Nikon FM3a or Leica R8 / R9

[M-88]

So why do people pay the high prices for the Leica lenses to convert to Nikon when they could just buy the Nikon lens in same focal/aperture and save the money for film?

Simple: "CaUsE It'S LeIcA".

Not everyone, but plenty of people go for Leica just because of the name. Owning Nikon is like owning a very well-working and reliable Japanese watch, which however, is unremarkable and hardly anyone notices it on someone's wrist. Leica on the other hand is something well-known and usually associated with quality. A head-turner, jaw-dropper and in case of R8/R9 also a nut-cracker.

The rest of the people - I don't know. Even I converted my Olympus (yes, olympus, not even Leica) 100 mm lens to Nikon F mount just because I like the look of that lens and didn't want to part with it when I moved to digital. So who am I to judge, right?

 

[McDiesel]

So why do people pay the high prices for the Leica lenses to convert to Nikon when they could just buy the Nikon lens in same focal/aperture and save the money for film?

Here is the comprehensive answer. TLDR: almost half of the population is dumber than average.

 

[pkr1979]

The risk of asking these kind of questions instead of just making a decision yourself is ending up getting both. How easy is it to fix these cameras compared to each other if they break?

 

[Paul Howell]

Thinking about it, how about a F4 and use MF AI and AIS lens? Has all the features of the R9, integrated motor drive, 4 AA batteries, matrix metering, as noted by many vast range of lens, Nikon and 3rd party.

 

[reddesert]

So why do people pay the high prices for the Leica lenses to convert to Nikon when they could just buy the Nikon lens in same focal/aperture and save the money for film? I've used Nikon for over 40 years and (in film) have (or used to have) just about every body from the F2 to the F5. More Nikon lenses than I can count. I generally shoot my Leica SL2 or R7. At some point I realized I only need 3 or four lenses. Most of the Leica lenses aren't that expensive unless you want fast.

I don't know if this was a literal question directed to me or a rhetorical question. I was just pointing out that there is a mechanical reason why people adapt Leica R lenses to Nikon bodies and not Nikon lenses to Leica bodies - the latter doesn't reach infinity focus.

As for why people pay high prices to adapt Leica lenses to Nikon, someone with a lot of experience doing that would have to answer. My feeling is that there is a wide spectrum of photographic lore, and it's not always possible to tell which preferences that a lot of people have are objectively based, and which are a matter of taste or aspirational thinking. (Aspirational thinking is ok if it's your money. Some people will not be happy until they have the camera or lens that they regard as "the best," by whatever criteria of "best.")

 

[NB23]

Here is the comprehensive answer. TLDR: almost half of the population is dumber than average.

LOL

 

[DREW WILEY]

Sold my FM3a. Nice camera; but even that had too many silly bells n' whistles for me. Prefer the bare-bones no-nonsense basic FM2n. Those are reliable, and what some of my Himalayan extreme climber friends depended on. Once they took along something fancy instead, it always broke down.

Leica R's are just too much of a glamorous tank, and the lenses too specialized and costly. For that kind of weight, MF makes a lot more sense.

 

[jnamia]

If I was spending my money I'd buy the Nikon, but I'd prefer an older FE or FE2. Can't remember which one anymore but I always thought that was the best manual Nikon body. The match needle meter was a perfect way to get that meter information.

If I were spending your money I'd buy the Leica.

I've thought about buying a Leica over the years. Some of the cameras aren't even that expensive, but the lenses are obscene. I just don't think they are worth it with the other options out there.

What's a kidney, you've got two, go ahead spend his money ( and his kidney ).

 

[McDiesel]

Sold my FM3a. Nice camera; but even that had too many silly bells n' whistles for me. Prefer the bare-bones no-nonsense basic FM2n. Those are reliable, and what some of my Himalayan extreme climber friends depended on. Once they took along something fancy instead, it always broke down.

Leica R's are just too much of a glamorous tank, and the lenses too specialized and costly. For that kind of weight, MF makes a lot more sense.

I wish people would pay attention to your last point more. The weight of photo equipment is often ignored. Meanwhile, it can be traded for something else, like - as you said - for a bigger negative.

But your earlier statement is ridiculous. If someone is wondering... the supposedly enormous difference between "too many silly bells & whistles" and "bare-bones no-nonsense" turns out to be the exposure compensation dial, otherwise it's the same camera especially if a battery is taken out. I own both. These kind of ridiculous exaggerations is why it's wiser to simply ignore what people say online.

 

[NB23]

I used to own a R8. Liked it, but every time I was questioning its size. One day I got annoyed and thought to myself “would I be using a hasselblad 500c adapted for 35mm film next to my Leica Ms, which is the same thing I’m doing right now with this R8...?” And the answer was “that would be a very stupid thing to do”. I felt stupid. And I sold the R8.

I regret having used it (and my Nikons) over my Leica Ms. As always, any time spent shooting something else than my Leicas and Rolleiflexes is actually that: time NOT spent with my Leicas and my Rolleis. Quite simple.

 

[pkr1979]

Leica R8 / R9 size (not weight) is an issue (I sold a Pentax 645N and got a Nikon F4 as a AF snapshot camera instead). How it feels in hand is very important, but a lot of the time the camera hangs around my neck while Im dealing with other family related stuff.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Leica R8 / R9 size (not weight) is an issue (I sold a Pentax 645N and got a Nikon F4 as a AF snapshot camera instead). How it feels in hand is very important, but a lot of the time the camera hangs around my neck while Im dealing with other family related stuff.

Forget what others say. It is all about which camera feels good in your hands and how it feels to you. The rest is just interesting chatter.

 

[hap]

I used to own a R8. Liked it, but every time I was questioning its size. One day I got annoyed and thought to myself “would I be using a hasselblad 500c adapted for 35mm film next to my Leica Ms, which is the same thing I’m doing right now with this R8...?” And the answer was “that would be a very stupid thing to do”. I felt stupid. And I sold the R8.

I regret having used it (and my Nikons) over my Leica Ms. As always, any time spent shooting something else than my Leicas and Rolleiflexes is actually that: time NOT spent with my Leicas and my Rolleis. Quite simple.

Hmmm......

 

[Huss]

I used to own a R8. Liked it, but every time I was questioning its size. One day I got annoyed and thought to myself “would I be using a hasselblad 500c adapted for 35mm film next to my Leica Ms, which is the same thing I’m doing right now with this R8...?” And the answer was “that would be a very stupid thing to do”. I felt stupid. And I sold the R8.

It's a shame you only used your R8 up to the 1/1000 sec shutter speed, if you only used it the same as your Ms. I would feel stupid too if I had an R8 and limited myself like that.
But I don't and so also use the 1/2000, 1/4000 and 1/8000 speeds. As well as the amazing flash capabilities and differing meter patterns.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It's a shame you only used your R8 up to the 1/1000 sec shutter speed, if you only used it the same as your Ms. I would feel stupid too if I had an R8 and limited myself like that.
But I don't and so also use the 1/2000, 1/4000 and 1/8000 speeds. As well as the amazing flash capabilities and differing meter patterns.

Not using ISO 400 and ISO 800 films for starters.

 

[Huss]

Not using ISO 400 and ISO 800 films for starters.

I like to use ISO 6 film and push it 6 stops just to prove a point. That point being I like my images to be just one massive lump of grain (at that point it's called film boulders).
I mean, of course I coulda just used TriX but where's the art in that?

 

[NB23]

It's a shame you only used your R8 up to the 1/1000 sec shutter speed, if you only used it the same as your Ms. I would feel stupid too if I had an R8 and limited myself like that.
But I don't and so also use the 1/2000, 1/4000 and 1/8000 speeds. As well as the amazing flash capabilities and differing meter patterns.

I am absolutely not limited by the M system. 1/8000 what for? Bokeh in sunlight? I’m allergic to that look...

 

[Sirius Glass]

It's a shame you only used your R8 up to the 1/1000 sec shutter speed, if you only used it the same as your Ms. I would feel stupid too if I had an R8 and limited myself like that.
But I don't and so also use the 1/2000, 1/4000 and 1/8000 speeds. As well as the amazing flash capabilities and differing meter patterns.

Each to their own. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Huss]

I am absolutely not limited by the M system. 1/8000 what for? Bokeh in sunlight? I’m allergic to that look...

Ok so it doesn't work for you. But it enhances the performance envelope. And there are times where one does want to isolate the subject in bright light. This eliminates the need for ND filters for that.

For example, I had Portra 400 in my camera, and could not do this with any of my film Ms unless I was packing ND filters. Oh, and get much closer.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ok so it doesn't work for you. But it enhances the performance envelope. And there are times where one does want to isolate the subject in bright light. This eliminates the need for ND filters for that.

For example, I had Portra 400 in my camera, and could not do this with any of my film Ms unless I was packing ND filters. Oh, and get much closer.

Great counter example. Well done.

 

[NB23]

It’s okay man, you like DSLRs and their advantages. I don’t...

 

[Huss]

It’s okay man, you like DSLRs and their advantages. I don’t...

What's a DSLR?

 

[NB23]

What's a DSLR?

Well first off, your shot could have been made with any rangefinder @1/1000th. I’m not sure what’s the problem.

Secondly a DSLR is a SLR. Single lens reflex. If you enjoy SLRs that’s fine. I’ve used them too much professionally. I rate my SLR shooting somewhere around 2 Million clicks. Enough for many reincarnated lives.

 

[NB23]

Ok so it doesn't work for you. But it enhances the performance envelope. And there are times where one does want to isolate the subject in bright light. This eliminates the need for ND filters for that.

For example, I had Portra 400 in my camera, and could not do this with any of my film Ms unless I was packing ND filters. Oh, and get much closer.

Here’s a shot with I did with a Leica M, 50mm and Tri-x. I don’t know why I should be regretting for not having shot it with a Nikon F6/R9/9xi...

 

[Huss]