This sort of post makes me wish this forum would allow 'Likes', so I have to post to say I like it.
For my R6 I paid "top dollar" and bought it from Leica Classic, with 12 months warranty. If there is an issue with the camera, I will take it back to them and have it sorted.
Life is too short to fiddle with toys which should bring pleasure. Unless fiddling with toys brings you pleasure. You can see that sometimes in photo forums. People are fiddling with this folder and that box camera and this Cosina or Praktiker 1970s SLR, fretting about changing this and repairing that.
FWIW Leica Classic has a good handful of R bodies on their website, in case anyone is interested, including several R4 and R5 that cost less than Apple earplugs that most people consider being "Disposable". Just buy a body, a nice lens and off you go!
As an afterthought:
When reading discussions on photo forums, I'm always struck by the contrast in how people talk about spending money. On the one hand, it's perfectly normal to see photographers casually debating whether a new M-mount lens with APO or updated coatings is worth dropping four figures—often to replace something only marginally “worse.”
But shift the conversation to R-series cameras and lenses—often optically identical to their M counterparts from the same era—and suddenly a few hundred euros are considered “expensive” or not worth it.
It’s curious how perceived value shifts so drastically based on mount and hype, even when the glass is essentially the same.
Reza, as much as we love cameras, they're really only lens holders IMO. Yes the Leicaflex & R series are real camera.
Here's a period photo of an R3 etc. I'm sure the Apo-Telyt 180 was worth more than my car, and what's hanging around my neck was certainly my entire net worth. Leica glass is brilliant....whether it's '30s, '50s, '70s or todays....
View attachment 398329
Reza, as much as we love cameras, they're really only lens holders IMO. Yes the Leicaflex & R series are real camera.
Here's a period photo of an R3 etc. I'm sure the Apo-Telyt 180 was worth more than my car, and what's hanging around my neck was certainly my entire net worth. Leica glass is brilliant....whether it's '30s, '50s, '70s or todays....
View attachment 398329
Nothing special - Summicron 50 mm f/2.0, Elmarit 90 mm f/2.8 and 135 mm f/2.8.Which lenses, are they different from the others?
I consider my 90mm f2.8 Elmarit pretty special. I like it with film and on my Sony A7RII 42mp it's a total knockout. I can't see how it could be any better. Of course I could have a outstanding example of a good lens.Nothing special - Summicron 50 mm f/2.0, Elmarit 90 mm f/2.8 and 135 mm f/2.8.
But I have always liked solid heavy metal lenses like these (similar, but a bit less heavy: Zeiss C/Y and Zeiss pre-war brass lenses for my Contax RF, and Canon FD TS 35 mm f/2.8).
Some filmmakers are paying silly money for a few particular Canon FD lenses too, like the FD 24 F1.4L. I have seen that lens sell for between $5-6,000 now.If Minolta lenses are so great why are all the film makers paying thousand the R glass (driving the prices up) instead of buying Minolta lenses for $100 or less?
anybody services leica R in the usa. i can fix my R7
While some bodies and lenses had Minolta (and Kyocera and Seiko) DNA, many R products were thoroughbred Leica. From 1968 to 1990s many things changed.
While some bodies and lenses had Minolta (and Kyocera and Seiko) DNA, many R products were thoroughbred Leica. From 1968 to 1990s many things changed.
I've used an R6/7, as well as the Leicaflex series (all of them) in the past. In my mind, R3-R7 were just like any of the Japanese counterparts. As a practical matter, an R7 is pretty just an F3, ect. Not surprising since there was some Minolta involvement with these R cameras. The really "true" Leica SLR's, with unique DNA, are the Leicaflex series and the R8/9 -- pretty unique from what was out there. The original Leicaflex is an M3 in SLR form, overbuilt to the max, the SL/2 have big, bold and beautiful viewfinders, and the hunchbacks are ergonomic masterpieces.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?