Advice for a Dad

[durant7]

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Long story short. My father left his collection of Leica gear.when he passed in 1995. I chose naively to do nothing. That is water under the bridge. 17 years later, my daughter after playing with her D3000 for three years, wants to "try film". So, why not let her use one of his SLR bodies as the inventory of R lenses is deeper than M. We have an SL and a R4 to choose from.

 

My question is, for a newbie, which body would you suggest she use to explore film? She shoots a great deal of nature and loves capturing natural bokeh. As a non photographer, my pragmatic side told me to go with the R4 because at least the effort to get batteries would not be a challenge. Research would suggest the battery solution for the SL is not for those on a budget or a casual "SL" user.

 

I hope that although an amateur question, the community here might have some useful insight I could pass on to her. She could care less about the gear. Until after she sees what good glass can do. Then she studies up. I am hoping this might be the case if I steer her in the right direction.

 

I have searched the battery topic. The R4 seems straight forward although he had a different battery (MS76) installed and not the more common SR44 or LR44 indicated here. Advice welcome on this detail as well.

 

As info, here are the lenses we have located so far for her to experiment with. I trust they are interchangeable between the SL and the R4.

 

Leitz Canada Elmarit - R 1:2.8/19mm (sadly fogged)

Leitz Wetzlar Summilux - R 1:1.4/50mm

Leitz Wetzlar Summicron - R 1:2/50mm

Leitz Wetzlar Elmar - R 1:4/180mm

 

Thanks in advance for your counsel.

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[andybarton]

Welcome to the forum

 

The LR44 batteries will do just fine in the R4

 

This might be helpful http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/R4

[earleygallery]

Hi,

 

Lenses may be 1, 2 or 3 cam, or 'R' only.

 

You need 3 cam or R only for the R4. Do a search on here or google for more info on how to identify which are which.

 

To start with I'd try the R4 as it's electronic shutter should be more accurate - if the SL hasn't been used for many years it will probably be more likely to need a service.

[durant7]

Thank you very much!

 

After review of cams HERE I think I am up to speed to visually inspect what we have.

 

As luck would have it, the 1.2/50mm Summicron is just a 2 cam. She will just have to suffer with the 1.4/50 Summilux 3 cam. We will pick up some batteries for the R4. I also found that the classic failure of the red SL lens release button has struck our camera. Another reason to adopt the R4. Sounds like you guys are right, the SL will need a full service before it is every put back into use.

 

R4 it will be.

 

Should I consider converting the 2 cam to a 3 cam? From what I read, it (Summicron) is technically the better lens but, would she be able to exploit the difference? See the difference? As background, for her DSLR I got her a 1.4/50mm and that really opened her eyes to the art form. As the parent, I figure that is my job. Poke me if I should pursue a conversion or else I will just put it away and wait to see what happens with the three "3 cam" lenses.

[wizard]

Hi,

 

as to batteries, I would suggest buying SR44 instead of the LR44. The latter ones are alkaline, while the former are silver oxide, which last longer and are more temperature stable. Or buy, if the camera accepts that, an DL1/3N battery, which is a lithium battery having the size of two SR or LR44 batteries stacked on top of each other. Assuming the batteries in the R4 are stacked (I own only R9 and SL2), the DL1/3N battery is the best choice.

 

As to the lenses, she will likely be very pleased with the performance of the Summilux 50mm lens. I would not bother to convert the Summicron lens to 3cam given that you have access to another 50mm lens (the Summilux). For many, many years, the Summilux was one of if not the leading 1.4/50 lens, so there should not be much to desire.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[TomB_tx]

Both are great cameras to work with. I have both and bought each when they were new models. I agree the R4 may be better for now. My complaint with it is only in manual metering, as you have to read the shutter speed in one place and then the metered speed in another place (by LED) and adjust to the same value, where the SL's match-needle is much easier to use. But the R4 works well in automatic mode, and using the limited area (center spot) mode you can learn to meter a neutral area and then partial press the shutter to lock the reading and then compose. Easy and fast to do.

I have both the Summilux-R and 2-cam Summicron-R. The 2-cam Summicron will not be multi-coated, and while otherwise better optically than the 1.4, it is prone to flare under some lighting conditions. I also find that with the standard focusing screen the Summicron is easier to find best focus than the Summilux, because of the microprisms used in that screen. I changed to a ground-glass screen for the Summilux and can focus it much better.

Enjoy working with your daughter - and enjoy being a dad. My daughter also enjoyed photography, until we lost her to cancer at age 30. Treasure the time you have.

[durant7]

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Andy, thanks for the updated post with link. I now understand the MS76 batteries. The link to the manual is great. But the review.....hummm. Let's hope for the best. Our body is shy of the 1,600,000 SN (1,567,859) when some circuitry issues I read plagued the camera.

 

It would still seem like the R4 should be used for a few rolls and see what she gets.

 

I also found reference to FocalPoint to service hazed lenses. The 19mm is hazed, It's a 3 cam, 2nd generation from what I can tell. I've not seen other sources to have lenses cleaned. Open to suggestions. Ain't nothin' easy!

[andybarton]

I had one a few years ago and it was fine. If it hasn't gone wrong by now, it may never go wrong.

 

I sold mine to another forum member and I haven't heard that it's not working

 

You might need to replace the light seals though. They perish and need replacing. You can buy kits on eBay for little money and it's an easy thing to do yourself.