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Buying a second body R camera


Annibale G.

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Hi,

I've got a M7 with 35mm and a 50. I need now to buy a second body to use lens like 60 or 80/90 . I've decide for a Leica R . What do you think? I've seen model like R6.2 or R7 , R7 are more available for less prices; why? Is the R6.2 better than R7?

Thanks awfully for any advice.

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There are many good choices in the Leicaflex and R bodies. My personal favorites, because of the solid construction, excellent viewfinder and sensory feedback, are the Leicaflex SL and SL2. Either can use any 2-cam or 3-cam 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R or 80mm Summilux-R, and most 90mm lenses unless you are thinking of the 90mm APO-Summicron-R ASPH, which will only fit the SL2 (with 3-cam retrofit) or the R bodies.

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About lenses I was thinking among the 60 macro, 80 f/1,4 or 90 f/2,8 discontinued; I don't know if it is hardy to use the 60 macro for some reportage portrait. What do you think?

For the camera I 'll try to find a R6.2 black, not so much available :-(

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it seems really difficult to find the R6.2 like i want (black , close to mint condition); meanwhile I' ve seen a lot of R7 , good for me. If the differences concern only the use of battery like M7 should be good for me. Am I right?

Thanks.

Annibale

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The R6.2 still commands fairly high prices. Would the earlier R6 do you? The main difference being top speed is 1/1000th rather than 1/2000th.

 

Otherwise I'd agree with Doug. The SL series viewfinders have not been exceeded in quality some 40 years on.

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Guest suilvenman

Classic Camera Exchange, Yorkshire, UK are advertising a mint black 6.2 at 899 pounds but they do point out that their stock list is not constantly updated.

 

Cheers, Ken.

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The R6 has no more Minolta components than the R6.2. The 6.2 is way overpriced [iMO] simply because it was the last ''mechanical'' body and may be valued more because of that. I don't think either one is any more reliable than the R7, R8 electronic bodies as long as you keep batteries around. I usually get at least 50 or 60 rolls per set of winder batteries in my R8 bodies [which is about 6 months for me]. The R8, R9, R4 series, R5, RE [and even the R6 and 6.2 meters] run on the batteries from the winder or motor drive, while the R3 and R7 run strictly on the batteries in the body.

None are as reliable as a well tuned SL or SL2.

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Guest suilvenman
so instead of buying an expensive R6.2 with my M7 the R6 will be good? I'm not worried about the 1/2000 I'm worried about the reliability, construction, materials and so on.

 

If reliability, construction, materials are a concern, I can only repeat the advice already suggested: buy a good SL and find the best technician you can to service it.

 

I have both an R-E and an SL and I had the SL serviced by Peter Grisaffi at CRR Luton. I enjoy using the R-E but the level of materials/workmanship in the SL is of a different order and I feel that it's a camera I could use anywhere, in any conditions with complete confidence.

 

Cheers, Ken.

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I own or have owned Leicaflex SL, R3, R4s, R7, and R8 SLRs. Even when I purchased mine, there was a continuing discussion and predisposition on the forum about the reliability of the "all mechanical" Leicas. I found that my "electronic" SLRs never failed me and I used them all over Europe, the USA, Africa, the Middle East, India, and South America including the Amazon basin.

 

My recommendation is to purchase based on price and condition and not regard at all whether the camera is all mechanical or electronic. FWIW, I've found the R8 to be the best of the bunch with the R7 being way over rated for some reason which is beyond me. The Leicaflex Sl is a beautiful camera as well.

 

Regarding the 60mm Macro. I use mine as a normal lens with great results. I chose that lens after alot of research of what the more serious Leica users and pros were using. They almost all used the Macro for much of their reportage.

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Both R7 and R6.2 are good cameras. In terms of money, you can probably work a better deal on an R7, because because the mechanical cameras seem to sell at a relative premium.

 

Now, just to make your decision a little more difficult, I'll throw into the mix another option, and that's a new R9. Amazingly, with the discontinuation of the analog R line, new R9s this summer sell at more then 50% off list.

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it seems really difficult to find the R6.2 like i want (black , close to mint condition); meanwhile I' ve seen a lot of R7 , good for me. If the differences concern only the use of battery like M7 should be good for me. Am I right?

Thanks.

Annibale

 

Try the leica shop in Vienna.

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About lenses I was thinking among the 60 macro, 80 f/1,4 or 90 f/2,8 discontinued; I don't know if it is hardy to use the 60 macro for some reportage portrait. What do you think?

For the camera I 'll try to find a R6.2 black, not so much available :-(

 

Yes, there's a famous South American who did just that using the 60 macro. And an R6.2 parenthetically.

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