Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Erich, If you are choosing between an R4 and R5, go for the R5. The R5 is a much improved R4. The electronics are better, the controls are easier to use (ie. exposure compensation, raised controls) , the displays are better in the viewfinder, you have TTL flash metering with SCA 351 modules and SCA 300 system flashes. There were also many other improvements under the skin. The biggest secret is the R4 requires almost a total teardown for many internal repairs and adjustments. The R5 allows access to many of these service areas without tearing the camera down to get to them. This means that the average repair bill for the R5 should be less than that for the R4. R4 repairs from Leica routinely run in the neighborhood of $300-$400 for even relatively minor things. Avoid R4's below the 1,600,000 serial number cutoff. Cameras after this are less prone to problems than the earlier cameras. Bill Rosauer