Leica R - Taking the Plunge

KeithM · Jul 25, 2017

After using Leica rangefinders for a number of years, it seemed time to step into the 'R' SLR world. Today an R5, Elmarit-R III 35mm & Elmarit-R Macro 60mm arrived (I have a very understanding/tolerant wife!). Luckily the sun was shining this afternoon so a quick trip onto the Ridgeway enable me to fire-off a test roll of Acros 100. Will develop it tomorrow (Wed) morning.

locutus · Jul 25, 2017

I'm a big Leica SLR fan (R8/9 and SL2 for me), some truely spectacular glass exists for it and with a bit of hunting for reasonable prices.

The 60 Macro you have there is great, sharp as hell and those lovely Leica mechanics that make it a joy to use.

I doubt you will be disappointed once you develop your film.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 25, 2017

Good for you to have such a cooperative wife! Mine is telling me to stop spending money on photography. So, after dealing with Leica RF for years and still using them, I purchased used Nikon FG-20 and slapped FSU Helios 81H on it.
And here is main problem with SLR primes. Would it be this given to me for free Helios-81H (with Kiev-19), or cheap Oly.Zuiko 50 1.8 and cheap Vivitar 28 2.8, it always brings same question. If those cheap lenses are so good, why I'm still going out mostly with my Leica RF lenses?

superpos · Jul 25, 2017

enjoy Leica R! Probably some of the best glasses you ever get!

Paul Howell · Jul 25, 2017

Good looking camera.

miha · Jul 25, 2017

Good choice of lenses. I moved from Nikon to Leica R a decade ago. No regrets!

Finny · Jul 25, 2017

Congrats! Nice camera.
I am shooting with a R7 and a Summicron 50mm. It's still my only lens. But I love it's look and sharpness...

Theo Sulphate · Jul 25, 2017

Nice choice. R5 and later models are very solid, high quality, competent cameras that are fun to use.

Nice lenses you have there, too.

jjphoto · Jul 25, 2017

Congrats. I understand that the 60 is one of the best lenses in the R line. Ive had leica r since the early 90s and love them. Good luck and enjoy.

fstop · Jul 25, 2017

R-5 is a great camera.

JensH · Jul 25, 2017

fstop said:
R-5 is a great camera.

+1

...and its mirror flap sounds nice.

Best
Jens

RalphLambrecht · Jul 26, 2017

KeithM said:
After using Leica rangefinders for a number of years, it seemed time to step into the 'R' SLR world. Today an R5, Elmarit-R III 35mm & Elmarit-R Macro 60mm arrived (I have a very understanding/tolerant wife!). Luckily the sun was shining this afternoon so a quick trip onto the Ridgeway enable me to fire-off a test roll of Acros 100. Will develop it tomorrow (Wed) morning.

View attachment 183328

enjoy; I always wanted one of those but...

KeithM · Jul 26, 2017

Thank you all for the responses. The negs are now hanging in the shower

RichardJack · Jul 26, 2017

I own a R4,R5, & R6, the R5 is my favorite. It's a great camera, it's almost identical to my Minolta XD-11 (I think Leica copied Minolta or vise versa). My only complain is the lenses are very heavy. If take my 250 f4 along it's like carrying a bowling ball bag. Otherwise, great optics and images.
Enjoy yours!

KeithM · Jul 26, 2017

Just created a new album for my R5 photos on my Flickr page. The contents will certainly be increasing with time...

macfred · Jul 26, 2017

Had a R4 and a R4s (both suffered with electronical problems) and a R3Mot (that was a really nice one - traded it against a Contax 167MT).
I guess those R5's -and later ones- are more reliable, than the R4 series.

miha · Jul 26, 2017

macfred said:
Had a R4 and a R4s (both suffered with electronical problems) and a R3Mot (that was a really nice one - traded it against a Contax 167MT).
I guess those R5's -and later ones- are more reliable, than the R4 series.

Many R4 cameras were factory repaired under warranty. Those that survived should be fine (but getting old, facing mechanical problems).

macfred · Jul 26, 2017

miha said:
Many R4 cameras were factory repaired under warranty ...

They did with the R4 - twice. I sold it, bought a cheap R4s and had problems again and I let it go. The R3Mot was more reliable - used it for considerable time until I traded it.

cliveh · Jul 26, 2017

As a Leica rangefinder user, I would consider moving to a Leica SLR as a step backwards.

jjphoto · Jul 26, 2017

cliveh said:
As a Leica rangefinder user, I would consider moving to a Leica SLR as a step backwards.

The vast majority of slr users choose to use slrs over rangefinders and they are not forced to do so.

jjphoto · Jul 26, 2017

Re R4: I have R4, RE and R8, and prefer my R4 over RE (the RE is an el-cheapo version of R5) because the R4 has higher viewfinder magnification and this improves focusing, especially with wide angle lenses. Ive also installed the later (R5-7) focusing screen into the R4 so focusing is brigher. The R4 is an excellent camera and is underrated IMHO, although i have an R8 so prefer the later if size doesn't matter.

I tended to use the RE with a polaroid back, whilst I had it (still have the RE, sold the back). I posted the pic here because it was a fairly unusual thing so thought it might be of interest, to some.

guangong · Jul 26, 2017

Possess Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL, SL2, R4 and R5. The first three are reliable and not battery dependent. The latter two are iffy and ok to use close to home. Also, for me the Flexes fit better in the hand, but this is a personal opinion and others may prefer the R cameras. The R8 gave me the impression of "Big camera, small negative ". However, lenses are superb. I have never found the wt of lenses to be an inconvenience although some, such as my 400mm f5 calls for using a tripod my 400mm f6.8 is a pleasure to use hand held.
Of course, for the prices now asked for R cameras nowadays one can choose and try. Lenses for Visoflex can also be used with adapter. Have fun.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 26, 2017

RichardJack said:
... the R5 is my favorite. It's a great camera, it's almost identical to my Minolta XD-11 (I think Leica copied Minolta or vise versa). ...

I may be mistaken here, but I believe Leica took the XD-11 design and modified it. In particular, the Program mode differs from the Shutter-priority "program" the XD-11 uses (Minolta never called it a program mode).

As on my R8, the R5's program mode works like this:

Select Program mode.

Set minimum aperture on lens (e.g. f/22).

Choose the slowest shutter speed at which you want the lens to remain at its widest aperture. The camera will evaluate the light level and keeps the lens wide open while trying to select an appropriate shutter speed from the very slowest up to and including your set speed. If none of those speeds will produce the correct exposure, the camera will begin using faster speeds while stopping the lens down.

For example, you can bias the camera to using small apertures by selecting a slow shutter speed. If you select 1/30s for example, any light level where 1/30 and maximum aperture is too bright will then cause both apertures and shutter speeds to increase together.

To bias towards higher speeds, for example, using 1/500 will keep the aperture wide open unless the light level is too high, whereupon both shutter speed and aperture will increase together.

On the XD-11 you select a shutter speed, the camera selects an aperture, if exposure is still not correct upon reaching either extreme of aperture, the shutter speed will be adjusted accordingly (the aperture staying at the extreme that was hit).

summicron1 · Jul 27, 2017

the minolta xd 11 is similar to the R-4 and so on only in that they share a basic body casting, i believe -- my son has a minolta xd11 and it works very similarly to the R4 I use, but only I suspect because the technology for them was at that level of sophistication at that time.

Both are great cameras. Once I figured out how I was messing up developing the film I was shooting in it, I found the R4 automatic exposure systems to be very reliable, and the body is still rock solid. Of course, when I bought it it was almost unused, having sat for so long a couple of things actually needed to loosen up a bit, but now it's just fine.

KeithM · Jul 27, 2017

According to J Eastland's 'Leica R Compendium' the R4 shares the inner chassis, film transport and removable back with the XD-7, but little else. The R5 is based on the XD-11.

Leica R - Taking the Plunge

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