Servicing R cameras: the end of the story for R8 and R9

[leicapages]

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On 10/22/2018 at 2:33 PM, hamey said:

Since Leica discontinued with the R system,  I no longer buy anything Leica, however once silly me bought the M240, but got rid off that piece of junk.

I have used the LEICA R  since 1972 and simply loved the system, but now I have lost faith in this company.

I understand you fully. After Leica rendered my large R inventory of cameras and lenses largely obsolete, I no longer bought any further Leica item for some years.

That is, until the bug was biting me again...

But the demise of the R and the way loyal customers were treated towards the end (by not providing correct and honest information in good time) left me, and many others apparently as well, with a bitter feeling. At some point I have been fearing a similar faith to S users (of which I am one) and that would be the final straw. Luckily there are signs that the S series continue to be developed.

[PFM]

On 10/22/2018 at 6:54 PM, ramarren said:

I wonder how Contax SLR owners feel?

Pretty much disappointed that the 139 Q  will sooner or later be a mantelpiece, and there's not much sense in getting an RTS III.  At least I can still use the lenses on many Yashica bodies.

PF

Edited October 24, 2018 by PFM

[thebarnman]

As long as film is still being made, I'll continue to use my R9.  

[fernando_b]

7 hours ago, thebarnman said:

As long as film is still being made, I'll continue to use my R9.  

Same for me, except the camera: R9 -> R8.

[sc_rufctr]

Bad news but it was inevitable. My R8 equipped with a DMR is still running fine but to be honest it's showing its age.

My 6.2 and SL show no signs of giving up any time soon. The real tragedy is the investment in lenses. Should I convert then to a Nikon mount?

[gbealnz]

I figure if the R6.2, or the SL fail, simply find another, plenty available.

Gary

[thebarnman]

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On 10/29/2018 at 4:22 AM, sc_rufctr said:

Bad news but it was inevitable. My R8 equipped with a DMR is still running fine but to be honest it's showing its age.

Showing it's age how?  In digital picture quality or the hardware?  

[hamey]

On 24 October 2018 at 1:46 AM, leicapages said:

I understand you fully. After Leica rendered my large R inventory of cameras and lenses largely obsolete, I no longer bought any further Leica item for some years.

That is, until the bug was biting me again...

But the demise of the R and the way loyal customers were treated towards the end (by not providing correct and honest information in good time) left me, and many others apparently as well, with a bitter feeling. At some point I have been fearing a similar faith to S users (of which I am one) and that would be the final straw. Luckily there are signs that the S series continue to be developed.

Hello Pascal.

I kind of feel sorry for you and many others who invested in the S system, having some friends in the photographic industry,  once informed me that the S system wasn't doing well for Leica, and  to my  surprise  so is the Leica SL.

My dealer had an SL in his front window for over 12 months before he sold it as a loss just to get rid of it, since it's introduction he has only sold two of them.

So I would not be surprised to what and how much Leica offered Panasonic and Sigma to take up the SL mount.

 Personally  I  do like the SL system and would have gladly have bought into the system.

 BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPAL, I have been supporting Leica since 1972, with up to 9 Reflex  bodies and 10 R lenses  as well as some M gear but LEICA HAS ABANDONED MY R GEAR,   so I will RECIPROCATE  in ABANDONING THEM.

I have been recently selling some of my Leica gear, mostly the M System, to make room in my safe for the Fuji X system,  I will keep the Magnificent R's  as I am still using some of them with my slide film  but I am so sad that they have ABANDONED  the R system, they have given my so much enjoyment  over the last 46 years.

THANK YOU LEICA FOR THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

Hamey.

 

 

Edited November 7, 2018 by hamey

[T.E.]

Suffering from the same frustration (R-user since 1988) my position is:

- I keep my R-lenses
- I use my R-bodies for film as long as they will last, however, no money spent on repairs / maintenance
- I do digital work with Sony alpha bodies, using R-lenses and lenses of other brands (e.g. Zeiss) with some 80 % of satisfaction with the alpha bodies
- I will NOT ever invest in any M-, SL-, S- systems

Sorry Leica, you've fooled my once, you won't do it twice.

If the S and SL- series is going down the pipe, well, what can I say ?

Thomas

[hamey]

12 minutes ago, T.E. said:

Suffering from the same frustration (R-user since 1988) my position is:

- I keep my R-lenses
- I use my R-bodies for film as long as they will last, however, no money spent on repairs / maintenance
- I do digital work with Sony alpha bodies, using R-lenses and lenses of other brands (e.g. Zeiss) with some 80 % of satisfaction with the alpha bodies
- I will NOT ever invest in any M-, SL-, S- systems

Sorry Leica, you've fooled my once, you won't do it twice.

If the S and SL- series is going down the pipe, well, what can I say ?

Thomas

You can add me to your list Thomas.

I used my R lenses on the Canon digital bodies however unfortunately  couldn't use my 28-90mm and the 21-35mm on the full frame as the lens shroud would hit the mirror, so

I could only use them on the  crop models, but now we are in luck as Canon  have released their R series, how ironic to call their mirrorless the R system.

And Nikon with their Z system, so our beloved R lenses have a new lease of life.

So it's a matter of time before somebody will release an  R adapter for the Nikon  Z  as I have already got one for the Canon R.

To early to tell on the Panasonic and Sigma models, but I can say one thing, we R uses might have the last laugh after all.

Hamey.

[topoxforddoc]

The price of used R8s is such that it would be cheaper to buy another used body the get a broken one fixed.

[TomB_tx]

I also find the Sony A7 bodies a good digital solution for the R lenses, where the sensor doesn't have to cope with the M wide-angle geometry. I probably would like the SL, but since the A7 works so well for me I'll use that as a digital R. I have working R bodies from the original Leicaflex through R8, so I can continue with film for some time yet.

I've used the M system as my main cameras since 1968, and have been happy with the M9 & M10 - mainly with my legacy lenses that go back to 1934, so I can't complain about Leica too much.

[markc2]

I sold my R8 a long time ago to get a Hasselblad 501cm, but I kept my well used R3 because it was the first camera I ever owned. I will probably get one lens for the R3 just so I can use it again. It's a lot quicker to use than the Hassey 🙂 . R3's seem to be very plentiful and fairly cheap so I have no problem keeping it, and from what I've learned using a manual light meter, I can be that much quicker too! The R8/9 are BEAUTIFUL camera's. It's sad that Leica has sent them packing 😞

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Edited November 8, 2018 by markc2
added picts from R3

[DBAUDUI1]

Honestly, I have a R8 in perfect working order, but do not use it a lot. I will try to keep it as nicely as possible. I prefer using my Leica M5, M4 and M240 anyway.

[TheBestSLIsALeicaflex]

Just FYI -- Here in the USA, I've had good luck with repairs to the Leicaflex SL (from Sherry Krauter).  Expensive but good spare part availability.  

[pgk]

The last R9 was built over 9 years ago. An R3 could easily be over 40 years old. The problem with these cameras is that they are always being compared to contemporary M models which were mostly based on a fully mechanical 1950s design, which was intended to be both serviced and repaired easily. Comparing electronics to mechanicals is difficult because whilst mechanical parts can often be refurbished, repaired or even remade, electronics part usually can't and are obsolete relatively quickly. Sad that R8/9 spares have dried up but when they were being built AF and the digital revolution must have limited production quite severely and spares numbers probably took this into account. Why anyone should give up on Leica because of their experience of electronic cameras failing  surprises me. Electronics fail and often terminally - that's part of 'progress' like it or not.

[kukulitis22]

I am using my R6 and it works perfectly.  And my Olympus OM-1 from 1970ies still work as it should.  Just have to take care of foam.

Going to buy R8 for fun - it goes for around USD 400 or even cheaper in late 2018. If it dies, it would be sad, but not like dropping Summilux on the floor. 

[LucisPictor]

Sitting here, I can see a Leicaflex SL and an R7. Both work fine. If they don't any more one day, I guess I need to accept that.

Even when I can somehow understand the disappointment,  totally turning away from Leica is not understandable for me.

Canon had to quit the FD-system, Leica could not carry on with the R. They did not do it to annoy the users, there were strategic reasons to do that. In both cases.

Camera manufacturers need to survive financially. They are not here to make as many people happy as possible. Even if we all regret that.

 

BTW, an investment in R-lenses was definitely not in vain. Now, that there are several system cameras which can be used to adapt those gems. 

[Keith (M)]

I noticed that Peter Loy (with whom I have no connection other than being a satisfied customer) has for sale:-

Leica R8 body,  black + cap. Condition 3-4/D. Full working order & guaranteed. c.1998

£325.00

 

(Scroll a long way down his stock list!)

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[gbealnz]

It's a bargain Keith, and I've bought from Peter as well, great guy.

Gary