Leica R digital - any news? With TTL flash compatability?

[jimbo-drummond]

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Hi everyone,

 

I am new to this forum. I joined to see if any one has heard any news about a replacement for the Leica R digtal back; the DMR. Has anyone heard any rumours yet?

 

Will Leica replace the digital back or come out with an all new digital body, an R-X. Personally I really like the concept of a digital back to a film camera.

 

I have heard discussions of auto-focus but I think that would be more suited to a D-system solution where there is already image stabilisation; a Digilux 4. Full frame would be good (but not essential to me) but I believe this could not be fitted into the space available where the DMR sensor sat (within the shutter aperture of teh film camera.)

 

I hope Leica can resolve the problem of not being able to flash meter off the sensor through the lens. This is a really useful feature of the R8/9 when using a ring-flash and macro lens.

 

(I own the Minolta ring-flash and Leica RBA-adapter kit that was designed to give TTL flash metering on an R5 camera with macro lens such the E60 Apo-Macro 100mm lens, but would like to use this set up digitally too.)

 

Two questions... any thoughts/comments?

 

James.

[robsteve]

James:

 

The earlier TTL flash for the R7 and earlier cameras was not compatible with the R8 or R9. The F mode flash metering still works on the DMR. This would be applicable if your ring flash uses was with more static objects. You could meter in the F mode to find the proper setting of your ring flash. In the age of digital though, this mode is not as useful becuase you can always look at the histogram of the file and adjust accordingly.

 

Robert

[jimbo-drummond]

Hi Robert,

 

Thanks. If the F-mode does work with the DMR that is great news. I understood it not to work. Have you used this function?

 

Anyway thanks again for the explanation.

 

James.

[leicamr]

Yes the 'F' mode does work with the DMR. I agree with above that when using a DMR you can check the histogram, but the 'F' mode is a quicker method as it will indicate +/- half f stop increments in the rear display. Then adjust the aperture and / or flash output to null the measured value. The f stop values are quicker to decifer than the histogram. The histogram will indicate over and under exposure OK, but you don't always know by how much.

 

'F' mode, neat and sweet!

 

Mark

[robsteve]

Yes, the F mode or built in flash metering modes of the R8/R9 work when a DMR is mounted. This mode did not meter off the film, just used a sensor in the mirror box, so the DMR does not affect its function.

 

I have used it, but will use the histogram most of the time. I don't think it displays the flash metering on the DMR, but only in the finder. With the film back, the metering is also displayed on the LCD on the film back.

 

Robert