Re: [Leica] Quit picking on the R3

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Vick-
I might be worth having Sherry give it a look over- if it was a really good
bargain, than spending a bit to have it braought up to spec might be about
the same as you would have spent getting a working one- and plus, you would
know that it was CLA by a master of the art, and that it was indeed, in good
shape!
Dan
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Vick Ko <vick.ko@sympatico.ca>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2000 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Quit picking on the R3


> Sorry - let me tell you the background.  I picked up an "As-is" R3 for a
good
> price,
> and so far, my local camera shops have told me that it isn't worth fixing,
and the
>
> general opinion from this thread is that the R3 isn't worth fixing.
>
> Coming from a history of owning M cameras, and recent, some LTM cameras,
> I was really surprised that any Leica would be deemed "not worth fixing."
>
> It seems like there are a few good R3's, like the one you own, but a
significant
> number of not-so-good ones.
>
> I guess I should have done my homework before picking up this "bargain".
> For a bit longer, my SLR shooting will be my Nikon.
>
>
> ...Vick
>
>
>
> Summicron1@aol.com wrote:
>
> > someone said: Back to the R3 -
> >
> > When the battery is dead, what shutter speeds should the camera be
capable of?
> >
> > The collected opinion is that the R3 was unreliable, and astromonical to
> > repair.
> >
> > Hmmm - the first throw-away Leica.
> >
> > ..Vick
> >
> > hmmmm.  yourself.
> >
> > So, the Leica R3 that I've been using for almost 20 years and which has
only
> > been in the shop once (disconnect of the mirror-shutter mechanism, cost
$170
> > for DAG to fix it and completely service the camera about 8 years ago, a
fair
> > price I think) and which meters as accurately as any camera I have ever
seen,
> > combined with simplicity of use to the point of being idiot-resistent,
is in
> > reality a disgustingly poor piece of equipment, prone to breakdown,
> > impossibly expensive to maintain, and a "throw-away" Leica?
> >
> > How foolish of me not to notice!
> >
> > I'd better go spend $2000 on an R8 immediately! Oh no, there's an auto
focus
> > Contax! I find myself irresistably drawn! What shall I do?????
> >
> > Nothing, actually. I'm sure I'll get my comeuppance some day.
> >
> > With a dead battery ithe R3 works at 1/90th mechanical speed, by the
way. I
> > believe you have to take the battery out to get this, but could be
mistaken.
> > It's so dependable that I repay the compliment by always keeping a spare
> > battery handy. They last about a  year under heavy use unless I forget
to
> > turn the camera off, it's one weak point in my opinion.
> >
> > charlie trentelman
> > ogden
> > marching to a different drummer
> > utah
>