New to Leica, help needed.

[Sobreiro]

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Hi,

 

I'm searching for a Leica for my birthday present

 

I've been looking mostly at some Leicaflex SL cameras.

Is this a good R system camera to start with?

 

I read the Leicaflex SL has a bright screen and that is very important to me

because I use glasses and have trouble focussing with other cameras.

Also, what kind of lenses should I be looking for?

 

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

Best regards

[scsambrook]

The SL screen is indeed very bright, but you should try before you buy - focusing is by a central microprism spot which is very fine. I found it very hard to decide when the 'shimmering' had cleared on many subjects, especially in poor light. The later SL2 has a different screen, but sells now at very high prices. The R series cameras all have standard split image/microprism screens which can be exchanged for different patterns.

 

Your choice of lenses will be decided by what you like to photograph, of course. There are no poor Leica reflex lenses, so put aside any worries of relative quality. Whatver medium you use, b&w, colour neg or colour slide, the lenses will out perform virtually any film.

 

Perhaps the safest advice to you is to get a late model R - the younger it is, the longer you'll keep it!

[earleygallery]

The SL is an older camera, fully manual but with a built in light meter. You would want to ensure that you buy one which has been serviced (CLA'd) or allow for the cost of the work, including adjusting the meter so that you can use current manufactured batteries.

 

The SL also uses the older 2 cam lenses although any 2 or 3 cam lenses will work.

 

Personally I would suggest looking at the later R models such as the R6 (mechanical shutter like an SL) or the R5, R7, R8 which have multi metering modes. The R cameras use 3 cam or R only lenses, and you can use the older lenses with stop down metering, so they are potentially more versatile.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Have a look at Doug Herr's article here Leica Leicaflex SL - photo.net

 

Cheers

 

dunk

[Sobreiro]

Thank you all for your most valid input regarding my enquiry.

 

Although I live in a country where Leica cameras are made (or at least part of them,) I believe few of them

end up being sold around here.

Not finding anything affordable where I live, I turned to the place where most people get their used materials from: eBay!!

After some careful searching I ended up buying a Leica R5 from a German seller.

Also bought a Leica Summicron-R 50/2 made in Canada in 1980 wich the seller claims to be in "sehr guter Zustand."

I will post some comments on my first impressions and overall condition of the items when I get them, some time next week.

 

Thank you again for your help.

 

With best regards

 

--

Paulo Sobreiro

[dkCambridgeshire]

Excellent versatile combination and look forward to seeing your results.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

[Sobreiro]

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Hi everyone.

 

My new toys have arrived!

Here are the first impressions from my new gear, as promised.

 

The Lens:

Summicron-R 1:2/50mm, R ONLY Made in Canada in 1980.

The lens is in grate condition. No marks on the glass, no fungus, only a couple of really small

dust specs inside. Focus ring turns very smoothly. For a 30 year old lens its in very good shape.

 

The Camera:

Leica R5, very early SN, from 1986 I think.

Actually, the camera has some defects which really annoyed me because they where not mentioned in the auction.

Although It's nothing serious, the defects are so obvious that it shows a lack of good faith from the seller not to mention them.

The hot shoe is broken, probably due to a fall. Both small guides bended and broke with the fall until half of their length.

They were bended back more or less to their original place but the cracks are quite visible.

Another thing that was not mentioned is the deteriorated light seals. These are in really bad shape and in need to be replaced.

From what I have read, this seems to be a common problem in these cameras.

I found the camera to be smaller than what I imagined, but still, it feels very solid and comfortable.

As for the rest, I have tested the camera functionalities to the extent of my limited knowledge and everything seems to be fine.

Shutter speeds seem accurate and the viewfinder shows the right information for the various shooting modes.

 

One thing that I really need to get is a eyecup. I have scratched my glasses trying to look through the viewfinder.

Also, I'm going to need some kind of DIY replacement light seal kit for the R5, if such a thing exists.

Does anyone know if I can order these items from Leica directly?

Well, that's all for now...

I'm sure other questions will follow in the near future.

Until then, please leave your comments and suggestions, they will be greatly appreciated.

 

With my best regards

 

Paulo Sobreiro

[earleygallery]

Sorry to hear of your problems with the new camera, e bay I presume? Unfortunately it is often the case that things will be not as good as described. I'm pretty careful when buying via e bay and ask the seller questions etc., but even then I set my expectations low, if its described as Mint I'll expect it to be more like 'very good'.

 

Is the hotshoe connection working? if its just the guides are a little damaged I wouldn't worry too much as long as it works. You could fit a dedicated connector to it and leave it there, or use a non dedicated flash with the pc socket. Or get it repaired of course.

 

As for the light seals they perish on any camera of that age. I replaced them on my R3 with a kit I bought off e bay, I think the seller is called Interslice. It's a pretty easy job and once done the new seals are good for the life of the camera (they won't perish the same apparently).

 

You should be able to buy an eye cup from a Leica dealer or search e bay again.

[tobey bilek]

A SL has a nice bright well focusing screen. Try one to be sure you can see at the virtual focusing distance as corrective diopters are difficult to find.

 

The sl2 has a longer mirror to prevent finder cut off with longer lenses. It swings up and back to give proper clearance to some lenses like the 24 2.8. Again you need proper diopters added on if necessary. Either camera has the best viewing system ever put into an SLR.

 

Don`t forget eyes change with time. Try before you buy.

 

I would advise a R6 or later if you want to get into the system.