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R lens film body options?

andyedward

By andyedward
in Leica R System

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andyedward

andyedward

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I have an elmarit-r 100/2,8 which I want to dust off so I can shoot film, but am wondering which body to use. My priority is ease of focussing, so am looking for a body with a bright viewfinder, but after that I have no particular demands. My 100/2,8 currently has a Leitax F mount adaptor, though I can easy re-install the R mount, so I was wondering how the viewfinders of R bodies compare with older nikon bodies?

 

I would be very grateful if anyone could please share any knowledge and experience they have on this subject

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bill

bill

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I use three Leitaxed R lenses (28, 60 and 135 Elmarits) on a Nikon FM3a; it's a compact and effective combination. The FM3a is the last of the high quality manual Nikons and is fully the equal of the lenses. Built like a tank, it has a bright, clear viewfinder with, IIRC, 92 or 93% coverage and a titanium shutter that synchs at 1/250 and runs up to/4000. My R body experience is with an R7 (by far the best, IMO) and an SL2. I recommend the Nikon.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Sent from another Galaxy

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TomB_tx

TomB_tx

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... so I was wondering how the viewfinders of R bodies compare with older nikon bodies?

Well - the only Nikon I have is the original Nikon F from the early 1960s, and I know the R bodies are better than that!

R bodies of course have the advantage of coupling to the aperture, so exposure is easier. Any of them would be good for your 100 2.8. They are clearly better with long lenses than with fast wide and normal, at least with my eyes. The R4 is usually a bargain now, and I like the size and handling. It has nice aperture preferred auto-exposure in both spot and averaging, and I use the spot mode exclusively. It's one weakness is manual exposure, as you have to read the recommended shutter speed from a long list along the right side, then see what speed is set by a readout on the bottom, and get the two to agree. A simple match needle would have been much better.

I got an R6 - all manual version - which has a simple over/under LED that is great for fast manual work; but the R6 is usually more expensive.

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andyedward

andyedward

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I use three Leitaxed R lenses (28, 60 and 135 Elmarits) on a Nikon FM3a; it's a compact and effective combination. The FM3a is the last of the high quality manual Nikons and is fully the equal of the lenses. Built like a tank, it has a bright, clear viewfinder with, IIRC, 92 or 93% coverage and a titanium shutter that synchs at 1/250 and runs up to/4000. My R body experience is with an R7 (by far the best, IMO) and an SL2. I recommend the Nikon.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Sent from another Galaxy

 

Many Thanks for sharing, Bill.

 

I was considering an FM2, which looks very elegant, simple and compact, but having just googled the FM3a, it seems almost identical to the FM2, I'll do my homework, but I'm guessing most of these older nikons are a safe bet!

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andyedward

andyedward

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Well - the only Nikon I have is the original Nikon F from the early 1960s, and I know the R bodies are better than that!

R bodies of course have the advantage of coupling to the aperture, so exposure is easier. Any of them would be good for your 100 2.8. They are clearly better with long lenses than with fast wide and normal, at least with my eyes. The R4 is usually a bargain now, and I like the size and handling. It has nice aperture preferred auto-exposure in both spot and averaging, and I use the spot mode exclusively. It's one weakness is manual exposure, as you have to read the recommended shutter speed from a long list along the right side, then see what speed is set by a readout on the bottom, and get the two to agree. A simple match needle would have been much better.

I got an R6 - all manual version - which has a simple over/under LED that is great for fast manual work; but the R6 is usually more expensive.

 

Many Thanks for sharing, Tom.

 

 

I previously used my 100/2,8 (non-ROM) on a D3X, and currently own an MP, so I'm guessing that little adaptation will be required no matter which body I mount the 100/2,8 on. Auto anything is a mystery to me as I owned only one autofocus lens for a brief period when I first started out, whilst auto everything is one of the many things which turned me off DSLR's. I just need a body to have internal metering.

 

Of the older options, nikons fm2 and 3 look more elegant than the leicas (oops, sorry, wrong forum...), though the R9 looks good in black, though bulky

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erl

erl

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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the R8/9 possibilities. I reckon the ergonomics, functionality and looks (if that is a factor) are superior to anything. Oh, I forgot. The best and brightest VF I have ever seen.

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mmradman

mmradman

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Andy,

 

For SLR film shooting I use R8, nice camera with nice VF, less expensive than almost identical R9 (slightly lighter & few other minor tweaks).

 

I also use FE2 & F2. Nikon FE2 is light, good VF, built in meter, FE or more recent FE2 can shoot in manual or aperture priority mode while FM or FM2 manual only. If you want battery independent camera than FM or FM3A are your first chice.

 

For me real joy is using F2 with meterless prism, old school built like no other SLR, you can find them cheap and there is a chap UK based who is service supremo Nikon F2 Repair/Overhaul Service.

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andyedward

andyedward

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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the R8/9 possibilities. I reckon the ergonomics, functionality and looks (if that is a factor) are superior to anything. Oh, I forgot. The best and brightest VF I have ever seen.

 

Thank You for confirming the R9 viewfinder performance, Erl.

 

If the R9 proved to have the best viewfinder of all camera options, it would certainly make it's extra expense worthwhile, and I suppose the R9 would be a more appropriate aesthetic match for my 100/2,8.

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andyedward

andyedward

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Andy,

 

For SLR film shooting I use R8, nice camera with nice VF, less expensive than almost identical R9 (slightly lighter & few other minor tweaks).

 

I also use FE2 & F2. Nikon FE2 is light, good VF, built in meter, FE or more recent FE2 can shoot in manual or aperture priority mode while FM or FM2 manual only. If you want battery independent camera than FM or FM3A are your first chice.

 

For me real joy is using F2 with meterless prism, old school built like no other SLR, you can find them cheap and there is a chap UK based who is service supremo Nikon F2 Repair/Overhaul Service.

 

Thanks Again, Mladen! May I ask how the R8 viewfinder compares to your film nikons? Thanks also for the F2 repair link

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mmradman

mmradman

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...how the R8 viewfinder compares to your film nikons? T

 

R8 standard VF screen is bright with big split prism but VF in Nikon manul focus camaras (FE2 with standard screen and F2 with DE-1 prism and standard screen) are in the same league IMHO.

 

I think old SLRs were superbly designed for manual focusing compared to modern counterparts.

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wildlightphoto

wildlightphoto

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R8 standard VF screen is bright with big split prism but VF in Nikon manul focus cameras (FE2 with standard screen and F2 with DE-1 prism and standard screen) are in the same league IMHO.

 

Having used the R8, SL, SL2, F and F2 I can confirm that the R8/R9 and F/F2 viewfinders are in the same league. The SL/SL2 viewfinder is much better. Subjectively I believe the R8 vibrates less than the Leicaflexes or the F or F2.

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andyedward

andyedward

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Andy, if you finger hovered instead of hitting "buy", and you didn't go for it, I could lend you my spare R8 body so you can see what an ergonomic masterpiece it is.

 

Cheers,John

 

Thanks for your very generous offer, John, but I'll buy the R9 tomorrow. I'm sure it will be perfect for my needs

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hamey

hamey

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Been using most of the Leica R's for a long time, SL, R3, R4, R7's, R8 and the R9.

 

Loved them all, but the R8 and R9 is what I mostly use now.

 

Always wanted a Nikon F6, bought one, got very disapointed with it so I took it back.

My personal opinion, I prefer the R8/9.

 

Superb machines.

 

Ken.

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