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Alternative options for R8 service?


andybarton

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I suspect that I am on a hiding to nothing here, but I have just received a quotation from Solms to repair the faulty meter on my R8, which is more than the cost of an E++ model, retail.

 

Is there anyone else "out there" who can service R8s / R9s, or does the fact that it needs a new part mean that I am stuck with the quote I have?

 

Thanks.

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Thanks guys - trying to stay positive about this here...

 

It just cost me over £200 to get my Pradovit P600 repaired, back to Solms apparently via Inverness and Milton Keynes, I could buy a Carousel on Ebay for half that with a range of lenses (but not a Colorplan of course!!)

 

Gerry :(

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Console yourself it isn't an M8 getting a bit damp.

 

I was looking at the R8 bodies at Ffordes the other day and, I have to say, they do seem absurdly cheap (£449 for a mint- chrome one). Especially so when you consider the cost of a new R9. Is there really such little demand for Leica film SLRs these days?

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Yes... No forward path any more, you see. Why buy into a dead end product line?

 

They have an R9 Exc++ there for £750 too, and my local dealer is about to get a Mint R8 in next week that may suit.

 

Tempting to get rid of the whole bloody lot though.

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Console yourself it isn't an M8 getting a bit damp.

 

I was looking at the R8 bodies at Ffordes the other day and, I have to say, they do seem absurdly cheap (£449 for a mint- chrome one). Especially so when you consider the cost of a new R9. Is there really such little demand for Leica film SLRs these days?

 

 

Only £395 here for an Exc++ R8 http://www.photodesignstudio.co.uk/pdf/advert.pdf

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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Andy, hang on until next week. The S2 or whatever isn't the followup, but at the same time Leica is meant to announce the next R camera and explain the direction. I just picked up an 180/2 so I believe that there will be something interesting one day.

 

Btw, having the 180/2, but not wanting to get a R9/DMR combo, what are some suggestions for a camera which can hold me over until the R10 comes out? Where can I read more about the Leica R -> Nikon adapter? A D300 might be good.

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Btw, having the 180/2, but not wanting to get a R9/DMR combo, what are some suggestions for a camera which can hold me over until the R10 comes out? Where can I read more about the Leica R -> Nikon adapter? A D300 might be good.

 

Digilux 3. The Nikon-R converter seem to include changing the bayonet on the 180mm !!!! so that it wouldn't fit an R.

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Andy,

 

How much was the quote?

 

I'm currently using my R8 with the DMR as my R9 lightmeter went dead. In many ways I actually prefer the R8 (because I hate to have to use two hands to shift from M to A on the R9 which I do a great deal).

 

One thing I haven't tested is if the R9 was more quiet than the R8. Hmm ... Will check later when I get all cameras into the office again.

 

I might consider having Solms change the R8 into an R9 sign, just for vanity ;-)

 

But dumping the whole lot. Year, I feel with you. But now that NO ONE will be using R, it will be very exotic and exclusive in an almost royal class to be an R user. And probably less expensive lens-wise.

 

;-)

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This is the quote. It's the lightmeter that went dead on the R8, and this is the result.

 

Still trying to stay positive, but if R9 meters go too (IIRC, Robsteve had one go too) then there's a generic fault with it, that means it can happen again.

 

 

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Digilux 3. The Nikon-R converter seem to include changing the bayonet on the 180mm !!!! so that it wouldn't fit an R.

 

I don't want a crop factor of 2! 180mm is long enough, and the primary use will be portraits. 1.5x crop is already too much, but to get less I would need either 1) DMR (1.37x), 2) 1DmkII (or N or III) (1.3x) or 3) 5D, 1Ds mk I-III, D700, D3.

 

All of those cost more than I am willing to pay, considering that I am saving up for an R10 whenever it comes out. Hence I thought of a D300. I don't mind having to swap out the bayonet, as long as the process retains all original pieces unmodified, so that I can reverse it.

 

Anyway, unless the Nikon adapter is ready and I find a great deal on a nice digital Nikon, I will just get an R8, and shoot film for a while. Any recommendations for a nice portrait film, B&W or colour?

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Well, like Andy, I am looking at an R8 :) Who knows what comes after that. Maybe one day I will have a little more cash and will stumble into a really well kept DMR for less than 2000EUR. And the R10 is too far away. Then I will not be able to resist. But I really want FF.

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R10? Might be a good idea to stop calling them 'R" cameras .. if it is going to be a pure digital SLR then DR might be more appropriate eg DR 1 ... but whatever is in the pipeline will have a model ref. allocated to it by now ... just hope is not called R10

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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Try Kindermann Canada. They replaced meters in both my R8 bodies. It'll run around 500 US, but you'll have a top performing body and won't have the worry about what'll happen if you pick up another used body.

Ask to speak to Gerry Smith or Gary Perry, they are nice and knowledgeable guys.

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