R8 motor-winder available !?

[Pascal <cyberdog@ibm.net>]

Just received the brand new official Leica catalog 97 (German edition of
May 1997: Handbuch des Leica Systems), and noticed that the motor-winder R8
is mentioned as an available item.

Specs: 2 fps; two type 123 lithium batteries (same as in R8 body);
electrical contact for remote control (simple push button or elaborate
model with digital LCD panel), external power supply; automatic film
transport sets film to first frame; extremely silent functioning; rewinding.
The motor-winder is inactive when the manual film transport handle is in
"out-position"; in that case it only provides for power to the R8 body.
Rewinding happens only on command. You have the choice of manual rewinding
or using the motor-winder (by pushing on a button on the winder). This is
nice because you can prevent automatic rewinding when the circumstances do
not allow for it (e.g. silent room). After rewinding with the winder, the
tip of the film remains outside the film cassette; only if you push again
on the rewind button on the winder, the film will spool completely in its
cassette.
During rewinding, the frame counter counts down.
No extra shutter release button !


The motor-drive R8 (4 fps) is also described, but said to be "under
development". This one has two extra shutter release buttons.

Has anyone already seen the motor-winder in a shop?

Pascal
Belgium

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