Leica SLR?

[Steve Mack]

I've been looking at Leica SLRs for an age, because I'd like to have a modern Leica lens but in an SLR. Have any of you used/owned/played with/rented any of their SLRs? What was your take?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,


Stephen

 

[Rhodes]

Rent a leica, that's a wonderfull idea... Well, I got a R3 but many people says that it's more a minolta camera that a leica, ando old piece tecnology. But one can get at a decente price. For what i have read around the net, the best mechanical leica slr, it's the SL2.
The leicaflex has the support everything fame, build like a tank. I went to the r3 since i wanted one with AP. R4 and 5, several people point out that they are extremely loud and the r6/6.2 are in the top preferences since it's the return of the mechanical slr.
I like my r3, it's simple, no programs and i have manual or auto. Of course, if bateries fail, no taking pictures...

 

[Sean]

I recently had an R8 with 35-70 (known to be far better than the 28-70). It was a beast and the lens pretty much functioned like primes throughout it's range. I enjoyed it but these days wasn't using it enough to justify the expense. It had a nice mirror lockup function as well that required no fiddling and could be used handheld/on the fly.

 

[sharperstill]

I've got an R6.2 and love it. Not much bigger then an M6 really and nice controls, nice meter with spot version. Batteries last ages. can't fault it...
Though I do covet an R8. Had a play with one once and the viewfinder was the best I think I've ever seen, like sitting in a cinema...

J

 

[nunovmatos]

I own a Leica R9 and a R4. The R9 is may main body and has all the things I want on a camera: amazing viewfinder, ergonomic, resistant, half stops at the speed dial, a reasonable spot meter and capable of using the best lenses (a 50 f1.4 and a 24 f2.8 is all I need). The R4 is good as a second body although not brilliant... well it's a camera that you can buy second-handed for less than 150 USD and will take leica lenses.

As an alternative we can always try a nikon FM1-3 with a carl-zeiss lens. Impressive as well.

 

[clogz]

With Leica....the camera bodies are very good...but it's the lenses that count!

 

[davela]

I've owned an R3, a beautiful camera even though I prefer mechanical shutters. I also briefly owned an original Leicaflex - really nice if the condition is good. They are worth the money as are their lenses.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

For a few years I used a R4 Model 2. Apparently the model 2 is much more reliable than the earlier bodies. I also had a R5 which i thought was great.

Overall the bodies are nice... I think the R6 and the R6.2 were the best built.

-rob

 

[aoresteen]

Don't forget the Leicaflex, SL, and SL2. Wonderful cameras!

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

With Leica....the camera bodies are very good...but it's the lenses that count!

You've obviously never used a Leicaflex Sl or SL2...

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I have R4, R4s, R5, Leicaflex SL & SL2.

The R4 & R5 models have bright viewfinders, spot metering and well-dampened shutters. All in all solid, nice compact cameras. They do have a little shutter lag (which the Leicaflexes don't have, being almost rangefinder-like in that respect), but no worse than many similar cameras.

The Leicaflexes have even better viewfinders (possibly the best in any 35mm SLR), fantastically dampened shutters (again, slow hand-held speeds are comparable to using a rangefinder), spot meters and... feel wonderful!
This at the price of extra size, weight and no automation.

The Leicaflex SL can't use some lenses (mainly later zooms and wides), while the SL2 can mount everything.

Some early R4 samples had electronic problems, which forever gave the model a bad reputation. Such problems have by now long been fixed and I've used 2 R4 bodies with *bad* serial numbers for years with no problems at all.
The R5 offers a brighter focusing screen (which you can also put in the R4), 1/2000 and adjustable program mode. I got it for the 1/2000 (for using telephotos), otherwise the R4 is just as good.

Many rave about the R6, but I don't see any advantage over the Leicafelxes, apart from being smaller, lighter and newer (not always automatically good things).

Finally, choose your lenses carefully.
While Leica made very few *poor* lenses, some are far better than others and signatures vary considerably. A little research will definitely be worthwhile.