Hello and Question

[kenneth]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi Tony and welcome. Leica has a test drive program going so if you have a local dealer that has a Leica distributorship you can take out an M8 and lens for a trial and get a idea of how you like rangefinder photography before you buy.

 

I am not sure we should assume that Tony wants to go down the digital or rangefinder route. It would be a big leap to go from a Nikon F2 to an M8. I would like to know what type of photography Tony plans to do first and foremost but I totally agree that to tie in with a dealer and take one or two cameras out for test is a very sound idea

[Cadfael_tex]

Looks like an R body would be the place for me to start. The R3 looks like the least expensive place to begin but I've read in another general photography forum that it isn't good. Is this true? What would be the best bang for the buck (lower cost) R body to get into Leica?

 

I think I've got a picture of what the advantages of the M bodies are - simple, lack of mirror flap, small. It seems that they are very good for spur of the moment street type photography and maybe less adept and things at the long end of the focal range. Do I have a correct assesment of them?

[kenneth]

Tony

 

I had an R3 Electronic MOT fitted with a 50mm F2 Summicron and was very happy (1984) I mainly used colour reversal film and at that time I think the film was Kodakchrome 50 asa. My main subject matter were mountain landscape.

 

I am just in the process of buying an R8. Although this camera has the option of a digital back I will only use it, should I proceed and buy it, in film mode with Fuji Velvia 50 asa and Ilford B&W

 

A boxed R8 body can be had for about £500 which I think is super value when you compare it to the price new

 

Hope this helps

[kenneth]

Tony

 

Apologies for a senior moment. I have just remembered when I was in Dale Photographic in Leeds negotiating the purchase of my R8 they had an R4 with a 50mm Summicron F2 in extremely good condition for £250 that they were selling as a commission sale. The guys on this forum will tell you about the pros and cons of the R4 as I have no experience of that particular model but it might be worth checking out

[wildlightphoto]

Looks like an R body would be the place for me to start. The R3 looks like the least expensive place to begin but I've read in another general photography forum that it isn't good. Is this true? What would be the best bang for the buck (lower cost) R body to get into Leica?

 

This depends on what kind of bang you're looking for. The R3 and newer bodies can use all the latest lenses without modification and have numerous handy features, while the older Leicaflex SL gives much more "Leica"-like sensory feedback and has a viewfinder that others have yet to equal.

 

I think I've got a picture of what the advantages of the M bodies are - simple, lack of mirror flap, small. It seems that they are very good for spur of the moment street type photography and maybe less adept and things at the long end of the focal range. Do I have a correct assesment of them?

 

Pretty much. An accessory mirror housing was made a number of years ago that allows one to use longer lenses or for close focus, but it's somewhat clumsy compared with an SLR camera and the lenses available for the Visoflex are not modern computations.