Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]drodgers@nextlink.com wrote: > I'd be interested to know how many people own both an R7 and and R8, > and which they use more often. That's usually a pretty good indication > of which body they like more. <<There me, for instance. I own both, and I have winders for both. I bought them virtually simultaneously and both were new when I bought them. In the studio, I prefer the R8 mainly because of the auto-rewind function. For the rest, you don't really need "features" when blasting strobes at a model. I will even use my R6 with winder in the studio, because all you need to do is set it to X and fire away.>> <<I never take street candids, but I do take photos of streets I find picturesque and of architecture in general. Of course the R8 beats the R7 hands down. I really need the 16 sec you can set manually, and I love the way the camera slides through MLU into B with the timer on the back display. That is suberb.>> << With the R7, I cannot see all the info in the viewfinder at once; I have to move about a bit to catch a glimpse of it all (and I don't even wear glasses). With the R8, I see everything at a glance. >> That's no understatement. I usually use R7 but it is a relief to use the R8 for this particular reason. I shoot architecture mostly and if you're going to looking through the lens, you should have a good look! The R8 clears up what little distractions may be apparent with the R7. <<The R8 shows me the frame counter in the viewfinder too, which I find very important for studio work (I go through a roll rather quickly, and I need to see what I've got left, so I can guide the model accordingly).>> The R8 eats my film! I shoot significantly more if I have the R8, and certainly the viewfinder facilitates this acceleration to a degree. << I never use EV compensation, but of course the way it's done on the R7 is pretty inconvenient; on the R8 it's so much easier. Then there's matrix metering. I normally use the spot, but not always, and the matrix gets it right more often than the intergral metering function. Again, the R8 wins. Then there's the obvious argument about how well the controls are placed on the R8. There is more I could say, but this is what comes to mind immediately. Oh, there's one minus to the R8: I *love* the leather strap that comes with the old R-winders.>> The R8 I think grows on you. After a while it seems just right and the frames just go quick. The controls are not awkward as they might be at first they are easy and efficient. Honestly, for a post R7 camera I like the viewfinder the equalizer is fun it's also a nice switch from the M6. And a better one back. I'd go out and have a shooting match with both. I'd take on a Hassy what the heck... The R8 100 APO gives you quite a bit of Leica there. When you've got that you will shoot your best and second thought limitations. . In any case I'd have no tripod. That would look good. <<Conclusion: the R8 is a major feat. Hooray for Leica.>> - --------------------- Right. It's got some things that are dislikeable. But to bypass its merits is unjust. <<Bernard>> eno