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R9-DMR preparation

JasonSF

By JasonSF
in Digital Forum

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Well, after some of the discussions on here about R9-DMR. On friday I decided to buy one. So when i return from the office today it will be there waiting for me. I already have 80mm 1.4 and 180mm 2.8 lenses that I have been using with the digilux3.

 

So, here goes. I use Aperture (mac application). I do not see the DMR on the list of supported RAW files. Is there a way to get this to work?

 

Do I need to do firmware updates? Are these on the body or the DMR? Does anyone know if they are still available as the DMR is discontinued. Is there anything else I need to know?

 

I am hoping I enjoy it as much a I do the D-3 with R lens, I also bought an SF24D flash which I am told will work perfectly on R9-DMR.

 

Thanks

 

Jason

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psquared

psquared

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Jason,

 

Welcome to the club! I think you're in for a treat. Wait til you look through the viewfinder. It must feel huge compared to that of Digilux 3. (I imagine, because I never looked throught a D-3 viewfinder. :) )

 

As far as Aperture is concerned, Sandy McGuffog has created a neat solution for the DMR raw files: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/33185-solution-dmr-files-aperture-dmr2m8.html.

 

You can go here and download the latest firmware (v1.3), which goes on the DMR. The R9 should work with the DMR out of the box.

 

You have fantastic lenses to start with.

 

Enjoy!

 

Peter

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graeme_clarke

graeme_clarke

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Hello Jason,

 

Its a superb outfit.

 

Charge the battery before you start to mount the back and battery/motor unit onto the camera.

 

Then make sure all the electrical contacts are clean When you remove the film back and the original battery holder, carefully clean the gold contacts with a small pencil rubber. Remove the lens and old focusing screen - and CAREFULLY blow the mirror and pentaprism clean before installing the new focusing screen and remounting a lens.

 

Then clean the contacts on the DMR and blow them clean making sure none of the dust gets into the camera. Carefully mount the DMR back, remove the protective cover from the sensor, and close the back, then push the DMR base unit in and settle all the contacts firmly before tightening the locking screw.

 

Install the memory card and battery and switch on. Go through the menu and use the control wheel to make the settings you want, then off you go. The menu will tell you the firmware installed - you will find v1.1 is fine, and v1.3, the latest, even better for high ISO use. Most of us didn't use v1.2. If you need v1.3, it can be downloaded from the Leica website - simply follow the instructions.

 

One other piece of advice - from bitter experience never let the battery die when the camera is switched on. You may lose a lot of shots from the card if the battery dies when the camera is writing to the card, or even corrupt the card. Always have a spare battery, and change it before its too late! I only get about 100 raw shots with some chimping from a single charge.

 

You'll be amazed at the quality of the images.

 

Enjoy it.

 

Graeme

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jlancasterd

jlancasterd

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Jason

 

If you intend to use the R9/DMR for general photography, can I recommend the 28-90 Vario-Elmarit f2.8-4.0? Although slightly on the heavy side, it is a lovely lens to work with.

 

For wider work the 21-35 Vario-Elmar f3.5-4.5 is also excellent

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Jason

 

If you intend to use the R9/DMR for general photography, can I recommend the 28-90 Vario-Elmarit f2.8-4.0? Although slightly on the heavy side, it is a lovely lens to work with.

 

For wider work the 21-35 Vario-Elmar f3.5-4.5 is also excellent

 

Thanks John,

 

I will no doubt be onto my favourite Leica dealer by the weekend for some more lenses. Assuming I can get the DMR aperture fix working :D

 

Jason

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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HHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!!!!

 

Trouble sorting aperture plist.

 

OK, I have downloaded the txt file and plist editor.

 

I am looking here /System/Library/CoreServices/RawCamera.bundle/Contents/Resources/Raw.plist.

 

I can only get as far as RawCamera.bundle (which is a lego piece icon). It is not a folder. I am running Leopard and have all the latest updates installed.

 

Any help much appreciated as I am sure I will be shooting some pics tonight of the kids et al and wil want to see the results.

 

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

 

As far as I am aware, the shop were going to fit the DMR back for me before it went in the post.

 

Cheers

 

Jason

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stuny

stuny

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Jason -

 

Jason -

 

If you don't get the Aperture RAW issue sorted out before you absolutely can't wait to shoot and see reuslts, make sure you have firmware 1.3 installed and shoot jpeg -- 1.3 significantly improves jpeg. Once you have Aperture sorted out you can begin seeing the advantages of RAW.

 

Congratulations.

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Thanks,

 

I will do the firmware update as soon as I unpack it! I would rather shoot raw though as this allows you to change the white balance. I use this frequently and shoot in raw on my D-3.

 

I am amazed apple did not support the DMR when they did the M8.

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dfarkas

dfarkas

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Good luck with your new DMR.

 

As far as battery life goes, I get more like 250 shots on a charge. You absolutely need a second battery.

 

You'll love the LCD. Even though it is quite small by today's standards it is still the only LCD that you can see clearly in bright daylight.

 

Is there any reason you wouldn't consider C1? The quality of the conversions from C1 are propably the best with the least amount of work. I'm sure others here can attest to that. LR also works nicely. My guess with Aperture not supporting DMR is that the camera is no longer manufactured and the install base is small (<10,000). Just economics.

 

For future lenses, some of my favorites are: 19, 28, 35 cron, 50 lux, 60 macro, 100 macro, 90 APO. You already have the 180 APO, which is phenomenal. Good luck.

 

David

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Well, I have it! I forgot, they also had my office address and it was delivered here. It is not sitting on the desk beside me. And guess what! No instructions for the R9. Just the DMR.

 

So I have no idea what most of the buttons do! :D

 

Time to download a PDF me thinks! I will post some pics if I get the thing working!

 

Thanks again to everyone!

 

Jason

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robsteve

robsteve

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Jason:

 

The only thing that you need to know regarding the buttons on the R9 is not to move the rewind/multiexposure lever under the wind lever. This is intended for film use and if you engage it, you will have to dismount the DMR to reset the R9 advance to work properly with the DMR.

 

Robert

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Jason:

 

The only thing that you need to know regarding the buttons on the R9 is not to move the rewind/multiexposure lever under the wind lever. This is intended for film use and if you engage it, you will have to dismount the DMR to reset the R9 advance to work properly with the DMR.

 

Robert

 

Ahh, I have detached the DMR and re-attached it and now after taking a pic it sounds like it winds, like a good old film camera. I think I may have tried that switch. ooops

 

Thanks

 

Jason

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JasonSF

JasonSF

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Jason, congratulations! How is it working? As others have stated a second battery is a must.

 

well, it is not working very well. I guess I have been used to things that just work!

 

I have borrowed a card reader as the DMR does not communicate with computers directly!

 

The images are 156x102 pixels. which I thought was very small for a 17MB file!

 

But on the upside I have updated the firmware to 1.3 :D

 

My views so far would be sell your DMR and buy a D-3. As it actually works in the modern world!

 

For me to keep using the DMR and shoot RAW I may have to re-install an earlier version of my Mac OS and use a different application for photos. I use aperture for all my cameras which is GREAT! Not forgetting buying a card reader which is just more stuff to lug about.

 

At the moment, not impressed at all. Tonight I am going to shoot a few portraits with both DMR and digilux3 both using same R lens. I think the results would have to be significant for me to bother keeping the large, unfriendly, heavy outdated non-AF DMR. But we will see. I may well be eating my words after seeing the pics. As I will not be able to see RAWS, should I shoot TIFF or jpeg?

 

Thanks

 

Jason

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stunsworth

stunsworth

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The images are 156x102 pixels. which I thought was very small for a 17MB file!

 

My views so far would be sell your DMR and buy a D-3. As it actually works in the modern world!

 

Sounds like you're looking at a thumb nail of some kind.

 

There are a number of DMR users here, but I'd doubt that many (or any) of them would see an 'upgrade' to a D-3 as a positive thing <grin>.

 

If you have specific questions I'm sure you'll get a response. I don't use a DMR, but it's an option I've considered for a while.

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dfarkas

dfarkas

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Jason,

 

Save yourslef some trouble and just download Capture One v4 Beta2 from the Phase One website. It is free, fast and reads DMR files without a fuss.

 

Regarding your aestetic concerns... you will find that the R9/DMR combo is so elegant in its simplicity and usability without having to dig through endless menus, submenus and inch-thick manuals. The camera is also quite ergonomic in its handling. It is a camera that wants to be picked up, held and used all day.

 

And yes, once you see the results (especially at 100% or in a big print like 20x30) you will just be amazed.

 

David

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