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Hi guys,

 

First off I'm coming from digital to analog land. I want to learn the craft as it was and hopefully utilize that experience to become a better photographer in the future.

 

Anyway long story short I'm a bit confused with compability and what lenses work with what bodies.

 

I'm looking at buying a Leicaflex SL right now that's going at an auction, and they also have a Leitz Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3,5 E60 Nr: 3284602, going at the same time, are these two compatible? I've read posts that suggest they do, but I can't tell for sure.

 

Also a R3 body is going as well but after reading I got the feeling that most users like the Leicaflex more because of the more solid build and viewfinder, but whats the opinion on that here?

 

Anyway I'd appreciate ANY help on this so I don't end up buying stuff that don't go together!

 

Thanks

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Hi guys,

 

First off I'm coming from digital to analog land. I want to learn the craft as it was and hopefully utilize that experience to become a better photographer in the future.

 

Anyway long story short I'm a bit confused with compability and what lenses work with what bodies.

 

I'm looking at buying a Leicaflex SL right now that's going at an auction, and they also have a Leitz Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3,5 E60 Nr: 3284602, going at the same time, are these two compatible? I've read posts that suggest they do, but I can't tell for sure.

 

Also a R3 body is going as well but after reading I got the feeling that most users like the Leicaflex more because of the more solid build and viewfinder, but whats the opinion on that here?

 

Anyway I'd appreciate ANY help on this so I don't end up buying stuff that don't go together!

 

Thanks

 

It's likely that this lens was made in 1983, which almost certainly meas that it is "triple cam" or just possibly "R cam only" (oka "3rd cam only"). The former will work OK with the SL, the latter will not. Either would be OK with the R3. So you need to ensure that the lens is a three cam lens. If you can inspect the lens, look at the bayonet end.. If you can see two chrome circumferential curved "ramps" these are the first and second cams. The 3rd R cam is a black stepped thing inside one of the "ramps".They all move around as the aperture is changed.

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Welcome to the Forum. I will leave the SL/Vario Elmar compatibility issue to more knowledgeable members. On the comparative attractions of the Leicaflex and the R3 (I own both) you might find this recent thread illuminating:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-r-leica-flex/148071-best-performer-leica-r-series.html

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Ok, I understand.

 

Unfortunately the information on the site isn't very specific and I don't think I'll be able to inspect the item before I get it, all I know is that they don't sell stuff that's in poor condition.

 

The only thing I got is a picture: http://i45.tinypic.com/343q5og.png

 

But I guess it doesn't mean anything since we can't see the bottom.

 

I'm not sure how I should do, it feels like a gamble buying the Leicaflex SL and Leitz Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3,5 E60 if they don't go together.

 

Maybe I'm better off with the R3 (these are the only ones I'm able to get now and I think i'll get bargain prices)

 

What do I need to know if I end up getting the R3? Seems to be mixed opinions about it

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If you want the Leicaflex SL, I'd be inclined to take the gamble (but that's just me)! I don't know if it's worth asking the auction house to look at the bayonet end, and see if they can see some "chrome ramps"? An SL may of course want a service, as indeed might an R3. Personally, I've never much liked the shape of the R3, but that's a very personal thing indeed, and doubtless I'll get shot down in flames for that from other Forum members who really like it!

 

On the subject of cams, can I quote from Brian Bower's book Leica Reflex Photography.

 

........ From 1976 to 1988 they were generally (but not always) triple cam, as some, including the 50/2 Summicron, were R cam only. From 1988 lenses were increasingly supplied with R cam only. .....

 

Pity indeed that the picture doesn't show the bayonet end!

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Hi,

 

Can you ask the seller to confirm about the lens, or at least send you a photo of the rear mount?

 

I own an R3 and love it, it's a superb camera. Like most electronic cameras of a certain age however, if something goes wrong then you probably won't be able to repair it (or at least not economically).

 

The SL has the benefit of being fully mechanical (repairable) but isn't without its issues - the prisms are know to suffer from age (yellowish viewfinder due to desilvering) and you may need to have the meter recalibrated to use with modern batteries or buy the special adaptor/batteries.

 

The choice is yours!

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I understand, thanks for the responses thus far!

 

The camera and lenses wont arrive until tuesday for physical showing, meaning I'm going to have to gamble a bit.

 

So if I get the R3 at least, I shouldn't worry about the Leitz Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3,5 E60 Nr: 3284602, not working? But the Leicaflex the chances are slimmer.

 

If the price ends up being right I might end up getting both of them and the lens, but we'll see.

 

Hopefully maybe someone on the forum has this specific lens and can shed some light on this for me.

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A spreadsheet of lens compatibility

1-Cam 2-cam 3-cam 3rd-Cam ROM

Leicaflex Std Y Y Y N N (and lens damage)

Leicaflex SL Y(Stopdown) Y Y N N (and lens damage)

Leicaflex SL2 Y(Stopdown) Y Y Y Y

Leica R3-R7 N N Y Y Y

Leica R8-R9 N (Damage) N (Damage) Y Y Y

 

Jason

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A spreadsheet of lens compatibility

1-Cam 2-cam 3-cam 3rd-Cam ROM

Leicaflex Std Y Y Y N N (and lens damage)

Leicaflex SL Y(Stopdown) Y Y N N (and lens damage)

Leicaflex SL2 Y(Stopdown) Y Y Y Y

Leica R3-R7 N N Y Y Y

Leica R8-R9 N (Damage) N (Damage) Y Y Y

 

Jason

 

Not exactly. 3rd-cam and ROM lenses won't even fit on the Leicaflexes (including the SL2) so lens damage won't happen.

 

The Leicaflex SL can be modified slightly to use many ROM lenses with no damage, and if the 2nd cam is added to the lens full-aperture metering is possible.

 

Several 2- and 3-cam lenses will not fit on the Leicaflex Standard or SL because mirror box clearance specifications changed beginning with the SL2.

 

R3 through R7 cameras can use 1- and 2-cam lenses with either separate light metering or stop-down metering and exposure compensation.

Edited by wildlightphoto
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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi,

 

Quick update, I never bid any more on the cameras because the prices skyrocketed.

 

However, I just won a Leicaflex SL with a Summicron R 50MM 1:2 objective for 200€ in mint condition! The guy spelt Summicron with a M in the end so I think he lost a lot of visitors on this page because of that and I snapped it up.

 

What do you guys think about my acquisition?

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Well if I understood you correctly after looking it's a two cam :-)

 

Could someone bother to just shortly explain if I buy some ISO 400 black and white film, how I should film speed index? I don't really get this ASA and DIN stuff. I know there's probably tons of info on the net but I thought it might be okay to ask here since we're discussing this particular model.

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Actually I think I maybe got it, if i got the ilford delta 400, the ASA should simply be 200 and the din value would be 24?

 

Correction for the 400 it should have been 400 = 27

Edited by patrikf
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Yes the old ASA translated to DIN as you thought it did. Roughly speaking, a doubling of the ASA rating means that the film requires one stop smaller aperture or doubling the shutrer speed under the same conditions. This corresponds to adding three to the DIN value (DIN is a logarithmic scale). So ASA 100 = DIN 21, ASA 200 = DIN 24, ASA 400 = DIN 27 and so on. These older systems were (after several iterations) rationalised into the ISO system. People usually just regard ASA and ISO as the same, but actually the ISO rating combines both ASA and DIN figures, for example ISO 400/27.

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