Ruhayat Posted November 21, 2008 Share #1 Posted November 21, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello there, if it were you, which camera would you get for about US$1000: Leica R4 or Leica R5? I'm trying to decide on a camera that will live in my workbag, replacing a Digilux 2 (slightly too big, and it gets warm after extended use) and Olympus E-1 (too big, heavy and won't fit in my work satchel). I shoot for fun, never for commercial gain, prefer to use full manual mode, and my main subject matters are street shots and indoor events, taking candid shots of people more than posed portraits. My main criteria would be: small size, relatively low weight, reliability/repairability, and -- most importantly -- a shutter as quiet as the E-1's, which is the quietest DSLR I have come across so far. From research I have done the smart money seems to be on the R6.2, but that's also a LOT more smart money, although I would consider it if it's really that worth it. Also, where would be a good place to get a used R -- other than fleabay and LUF buy/sell section? Thank you very much for any tips and recommendations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 21, 2008 Posted November 21, 2008 Hi Ruhayat, Take a look here Please help: which Leica R camera would you buy?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
garyp Posted November 21, 2008 Share #2 Posted November 21, 2008 You should not have to pay $1000 for an R4 or R5...that's too much, shop around [i'd get the R5 over the R4 in any case] If I were getting a small body R, then it would be an R4SP, an R6 or an R7, I just prefer those to the others. You could get the R4SP for under 400 and the R6 or R7 for around 800 [maybe less]. KEH is a good place to shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted November 21, 2008 Share #3 Posted November 21, 2008 I'd go for an R6.2. It's by far the most rugged of the small-body R cameras. Apart from anything else it has a mechanical, rather than electronic, shutter and can therefore still be used even if the battery dies. Ffordes in Scotland (https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm) have two for sale at £600 ($900) at the moment. If you want the convenience of an electronic shutter, then the R7 is better (more reliable, more sophisticated flash capability) than either the R4 or R5. R7s are going for as little as £300 ($450) in UK at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted November 21, 2008 Share #4 Posted November 21, 2008 Stay away from both the R4 and R5 for various reasons the least of which they shake because there is no mirror arrestor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 22, 2008 Share #5 Posted November 22, 2008 A thousand dollars? You can have my R4 for a thousand dollars if you want For that kind of money, insist on an R6.2, and have the best R prior to an R8 (which will be less money) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted November 22, 2008 Ah yes, I just made a visit to KEH, and it seems I could now pick up THREE R4's for the price (or a single R6.2). Thanks for the suggestion to check out the R4S -- it does seem to be the right one for me, with aperture priority in the event I might need it and not much else beside. I think I will get one R4S and one R3 just to see how the bigger body does. I prefer my cameras basic, but perhaps saving up for an M would be better than spending it all on an all-manual R6 after all. Thanks so much for the helpful pointers. This is a brilliant forum! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted November 22, 2008 Share #7 Posted November 22, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) The R6 isn't all manual, but the R6.2 is the last all mechanical R All Rs, from the R4 upwards (and probably the R3 too) have spot and average metering, and a program mode too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
haris Posted November 22, 2008 Share #8 Posted November 22, 2008 Sebastio Salgado use (or used) R6 (and I am not sure, but I think R6.2 too). If it is (was) good for him, it is good for most of us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirror Posted November 22, 2008 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2008 The R6 isn't all manual, but the R6.2 is the last all mechanical R All Rs, from the R4 upwards (and probably the R3 too) have spot and average metering, and a program mode too. Program mode in R6. Automatic exposure in mechanical body. Too strange! Photoethnography.com - Classic Cameras Yes, R3 have a spot area metering too. Not real spotmeter but larger marked area - as usual in integrated body meters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 22, 2008 Share #10 Posted November 22, 2008 I have an R3, lovely camera and a bargain although prices for good ones are now higher than R4/5's. It has IMHO a much nicer shutter 'feel' - its aperture priority or manual (no program mode) with average and spot metering (the central round prism area is the spot metering area). For my money I'd buy another R3 or I'd jump to the R6/6.2, 8 & 9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrj Posted November 22, 2008 Share #11 Posted November 22, 2008 I have an R3, lovely camera and a bargain although prices for good ones are now higher than R4/5's. It has IMHO a much nicer shutter 'feel' - its aperture priority or manual (no program mode) with average and spot metering (the central round prism area is the spot metering area). For my money I'd buy another R3 or I'd jump to the R6/6.2, 8 & 9. I bought an R6 recently and its an excellent camera - small and with a good viewfinder. It is an all mechanical camera like the R6.2, and with circuitry for TTL flash and average or spot metering. However you can use it without any of the electronics if you want. Its cheaper than the R6.2, the difference is in the top shutter speed, 1/1000 rather than 1/2000. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share #12 Posted November 22, 2008 From the Photoethnography site: "Many now think the R6 and its slightly updated sibling, the R6.2, are the best mechanical SLRs ever produced, ever." Gosh darn it... just when I thought I had my decision sewn up. Hmm. Get a single R6.2, or go for R4S + R3 and have cash left over for possible future film M? Either way, film cameras are the best bargains of the digital era, surely! I'm getting a bit tired of gratuitious shooting due to the (relatively) zero cost of digital files; it's just too easy to come home with 100+ frames per event. Thanks again for the additional thoughts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 22, 2008 Share #13 Posted November 22, 2008 Have you tried any of them? I would suggest handling them all and choose the one which feels best for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted November 22, 2008 Share #14 Posted November 22, 2008 Sebastio Salgado use (or used) R6 (and I am not sure, but I think R6.2 too). If it is (was) good for him, it is good for most of us. Extremely false logic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 22, 2008 Share #15 Posted November 22, 2008 Indeed, Ansel Adams used a 10X8 camera, it'd be no good for me though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share #16 Posted November 22, 2008 Have you tried any of them? I would suggest handling them all and choose the one which feels best for you. No, afraid not. They are not common here in Malaysia, and when they do appear the prices tend to be overblown. So I will have to buy sight unseen from either the US or Australia and hope for the best. I usually buy Mac stuff this way though, and since the R prices are pretty low, I'm not too concerned. At any rate, I could have the camera(s) serviced by the local distributors. I'm getting an Olympus OM1n this weekend with Zuiko 50mm/1.8 lens, which I like the look of for B&W portraits. But for colour I much prefer what I have seen rendered by the R, especially with an Elmarit lens. So I think I will get both the R4S and R3, and then sell off the one that doesn't work for me. Mind you, I have a feeling I'll end up just keeping the lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
storybrown Posted November 22, 2008 Share #17 Posted November 22, 2008 You won't miss with any of them. I think I would go with the R4sP & gradually invest in R lenses Later, if you want, you can always get a R6 or 6.2 to use with the lenses you'll have. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antistatic Posted November 22, 2008 Share #18 Posted November 22, 2008 If you are thinking of buying from Australia, The Camera Exchange (my only affiliation is as a satisfied customer) in Melbourne had a lovely looking R6.2 when I was there last month. I don't remember the price. I was sorely tempted but I don't need another lens system in my life Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share #19 Posted November 23, 2008 You won't miss with any of them. I think I would go with the R4sP & gradually invest in R lenses Later, if you want, you can always get a R6 or 6.2 to use with the lenses you'll have. Good luck! Thanks. I plan to have just a 3 lens set; nice and easy to carry everywhere. Right now I already have a 50mm Summicron and a 28mm Elmarit. For some reason I prefer the rendering of the latter to the 'Cron. So I might get a 90mm or 100mm Summicron next, and then sell off the 50mm, replacing it with a 60mm Macro Elmarit or even 50mm Summilux depending on how much I have left after rent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share #20 Posted November 23, 2008 If you are thinking of buying from Australia, The Camera Exchange (my only affiliation is as a satisfied customer) in Melbourne had a lovely looking R6.2 when I was there last month. I don't remember the price. I was sorely tempted but I don't need another lens system in my life Camera Exchange... I think that was the online store I was eyeing a couple of weeks ago, and then forgot what it was called. Thanks for reminding me. The prices of the R lenses there are about AUD200 cheaper than what I got here, which is pretty significant when you convert to Malaysian Ringgit. I have a friend who lives there, so he could inspect the item(s) for me first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.