[Leica] Leica SLRs

[Doug Herr <71247.3542@compuserve.com>]

On Sat, 14 Nov 1998, Bill Cassing wrote:

>Can someone give me a brief simple explanation of the differences between
>the R4, RE, R6 and the R6.2.
>
>Any other suggestions for "cost effective" (inexpensive)  Leica SLR's.
>
>I am not interested in the R8 at this time - to "techy" for me.

Bill,

All the bodies you're asking about have interchangable viewscreens and can
be switched between spot and center-weighted average metering.

The R4 has an electroncially-timed shutter, has aperture-preferred,
shutter-preferred and program auto-exposure, and manual metering.  Early
production models have a reputation for poor reliability but I would guess
that any that have been used much and are still working right either were
OK to begin with or have been repaired.

There are 2 R4 variants that never were implicated in the reliability
problems: the R4s and R4sP.  They don't have the R4's shutter-preferred or
program auto-exposure.  The R4s also lacks the viewfinder display of
manually-set shutter speed.  The R4sP has several idiot-proofing and
weatherizing improvements in the little buttons and switches.

The RE is very similar to the R4sP with the addition of TTL flash and
built-in viewfinder diopter adjustment.  The RE can be thought of as an
"R5s" since it's derived from the R5 and lacks the shutter-preferred and
program automation.

The R6 and R6.2 bodies have mechanically-timed shutters & no exposure
automation aside from TTL flash.  The R6.2's shutter goes as fast as 1/2000
sec (vs. R6 1/1000 sec) and is quieter.  I've read that the R6's shutter
(not the R6.2) occasionally "has a mind of its own" and on rare occasions
will make an exposure for you!

If you need the shutter-preferred or program automation, try either an R4
or R5.  If a mechanical shutter is what you want, either the R6 or R6.2
will work fine.  I've used the R4s and R4sP for a number of years and
either is quite reliable.  I prefer the R4sP because of the idiot-proofing
and the manual shutter speed display.  If I needed TTL flash I'd try to
convince my best friend he doesn't need his RE any more.

Doug Herr
Sacramento