Are You Giving Up on the R System

[glenerrolrd]

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The M8 has certainly created a renewed interest in Leica entire rangefinder system. After the initial launch of the M8 , many R systems where uncerimoniously dumpted ..to support the desire for new M series glass. Recently all the R glass prices have pulled back..the more exotic and expensive ..not selling at all. Do the DMR users expect that their legacy glass may not be usable on the ..coming R10? Its one thing to shift some or all of your equipment from R to M ......entirely different if you expect Leica to follow a strategy like Hasselblad.

[stunsworth]

I'd expect Leica to make any digital R backwards compatible with the existing system, otherwise the R would be dead in the water. There aren't enough R users out there to support an incompatible system.

[sean_reid]

I would be very surprised if the existing R lenses did not work on a new R body.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest guy_mancuso]

So would i and it would be a big mistake if they did not work

[glenerrolrd]

I expect you are all correct. It seems that very few are adding to their R systems(except for me) and eBay is full of the expensive stuff..which isn t selling. . Besides the obviously ..have to sell to be able to buy logic... essentially no new DMR users has killed the demand. If they create a legacy class for the existing R lens ..they work but not as well as the new ones ....or like Hasselbald ...sure you can use your Zeiss V lenses on an H body ..your lose much of the avantage of the new system. I know there is no answer to this and it will be an interesting product strategy follow. I was just reacting to recent fall off in both demand and pricing in R glass.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Rodger your points are very well taken, i sold my DMR kit and do know what you are saying, it hurt a lot

[cnguyen]

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I have bunch of R lenses and an R8 that I'm keeping. If you read the latest LFI interview with Steven Lee new Leica CEO he's a real R fan owning 5 or 6 leica SLRs with lenses . So yes there's future for Leica R system wait for Photokina 2008.

[spydrxx]

Not giving up on it. Will continue to search out bargains as appropriate.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Yes there will be something for sure and hopefully soon , I just can't have unused gear lying around it makes me crazy, it has to be working and my DMR was just sitting to much after all this M8 stuff. But it still is the love of my DSLR life , no question. It was a business decision for me though and i can't get emotional about gear and working tools.

[Guest stnami]

So yes there's future for Leica R system wait for Photokina 2008

.......................

Leica R will not come today, "but surely to-morrow.".

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.Godot 2000 and something

[jeffwros]

No, not giving up.:

 

[xrogers]

I have no R gear, and have never had it (I got rid of my last film SLR fifteen years ago). I have high hopes for the Leica R, however. If I can stop fiddling with my M system, and if R prices drop enough, I may start collecting R gear in anticipation of an R10...

 

--clyde

[sdai]

I can safely bet now we're talking about a AF camera sporting a new mount ... 16.7MP?

[EH21]

I'm not because all that beautiful R glass works on my canon bodies when I'm not using them on the DMR.

[mgcd]

No AF, no new mount, no need. If it were to happen people like me who have been supporting Rs since the R3 would then give up on the R system for good. However, I have full confidence that Leica will always maintain backward compatibility as it is part of their tradition and one of their USPs.

 

Cheers,

[hamey]

No Never, I love the R lenses, just got the 100mm 2.8 APO Elmarit.

 

Last week I was playing with the Canon 1DS mark-3 at the camera exchange here in Melbourne and it's beautifully made, Focusing is simply Awasome just a mean machine, it's able to take on board Leica R Lenses via an adapter AND MOST IMPORTANTLY it;s 2000$ Aus cheaper the the Leica M8 which is only a very expensive TOY compered to the 1DS-3.

 

So yes there is a very bright future for us Leica R lovers.

 

Oh yes, the newspapers have just ordered 100 of them.

 

Cheers.

[stunsworth]

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY it;s 2000$ Aus cheaper the the Leica M8 which is only a very expensive TOY compered to the 1DS-3

 

To describe the M8 as a toy and indeed compare it to a 1DS-3 is nonsense IMHO. The images I'm getting from my M8 are _outstanding_, the best I've ever had with any camera be it film or digital. The Canon is a totally different camera aimed a a totally different market IMHO.

[bono0272]

No, I won't give up my R gears. No doubt that the new R should be backward compatible to all existing R lenses. M8 should be a good example. I believe most people that own a M8 are existing M-mount lenses users. Who will invest more than EURO 4000 for a rangefinder camera and a lot more on the lenses?

 

Same theory for the new R.

[hdrmd]

Yes, I am giving up on the R System. I sold most of my lenses this week. I really loved the 180mm f3.4 /apo, but it sat in the attic for the last five years.Same for the 15,100macro, 28mm,etc. Excellent lenses, but no good digital body for them. My interest is now with the M8, which despite it's quirks, really delivers a beautiful file. DR

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Hallo,

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[sdai]

Most "current" R lenses (ROM versions) were introduced between 1996-1998 timeframe and due for an upgrade ... a lens mount change doesn't necessarily mean complete abandonment of backward compatibility, perhaps it's just about the addition of electronics.

 

There's absolutely no need to panic and I think it's wise to hang on with the lenses you already have (especially when you're actually using them) till more details reveal but it's certainly not a good idea to put more money into it.

 

We should have no doubt that the new AF lenses will beat the old ones from many aspects if not all of them.