Re: [Leica] R4--A bad Camera?

["N.S. Ng" <nsnga@pacific.net.sg>]

Hello Peter,

I had an R4 for almost 16 years. It was my first Leica R and one with a S/N.
below 1,600,000. For the first 10 years or so I never had any problems,
except once when the stop down lever was jammed. Since I was using this
camera in the desert and offshore for a number of years, I attributed this
to the environment. I used to work as an oil drilling engineer. But the
first serious problem came about 6 years ago when the metering became
unreliable and the camera behaved unpredictable. For example, when taking an
exposure reading, the shutter would trip and sometimes the mirror would lock
up. This was sent for service and it came back and for a few years it worked
well. Early last year, these problem came back again. This time when I sent
the R4 for service, I was told the repair bill would probably be more than
the value of the camera. I was given the option to repair the R4 or a
trade-in allowance to buy the R6.2. I decided to buy the R6.2. In fact, I
was told by the local distributor, Leica had a program to offer trade-ins to
those with R4 problems.I decided to buy the 6.2 because I had already
purchased the R8 a year earlier. BTW, I never had any problems with the R8.
The only problem I have had is with the finishing. Already I am seeing  wear
on black finish next to the stop down lever as well as some wear on the base
of the R8. Other than that, it has performed very well.

As for the somewhat dim viewfinder, try changing this to the latest R
screen. If yours is the older screen, the new one will be brighter.

I wished the R could have achieved the same level of reliability as the M
series. I am still using my dad's M3 from 1958! It went for CLA once about 5
years ago. I began my interests photography with the M3 when I was in my
early teens and I am now in my early 40's. I have a M6, but I still keep
going back to my M3. May be it is because it feels better than the M6 or its
0.9x makes focusing very easy.

Enjoy your R4!

Regards,


- -----Original Message-----
From: palmieri <palmieri@cybernex.net>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 1999 2:08 PM
Subject: [Leica] R4--A bad Camera?


>Ted Grand wrote (snipped)--
>
>>The previous cameras were
>>replaced due to "upgrading models" and not because they broke down. (other
>>than one no good rotten *#*#!!%&*** R4!!  Leica replaced it!):)
>
>Hello All--
>
>I have an R4 that was just "reconditioned" to Leica specs within the last
>month. The focus was off as was the light meter. There were some other
minor
>things that were taken care of. Maybe it was foolish of me to spend as much
>to have this work done as I see these cameras selling for on the used
>market.
>
>Over the years I have used this camera sparingly because I had a hard time
>focusing it (and still do). I find that the finder is much darker than my
>Nikons and it is hard to read the settings in dull light. But, these are
>really not big complaints because when I get it right the camera is able to
>produce some really outstanding quality photos. I use it on a tripod 90% of
>the time so focusing it accurately is not really an issue as I can take my
>time to get it right. I use a diopter to help me get the focus right.
>
>I would like to know what makes the R4 such a criticized camera. Not that I
>plan to argue about or defend its merits and/or faults, only that I would
>like to understand from much more knowledgeable "Leica" people what its
>faults are in absolute terms and relative to other R Leicas. Too, what
>should I be alert about in using this oldish camera (which looks like it
>just came out of the box!)?
>
>Any advice, help and information would be very much appreciated.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Peter in NJ
>
>
>
>
>