Leica R8 power on

[Suheel]

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Hello,

I have just managed to get hold of a Leica R8. The camera looks in very good condition and don't think has ever been used. I just replaced the batteries and tried powering it on- Nothing happened. Can someone please advise?

Thank you

Suheel

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[dkCambridgeshire]

Do you have the instructions manual? See page 9 ref automatic battery control. Are batteries OK? Try cleaning battery terminals with iso propyl alcohol. 

[Suheel]

Thank you for the reply.

I just happened to find this camera by chance. I'm a Neurosurgeon and use Leica surgical microscopes. This camera was an attachment for an older microscope which has been decommisioned. Noone had ever used the camera.  

I replaced the old batteries with brand new ones- nothing happened. I tried asking around local camera shops and they couldn't figure it out. They cleaned the contact points- still nothing. 

[dkCambridgeshire]

Leica R8 is an excellent camera. I've no idea why it does not 'power up' after fitting new batteries. Other forum members might have some suggestions. Presumably there was / is a microscope adapter but this should not affect 'power on'. If other forum members have no suggestions you could consider contacting and sending the R8 to Don Goldberg (DAG Camera) who can probably test and advise  but please read his FAQ ref packing https://www.dagcamera.com/faqs.html.  Don is a very well known Leica repairer and has helped many forum members — but note he usually has a backlog of repairs. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by dkCambridgeshire

[Suheel]

Thank you very much. I will contact Dan.

[Suheel]

Hello,

A local person who specializes in film cameras was able to get the R8 working. There was build up of oxidation on one of the battery contact points. 

As an absolute beginner to photography can I please get some lens recommendations? I tried searching but was overwhelmed with all the information out there. Also, what kind of R lens would be suitable? 2 cam, 3 cam or ROM?

Thank you

Suheel

[GregNski]

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I have bought only ROM lenses for my R8. That way you get the full functionality of the camera + lens combo. The 35-70mm f/4 is a very good lens in the "sweet spot" of focal lengths for all-around use, but I have recently fallen in love with the 21-35mm f/3.5-4. It all depends on what you intend to use the camera for.

[dkCambridgeshire]

The R 21-35mm is an excellent lens for the R8 as is the R 35-70/4  .. please do not confuse the 37-70/3.5 with the 35-70/4 ... 35-70/4 is the later and better lens. 

The R 80-200 /4 is anther excellent lens . 

A good guide to R lenses is The Leica Pocket Book 8th Edition which documents performance data including MTF data for all Leica R lenses - but the book is currently out of print and scarce and sells s/h for a premium price. 

BW, dunk 

[dkCambridgeshire]

Another lens to consider is the Leica APO Macro 100/2.8 R ( 1:2 macro capability). with its Elpro 1.1: 1 life size adapter. It's one of the later R lenses (as are the three aforementioned) and is usable at any aperture. 

[Suheel]

Thank you very much for the reply.

Is it safe to buy lenses on ebay?

[hepcat]

23 hours ago, Suheel said:

Hello,

A local person who specializes in film cameras was able to get the R8 working. There was build up of oxidation on one of the battery contact points. 

As an absolute beginner to photography can I please get some lens recommendations? I tried searching but was overwhelmed with all the information out there. Also, what kind of R lens would be suitable? 2 cam, 3 cam or ROM?

Thank you

Suheel

If there's ever a chance that you want to use earlier R bodies, buy three cam lenses.  I don't believe that the ROM only lenses work on anything older than an R8.   Your approach to buying lenses depends on what you intend to photograph with the camera.   The lenses discussed above are good general-use lenses.  I myself am not a fan of zoom lenses, generally speaking, and prefer single focal length primes for a variety of reasons.  Primes are, of course, not as convenient as zooms.   If you're looking for an all-'round snapshot combination, and are looking at primes,  I'd recommend a Summicron 35 and a Summicron 90 as a good start.

Buying on eBay...  I've bought and sold on eBay since 1999.  I've had a few issues over the years, but the vast majority of the transactions have been fine.  I'll say that most sellers are honest.  Most buyers are honest.  There are, of course, some who aren't, so caveat emptor always applies.  Fortunately, as a buyer you have some recourse using eBay, PayPal and/or a credit card that covers those purchases.   Other websites such as Fredmiranda.com's buy and sell are also pretty solid, as sellers have to buy a membership, and other members rate them honestly there as well.  Once again, there are a few unscrupulous folks who work their way in from time to time, but they don't last long and they're few and far between.  Do your homework.  Make sure the photos on the ad back up the ad copy's claims.  Be skeptical.  Ask questions of the sellers.  Ask for more photos if you need them.  

[jrh68uk]

Absolutely agree with what hepcat says about buying lenses on eBay. I've bought all but one of my R lenses there and only had one problem which I was certain would turn out to be a scam but in fact turned out to be a genuine error on the seller's part - for which he profusely apologised. We had a laugh about it afterwards, each convinced that the other was scamming but turned out to be no such thing (we spoke on the 'phone in the end). Scammers and dishonest sellers are out there but the vast majority IME are honest. 

I'm really glad your R8 came to life with a simple contact clean. It's a beautiful camera to use (and to look at!) - so good I recently added a black one to join my chrome one  

So now what types of lens to get... you've had some good recommendations above and I might suggest a 50mm Summicron-R to be a good starting point. The R8 will be fine with ROM lenses, 3-cam and 3rd-only (a.k.a R-only) cam. I'd avoid 2 and 1-cam for fear of damage to the camera's ROM contacts. You will be fine with ROM, 3 or 3rd and any of those lenses can be used safely with R bodies from the R3 onwards (the 2 and 1-cams are for the earlier Leicaflex / SL bodies - those that came before the R3). The benefit of ROM for the R8 is useful but minimal, unless you add a flash and/or digital back. Having said that, I find that ROM IS very useful when I adapt my lenses to my SL Typ601 using the official Leica adapter. You pay a premium for ROM lenses and for me it's worth it (I wish all mine were ROM but two aren't - it's no biggie though).

[Suheel]

Thank you everybody for the useful information. I'm not a photographer but am very excited to try out the camera.

[dkCambridgeshire]

On 9/21/2022 at 6:44 PM, Suheel said:

Thank you very much for the reply.

Is it safe to buy lenses on ebay?

Can be safe to buy on eBay provided you are familiar with any lens' potential faults. All R lenses are now relatively old and could/might be subject to : internal dust, fungus, haze, lens elements' separation, stiff focus, over zealous front / rear element cleaning, and Schneideritis. Be particularly aware of R lenses with stiff focus (especially if stiffness varies with focus ring orientation) which might be indicative of the lens being dropped / suffering impact damage which can distort the focusing helicoid.  Also beware of sticky lens diaphragms which have 'stop down lag'.  Lens elements' separation is indicated by 'Newtons rings' visible when viewed against the light. Schneideritis is a phenomenon caused by the lens elements' edge paint baffling migrating from the edge onto the actual elements (R 19mm Mk II and R Super Angulon 21/4 are prone to this anomaly) . Test any lens on receipt for all the foregoing.  

Edited September 23, 2022 by dkCambridgeshire

[davidmknoble]

I suggest you consider buying a simple summicron 50 f/2 R lens, either 3 cam or ROM.  The ROM do add some advantages in metering, buy minor.  It is a top notch lens that is still made today for a different Leica line (The Leica M line).  

Then, if you get used to it and want to stick with it, branch out to some more specialized lenses.  The 50mm is a great all around lens to learn more about photography.