Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 7/24/00 10:06:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, miroj@ozemail.com.au writes: << If there was a popular SLR Leica of this era ..... would it be the R8 or R7. I find qualities in both cameras that are practical. >> Popular is a moot point with Leica. They don't give many choices. The R8 is the only one you can buy new (maybe there are a few new R7's around but it would take some searching). The R8 has more user-friendly conveniences and less peculiar quirks than the R7, like manual metering in all modes, easier mirror-up, faster loading, faster shutter speeds, evaluative metering option, etc. People seem to either love or hate the R8's shape and size (I'm in the latter group). The R7 just had too many quirks for me. I prefer the high-tech 35mm SLR route a la Nikon or Canon, but if I were buying into the R system today I'd get 2 or 3 R4, R4s etc. bodies for the price of one R7. Most likely by now any of them around in good shape have been "cured" of their bugs by former owners. Except for TTL flash, there really aren't that many improvements in the R7. The 1/2-stop shutter speeds are nice, but not essential. Shoot on "A" and use the AE lock and you can get stepless speeds.