / E Initial Impressions by Michael Reichmann at Luminous Landscape Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted May 19, 2012 Share #4 Posted May 19, 2012 This was exactly my dilemma for a long time, decided not to venture into DMR. Pros - native R mount, superb image quality at base ISO. Cons minor - crop factor 1.3, power supply. Cons major - no vendor support, if you have a fault on electronics most likely Leica or anyone else can't fix it. If you are prepared to take the risk and are lucky with your DMR sample you will no doubt be rewarded with superlative images. If you are less of a risk taker for a price of S/H R8 or R9 with DMR you can buy D800/E or 5D Mk 3. Most R lenses, which are superlative SLR of any system, will mount on Nikon or Canon either via mount conversion or adapter, and than some difficult lenses can be converted to Nikon after invasive surgery (something I am not prepared to contemplate). Jaap is right ancient RR is superlative in class terms to any modern car but ancient car can be fixed by a blacksmith, to fix DMR you would need resources of a Starship Enterprise. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted May 19, 2012 Share #5 Posted May 19, 2012 I found one DMR for sale. I have some good R Gear with which I can use the DMR. I have never used a DMR. I shoot Nikon too and have converted some R lens for Nikon. Should I get the DMR or place an order for the Nikon D800/E? I know it's an older technology as compared to the Nikon however some respected members of this forum love the DMR. Your advice is appreciated. Thanks. DMRs are around the place for sale. ffordes have no less than four on their books at the moment, and they've been there for a while. I suspect people (including me) are indeed wary of the longer term reliability, given their age and unserviceability. Maybe the price will come down as a result, thereby making what is inevitably a purchasing gamble more worthwile. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB007 Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted May 19, 2012 Thank you all. It's a dilemma. One of reasons why I am seriously considering the DMR is I do not want to convert my APO lenses. I almost destroyed my 100/2.8 APO during the conversion process. Some of them are easy to convert but some are not easy. I leitaxed the APO R converter and mount my unconverted R lenses on it and use it on my Nikons. I want to order the D800E however I have heard great things of the DMR. Is is worth taking the risk? This is tough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sp12 Posted May 19, 2012 Share #7 Posted May 19, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I don't think so. I can't think of a single advantage for the DMR besides native R mount and price. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbbeyFoto Posted May 19, 2012 Share #8 Posted May 19, 2012 I too am reluctant to contemplate converting all my R lenses. I enjoy using the R9/DMR and the quality is good if you don't want a huge number of pixels. But I have a Canon backup with a cheap adaptor and that works well. The D800 is clearly an impressive camera that will cry out for the best glass. If you go for the D800 and do NOT convert your best R glass, will you need to add in the cost of new Nikon glass to your calculations? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haroldp Posted May 19, 2012 Share #9 Posted May 19, 2012 Lets not forget that some Zeiss glass is also available in 'F' mount from the factory and it is chipped for Nikon, so all functions work except autofocus. .... H Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted May 19, 2012 Share #10 Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) I don't think so. I can't think of a single advantage for the DMR besides native R mount and price. 1. How about true 16 bit A/D, no other DSLR and not even the S2 has this. 2. The ability to seamlessly and effortlessly clean the sensor by opening the back 3. Full and "native" R mount compatibility 4. Best intuitive camera design with the R8/9 for analog controls 5. Superlative viewfinder and the ability "à la M" to see the subject walk into the frame with the DMR ground glass... Now I can't think of anymore either... That said, while I still have my DMR and R system I'm still be getting a D800E whenever they'll show up... Edited May 19, 2012 by mgcd Typo 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 19, 2012 Share #11 Posted May 19, 2012 It depends on your mind-set : if you are a Leica lover, trying to capitalize your beloved R lenses to obtain excellent pictures, go for the DMR; if you are looking for a state-of-the-art DSLR, D800E is a better choice. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyedward Posted May 19, 2012 Share #12 Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) I almost destroyed my 100/2.8 APO during the conversion process. Some of them are easy to convert but some are not easy. Apart from a couple of stubborn screws, I had few problems leitaxing my 100/2,8. Another member of this forum reported a method of leitaxing his 100/2.8 that was slightly different to mine, perhaps indicating minor variations in design during the period this lens was produced. The serial number for my lens is 3414802. If you feel the need for advice, Leitax themselves are a good source, and I'm sure there are members of this forum who would gladly help. Edited May 19, 2012 by andyedward clarity 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sp12 Posted May 19, 2012 Share #13 Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) 1. How about true 16 bit A/D, no other DSLR and not even the S2 has this. 2. The ability to seamlessly and effortlessly clean the sensor by opening the back 3. Full and "native" R mount compatibility 4. Best intuitive camera design with the R8/9 for analog controls 5. Superlative viewfinder and the ability "à la M" to see the subject walk into the frame with the DMR ground glass... Now I can't think of anymore either... That said, while I still have my DMR and R system I'm still be getting a D800E whenever they'll show up... While an interesting talking point, A/D bits used during conversion matter not when the DMR isn't able to capitalize on those extra bits. There's good reason not even the S2 has 16 -- they're extraneous. I don't think sensor cleaning is difficult with a modern DSLR, plus it has a dust shaker for minor issues by itself. The D800 has a 1.2x crop mode if you really like that sort of subject thing, plus you can turn it off when you want a FF sensor with your FF glass. It definitely doesn't have "full" R lens compatibility since it's a 1.3x crop (not that the D800 does either). And I'd argue it's digital controls are behind the D800, especially when you consider things like image review, live view, and ISO changing. Edited May 19, 2012 by Sp12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 19, 2012 Share #14 Posted May 19, 2012 Stil, the images obtained with the DMR are stunning. Does that count as an advantage? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblitz Posted May 20, 2012 Share #15 Posted May 20, 2012 Check out any photo rogue wave has posted and you will wonder why these faded from popularity Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted May 20, 2012 Share #16 Posted May 20, 2012 Like everything, you need to contemplate buying two, especially if you’re getting into DMRs. I still love the images my two DMRs give me. My favourite R lens is my 180/2 Apo Summicron shot wide open at concerts. I already have a reasonable rack of R lenses, hence I may as well carry on, as I’m happy. It’s a different thing buying in now. I can understand that very few would buy into DMRs now. But the pictures are still great. Would I want to alter my R lenses? Maybe, but not yet. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted May 20, 2012 Share #17 Posted May 20, 2012 I would wait till after Photokina changing any R lenses. I would expect a solution coming that will be more natural and less complicated and bulky than the Nikon D800 E. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 20, 2012 Share #18 Posted May 20, 2012 Small steps can lead to a decision. Purchase a d800e and use it for a time, decide if you like the camera, there is a lot to like and not like, this should make the decision to convert your lenses easier. Live view is a leap forward in technology that will optimize the beautiful R glass focus, at 36mp focus needs to be accurate to extract the R glass quality, when achieved the results should be close to medium format digital quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted May 20, 2012 Share #19 Posted May 20, 2012 In the meantime, if you want an up-to-date dSLR, with absolutely great colour and higher ISO, and 22mp detail, that will accept many (but not all) Leica R lenses with adapters (no surgery required), you could do a lot worse than get a new Canon 5d mark 3. I don't know what it is that Canon has done--maybe it's their foray into SLR cine--but they've vastly improved the colour (it kills my older Nikon D3) and lives nicely with the M9 and my old DMR shots too. It has double the resolution of a DMR, so AA filter or not (and it's the lightest AA filter I've seen on a Canon yet), the resolution is still there. The 50 R Lux & Cron, the APO 100, and my beloved 80 R Lux are all killer on this platform. I have to say too--shooting video with these lenses is absolutely incredible. I don't do that for anything but personal work, but my heavens it's a revelation! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhsimmonds Posted May 20, 2012 Share #20 Posted May 20, 2012 Easy....10 Mpx old 100-400 useable ISO technology without any further support versus 36 Mpx state of the art high potential ISO capability at the start of it's lifecycle. Full manufacturer's support including firmware up dates. Micro adjust fine tuning of each and every lens and so much more with the Nikon. No contest. Oh, and I am not a Nikon user or fan in any way, but I am an ex-DMR user. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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