should I buy this Leica stuff?

[Grainy]

I've gotten a chance to buy this Leica stuff for a total price of $1400, everything is new, unused and in the box except the 80-200 wich is mint.

- Leica R8
- Summicron-R 1:2 50mm
- Vario Elmar 1:4 80-200
- Motor winder R for R4/R5/R6 (compatible with R8?)
- Handgrip R (compatible with R8?)
- Vario Elmar R 1:4 35-70mm
- Super Colorplan-P2 1:2,5 90mm MC (possible to use for anything else than slide projectors?)
- Elmar-M 1:2.8 50mm

What do you think? It's all or nothing. I have Canon, Pentax and Olympus SLR's, so it would be nice if the lenses could also be used on those with an adapter. For me it sounds like a good deal, even though the R system is discontinued.

 

[fstop]

probably hot

where is this?

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Saudi Arabians buy dozens of Rolls Royces and replace the engine with Chevrolet and race in deserts. Are you Arabian ?

 

[Grainy]

It's from a guy I know. He is not going to use it, so it's for sale. I can inspect the items before I buy.

 

[mablo]

It looks like a good deal BUT only if you have a good use for this gear. I wouldn't touch Leica R gear with a long pole if I'd plan to resell it.

 

[Pumalite]

I wouldn't touch Leica R gear with a long pole either way

 

[Grainy]

I'm not planning on reselling anything, except only the motor drive if it doesn't fit and the projector lens. My main interest is in the glass, but I will for sure use the R8 if I buy it.

 

[Grainy]

And I should add, it would be nice with some high quality lenses with smooth manual focus for my video work.

 

[fstop]

I wouldn't touch Leica R gear with a long pole either way

Usually you touch Leica's with your fingers and lots of cash, the early Rs are Minolta XEs in disguise, so when you slam Leica you are slamming Minolta too.

 

[daveandiputra]

I never use leica slr but I know that you can use the R lenses on canon eos with adapter. And judging from the form factor of the R8 compared to the previous models I don't think the motor would fit (just guessing here) and the elmar should be for the M rangefinder series.
So probably you'll have the body, a 50mm, 35-70, and a 80-200. A solid set if you plan to use it maybe add a wide angle.
For the price maybe you can check keh.com for guide.

 

[Pumalite]

Usually you touch Leica's with your fingers and lots of cash, the early Rs are Minolta XEs in disguise, so when you slam Leica you are slamming Minolta too.

So why don't you buy a Minolta then; why waste all that cash?

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Even at Leica , Zoom lenses do not reach the quality of Primes. You can buy R4 for 80 dollars from keh com and continue with your Elmar 24 or Summicron 50 for 400 or so dollars.

1000 dollars rest with you , if your R4 broke , you buy another one with another 80 dollars.

To use Leica lens on Canon is a murder , not less than that , its a yob business.

 

[fstop]

So why don't you buy a Minolta then; why waste all that cash?

uh thats why I have Minolta XEs

But I do like a nice Leica.

 

[removed account4]

even if you can inspect before you buy
don't bother buying it ...
if you have your heart set on buying
this sort of gear
get it from a dealer with a return policy
because if you decide you don't want it
or something is wrong with it, it will be bad blood between
you and your friend, but just biz-ness with a dealer.
besides if its a minolta you would be saving a lot of $$ just buying a minolta
( from a dealer or someone that will let you return it ) ..

good luck grainy
john

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

That 80-200 is probably the best in that range ever (the much praised Nikon AI equivalent doesn't come close). It is also considered to be better than most of Leica's non-Apo primes in that range (and that's really saying something!).
It alone currently goes for at least €800 (typical used price).

The R8 is a very nice, if heavy, camera with a great viewfinder (arguably even better than Olympus OMs). It goes for around €400.

The motor drive won't be usable.

The other lenses should be very good (the 50mm Summicron came in several versions over the years). The M-Elmarit *could* be used as a decent macro lens using bellows and adapters.
You can forget using those lenses on other cameras, except Canon EF...

I'd go for it and give it a try. In Germany at least, you could easily get the same money back for the various items.
That it's discontinued now means nothing: the price drop occured immediately after it was discontinued.

Also, beware of most answers to Leica-related posts:
1) most people haven't ever used one and don't know what they're talking about.
2) many answers will be irrationally and wildly one-sided, whether for or against...


BTW: The R3-R5 models were quite a bit more than rebranded Minoltas: the R4 & 5, at least, had competely redesigned shutters and mirrorboxes and consequently better viewfinders than their Minolta cousins.
(I'm not even bringing lenses into the equasion, though Minoltas are definitely not slouches!)
The R8 is quite a different animal from the R3-R7 series, being much more like the Leicaflexes in feel.

 

[2F/2F]

I have Canon, Pentax and Olympus SLR's...

Then getting the Leica won't give you anything you don't have except a big hole in your pocket. I would pass, personally. That's a lot of money to pay for redundancy...and yet another camera system to buy parts and accessories for down the road.

And yeah, Mustafa; he is obviously Arabian. OBVIOUSLY.

 

[daveandiputra]

From the video remark I suspect the OP is also planning to use the lenses on a digital slr with video, and I know that it is usual to use old manual lenses on them. Mostly used are the canon 5D dslr, so I think the lenses would have some use for the OP. But of course the value of the price is another matter.

 

[Grainy]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I have to do a little more thinking before I decide. Even though the gear is new in box, it's still a lot of $$ to spend on old and discontinued gear.

Daveandiputra: Yes, if I buy this kit I plan on using the lenses for video on my dSLR also. It would be a win win situation if I could use the quality glass on the R8 and my analog Canon EOS, and also have lenses with super smooth manual focus and good optical quality for video on my dSLR.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Grainy ,

If you want to shoot video with Canon , use LOMO Anamorphic Square Front Cinema lenses.They start from 700 dollars and climb to 25000. Directors are begging for these lenses and they go very parallel with Canon Sensor , Software color gamut. They show flesh unbeliviably like 70s Elite Pornography.
There are many test shots with these lenses on canon at vimeo.
There is a camera as Z series Sony with Zeiss lenses and find Irina Shatalova at Vimeo and watch her North Sea Lighthouse Keeper video. I am very optimistic about digital when I saw this video. May be 10 years later , cameras and Zeiss lenses will go with same quality less than 2500 dollars new.

 

[Mark Fisher]

Check KEH and see if it is a bargain. If it is, I'd give it a go. Leica gear is always simple to resell. I've never used the Leica SLR stuff, but I can tell you that their lenses really are the best optically and mechanically....but you definitely pay for the privilege. If the price is good, it is basically an extended rental where you can get your money back at the end if you don't like it. They are not the same as Minolta lenses.

 

[fstop]

That 80-200 is probably the best in that range ever (the much praised Nikon AI equivalent doesn't come close). It is also considered to be better than most of Leica's non-Apo primes in that range (and that's really saying something!).
It alone currently goes for at least €800 (typical used price).

The R8 is a very nice, if heavy, camera with a great viewfinder (arguably even better than Olympus OMs). It goes for around €400.

The motor drive won't be usable.

The other lenses should be very good (the 50mm Summicron came in several versions over the years). The M-Elmarit *could* be used as a decent macro lens using bellows and adapters.
You can forget using those lenses on other cameras, except Canon EF...

I'd go for it and give it a try. In Germany at least, you could easily get the same money back for the various items.
That it's discontinued now means nothing: the price drop occured immediately after it was discontinued.

Also, beware of most answers to Leica-related posts:
1) most people haven't ever used one and don't know what they're talking about.
2) many answers will be irrationally and wildly one-sided, whether for or against...


BTW: The R3-R5 models were quite a bit more than rebranded Minoltas: the R4 & 5, at least, had competely redesigned shutters and mirrorboxes and consequently better viewfinders than their Minolta cousins.
(I'm not even bringing lenses into the equasion, though Minoltas are definitely not slouches!)
The R8 is quite a different animal from the R3-R7 series, being much more like the Leicaflexes in feel.

Put an XE-7 next to a R3, its the same camera

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Put an XE-7 next to a R3, its the same camera

I don't know about the R3 (don't have one), but the R4-R5 definitely have different shutters and mirrorboxes compared to their Minolta progenitors.

Are you sure the R3 is the same *inside* as well?

And try mounting a 19mm II or a 180mm Apo-Telyt on an XE-7...

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Even at Leica , Zoom lenses do not reach the quality of Primes. You can buy R4 for 80 dollars from keh com and continue with your Elmar 24 or Summicron 50 for 400 or so dollars.

1000 dollars rest with you , if your R4 broke , you buy another one with another 80 dollars.

To use Leica lens on Canon is a murder , not less than that , its a yob business.

The R8 is quite a different camera compared to the R4.
The 80-200mm f/4.0 is generally better than the non-Apo primes it covers.
The 24mm Elmarit, while still a solid "good" lens, definitely isn't worth $400 (it's comparable to the Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 or a good sample of the Minolta 24mm - which in effect it is).

All the people mentioning KEH: the OP is in Europe (well, sort of) and there are shops in Germany, for example, which are probably cheaper and involve *much* lower shipping costs.

 

[Grainy]

Decided to buy it, got it for $900. Think that must be a good deal. I was afraid of the camera beeing bulky, but it fits perfect in my hand. Don't know about the optical quality of the lenses, but they are for sure built to last a lifetime and more..

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Excellent price , super body and lenses. Use them carefully and insurance them if you can. Whatever I say , They are 60 years ahead of their time. Now its time to invest to Leica Focomat enlarger with Leitz lens with remaining money. You can read every lenses MTF graphs from Leica website. Its becoming dark at Norway but you can shoot magnificient pictures at next May. Best lenses in the world.