j. white Posted March 20, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 20, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am contemplating getting an R body to shoot alongside a film M camera. The main uses would be as a walk around camera as well as one that can comfortably be shot with mid-to-long telephoto lenses. I've narrowed my choices down to the R6.2 and the R8 with a few positives and negatives on either side: R6.2 + Smaller body size + Totally mechanical operation (minus meter and TTL functions, of course) means in all likelihood a longer serviceable lifetime + Possibly the closest thing there is to an SLR version of the M6 - Flash circuit incompatible with SF-24D (I already own one) - Smaller viewfinder than R8 (?) R8 + Awesome viewfinder (I've never seen an SL-series) + Thoroughly modern features (high max shutter speed/sync speed, etc.) + Compatible with my existing flash + Can be found in fine shape for less cash outlay than an R6.2 - It's huge - It's heavy - It's completely battery dependent While I know that no one can make up my mind other than me, I'd love to hear from others who've made a similar choice. What was your experience in weighing the options? What have you learned since purchasing the camera? Many thanks, -J. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 20, 2009 Posted March 20, 2009 Hi j. white, Take a look here R6.2 or R8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted March 20, 2009 Share #2 Posted March 20, 2009 I have an R4 and an R8 The latter isn't THAT huge, and the former is not far off the size of an M. The viewfinder on the R8 is much, much better than on the R4 and it is very comfortable to hold and use, despite its apparent "bulk". Its balance is better if used with a wider. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted March 20, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 20, 2009 You're being far too logical about it. Which one does your gut tell you to get? Deciding what Leica to get is more of a right brained thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted March 20, 2009 Share #4 Posted March 20, 2009 I have both an R9 and an R6.2. I go back and forth between the two. Actually, it is not the R9 that feels "big" but rather the R6.2 that feels "small"! An argument for the R8 (or R9) is that the price of a 2nd hand DMR might come down dramatically when (I hope it's not if) the R10 comes out. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. white Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted March 20, 2009 The viewfinder on the R8 is much, much better than on the R4 and it is very comfortable to hold and use, despite its apparent "bulk". You're being far too logical about it. Which one does your gut tell you to get? Deciding what Leica to get is more of a right brained thing. Those are great points, (although logic does have a place in the decision, doesn't it?). I actually haven't handled either and imagine that will likely be the deciding factor. I have both an R9 and an R6.2. I go back and forth between the two. Actually, it is not the R9 that feels "big" but rather the R6.2 that feels "small"! An argument for the R8 (or R9) is that the price of a 2nd hand DMR might come down dramatically when (I hope it's not if) the R10 comes out. Guy I've thought about the DMR possibilities too. If handling doesn't tip the scales away from the R8, this is definitely another plus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted March 20, 2009 Share #6 Posted March 20, 2009 I've used/owned the R8 and R6.2 and between the two, I found the R8 a more enjoyable camera to use. I was in fact a little disappointed with the R6.2, as I found my SL/SL2 mots much more enjoyable and easier to use. The finders in both were fine - though the R8 was 'better' for me. As for the size - the R8 is big but fit my hands. Eventually, I sold the R6.2 because of the finder display and shutter. I liked the 'contemplative' design of the finder in the 'Flex's - especially the the SL2 - the finder meter-loop was enjoyable instead of the diode display of the 6. Plus, the 'Flex shutter was more 'variable' in it's timing between settings than the 6 and it was a horizontal traveling shutter which I found better for 'motion studies'. So, after all that drivel, I'd recommend the R8/R9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
holgerf Posted March 20, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 20, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Before I bought my M8 in 2006 I shot with M6 as RF and Canon equipment as SLR. From that moment I barely used the SLRs any more. BUT this week I bought the R9 which is now my first experience with Leica SLRs. I always liked the design and form factor of the R9 but never intended to switch my SLR system. Now I just bought it because of the very low price (body € 1.190) just to own this wonderful piece and use it occasionally. My first experience: excellent handling, partially better than M-Series. Very easy to hold and operate. The viewfinder is really big and bright. From the perspective of analogue photography it has everything you need and abstains from all zillions of options and adjustments the „modern“ cameras are so overloaded with. Don’t know the R6.2 but am really thrilled with the R8. Good luck with your decision! Best Holger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted March 20, 2009 Share #8 Posted March 20, 2009 Yes, the R8 finder is high-eyepoint and better then the R6.2, but that doesn't mean the R6.2 is bad in that regard. The R6.2's viewfinder is far better then what is in a Nikon FM2N or FM3a, for example. One of the things I've noticed on my new R6.2 is that my big hands feel crowded on the body. The R6.2 is the same size as an M (except the M5), but the lens mount is wider, pushing your fingers to the side a little. For a walking around/travel camera, the R6.2 gets the nod for its' size and weight. For nature photography, the R8 -- with that bright viewfinder -- might be the better option. Something to consider: I've seen some crazy, insane prices on new R9s lately, some selling for a whopping 65% or so off list ($1500 US). There might not be one correct answer here. They are both good cameras, but different. Sometimes w/ Leica you just have to get it and see if it works for you. If it doesn't sell it, and get the other. It's hard, w/o actually using the equipment, to think in the abstract which will be best. But do see if you can go hold them in your hands before purchase. Sometimes that's all it takes to know which is best. Maybe you can purchase with return privileges, so that if you get one and say 'I don't like it,' you can then send it back. Also ask yourself whether you're a mechanical guy or an automated guy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted March 20, 2009 Share #9 Posted March 20, 2009 I have both. They are two very different beasts. The R8 is brilliant at what it does. It's biggest problem is size and weight and the indents on the shutter speed dial should be a lot, lot stiffer. I also wish it was sealed against moisture and dust. The R6.2 has almost everything I want in a mechanical SLR, but may have one of the worst shutter releases on the planet. Even after DAG adjusted mine, the distance the shutter release has to travel is several milimeters, making it feel very mushy. It's a struggle to nail the decisive moment, even with a soft release. Otherwise it's one of the best cameras I've owned. If the shutter release could be fixed and it had a removable prism like a Nikon F, it would be unbeatable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted March 20, 2009 Share #10 Posted March 20, 2009 Never owned an R6.2. But I have owned R3, R4, R4sP, R5, R6, R7, R8, and SL bodies. Knowing what I know now, the SL and the R8 are the best of the lot [for me] and is what I've been using for the last 5 years. The small bodied ones are great just for that reason: less weight and volume to carry around, after that the R8 and SL win hands down for me. In terms of reliability you never know. The SL has been the most dependable, but I also had an R4 which lasted 7 years with no problems whatsoever before I traded it for something else. I agree with Thrid about the shutter release on the R6 series. I had 3 R6 bodies at one time or another and they all had way too much shutter lag. The R7, R8, and SL are much better. If I were going for a small bodied R it would probably be the R7: newer electronics, better shutter release, half-stop increments for shutter speeds, etc, etc. Good luck with a tough decision Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted March 20, 2009 Share #11 Posted March 20, 2009 I agree with Thrid about the shutter release on the R6 series. I had 3 R6 bodies at one time or another and they all had way too much shutter lag. The R7, R8, and SL are much better. I know that Salgado shot with R6 and R6.2 bodies for many years, but for the life of me I can't understand how he lived with the mushy shutter release. Who knows, maybe Leica custom adjusted his bodies? It's a real shame. The R6/6.2 are so close to perfect. Very small, great metering, very tough and the viewfinder is absolutely brilliant. But that darn shutterlag ruins it. I wonder if Don could modify the camera somehow, but it would probably cost an arm and a leg to get it done... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted March 20, 2009 Share #12 Posted March 20, 2009 I know that Salgado shot with R6 and R6.2 bodies for many years, but for the life of me I can't understand how he lived with the mushy shutter release. Who knows, maybe Leica custom adjusted his bodies? It's a real shame. The R6/6.2 are so close to perfect. Very small, great metering, very tough and the viewfinder is absolutely brilliant. But that darn shutterlag ruins it. I wonder if Don could modify the camera somehow, but it would probably cost an arm and a leg to get it done... The R9 (has more detents filed into?) it and its worse. Goes between notchy to gritty to maybe Ill let go when I feel like it depending on the environment and the temperature. Youve got to laugh. I dont think Salgado ever bothered with one. Someone said it was the best 35mm studio camera ever invented. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiel Fokkema Posted March 20, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 20, 2009 Hi, I own a R8, SL2 and a R6. I like them all but now only use the R6. The SL2 is too big for me and the exposure meter is not sensitive enough. The vf is the brightest and biggest of the lot. Outside in daylight it is even too bright. It can also not use the 35-70/4.0. The R8 is too delicate in its electronics. I just not trust it. But it is a great camera. strange enough i like it the most with winder and battery pack. Talking about big! The R6 is the closest to a M6 as you can get. And the TTL flash is a nice bonus. I never noticed any shutter lag. The R6.2 is in my opinion too expensive compared to the R6. Cheers, Michiel Fokkema Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
4X5B&W Posted March 21, 2009 Share #14 Posted March 21, 2009 I have owned the SL, R4S, R6, & R8 at different times, and used them all extensively. The SL, R6, and R8 all have their individual strengths, the R4S is a poor man's R6. The viewfinders in order of preference would be: SL, R8, & R6 in that order, having said that the R6 viewfinder blows away any Canon or Nikon I have tried. I now own only the R6, I like the compactness and the way most lenses balance on the body. The totally mechanical body is a real plus for me......I expect it to last a very long time (24 years old already), it gives me everything I need in a SLR, in a package that is pure quality. I loved the SL when it was state of the art, but it now feels too big, and very basic (no mirror lock-up for instance) and the metering is just OK, nothing special. The viewfinders do deteriate over time. The R8/9 has many excellent features, and while large, feels good in the hand. It is of course electrical, and long term there is some risk as a result. The viewfinder while excellent, has a lower magnification (x.75 vs x.85 for the R6, if I remember correctly). I wanted just one film SLR moving forward, and the R6 was the best fit for me - YMMV Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted March 21, 2009 Share #15 Posted March 21, 2009 ...loved the SL when it was state of the art, but it now feels too big, and very basic (no mirror lock-up for instance) A small point, but if you flick the top if the SL shutter release - as if you were flicking a pea of the top, the mirror will lift without the shutter firing - easier to do with a softie in place. You can then press the button to fire the shutter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikau Posted March 21, 2009 Share #16 Posted March 21, 2009 Some very good answers in this thread. I bought an R8 when they first came out and absolutely loved it, but over the years it had various electronic problems (nothing major, mainly annoying things). Over the years, my needs changed somewhat -- including the desire to not be weighed down by gear so I sold the R8 and bought an R6.2 precisely for the reasons some posters mentioned; it's relatively small and the closest SLR to an M6. More than three years later, I am still pleased with the decision. I tend to use it for 90mm and above (but not for macro work; I bring my semi-retired SL2 out for that!). I don't regret parting with the R8, but am really pleased that I did own it and remember it with fondness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
holgerf Posted March 21, 2009 Share #17 Posted March 21, 2009 … over the years it had various electronic problems (nothing major, mainly annoying things). When I showed interest for a R8 or R9 my dealer told me that electronic problems were typical for the R8 but seldom for the R9. One of the reasons I decided for R9. Best Holger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrid Posted March 21, 2009 Share #18 Posted March 21, 2009 Apparently very early batches of the R8 can have electronic issues. Supposedly these problems will show up the first time a Winder is attached. But this problem seems to be confined to the very, very earliest bodies that were made. I've had my early production R8 (with Winder) for about 2 years and so far no problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
usccharles Posted March 21, 2009 Share #19 Posted March 21, 2009 I own a M8 and a MP. I love both cameras but i use my M8 much more. much more convienient. not in terms of it being a digital camera but because it is more automatic (aperature priority, etc). its a good everyday camera, the M8. The MP, on the other hand, is a thing of beauty. not as easy as the M8 but it feels good to be all manual, to slow things down, and just concentrate on each photo. and i love the fact that it is all mechanical (except for the exposure meter of course). I bought the MP brand new, even though there are a ton of used ones available, because that is a camera that will last almost forever. its a camera i would love to give to my grandkids one day, knowing it was only used by me and all the nicks and bruises are mine. the M8, although a great camera, i don't know if it will last all that long with all the electronics inside. that said, i sold my R6.2 and bought a R9. I love the R9 in every way like my M8. really easy to use, good ergonomics, and the electronics give it a automatic advantage like the M8 to make it a perfect take it everywhere, everyday camera. however, i miss my R6.2 for all the reasons i love my MP. just something about having a all mechanical camera in this electronic day and age. it slows things down, makes you take better pictures. i'm planning on selling a few lenses that i dont use and am going to buy a mint condition R6.2. they even have a brand new unopened R6.2 at the shop i go do. i would love to use that like my MP and hand it down to my grandkids someday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.M Posted March 21, 2009 Share #20 Posted March 21, 2009 How many grandkids do you have ? I think it 's an excellent excuse to buy cameras new. I have no grandkids, not even kids, though I always buy new. Now wanting an R9, never had an Leica SLR, always used Nikon F series. One more thing : I prefer the viewfinder accuracy of the R9 over the R6-2, the latter only being 93 % , as I never crop my photos. Etienne Michiels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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