Re: [Leica] R8 Question

[Wilber Jeffcoat <jeffcoatphoto@sumter.net>]

Steve: Let me reply to some of your comments about the R-8. This is far from a
Novelty in the SLR world. This is a world class camera with world class optics. If
you will an SLR the marches to the beat of a different drummer. No it is not auto
everything, but I do find the meter to be dead on and with the motor attached it is
one of the quietest SLR's on the market. I've only had mine a little over a year
and in that time I've had NO problems with it at all. The problems that I and some
others have had is with the first run of motors that have hit the market. Yes I had
trouble with my motor and it was replaced very promptly by Leica with no questions
asked. Keep in mind that every major manufacture of 35 mm equipment has it's share
of problems. When the EOS 3 hit this country it is my understand that the first 3
shipments went back for some type of electrical problems, Nikon can not get the
magenta out of it's D1 and the list goes on and on. I think the reason that we have
such a fit when a Leica fails to perform is that for anything that costs in this
area we expect it to be perfect and never to have even the slightest hiccup. I've
shot with everything under the sun, Pentax, Petri, Rollie (their original 35 mm),
Mamyia, Minolta, and Yes Nikon F, F2, F3, and F5 (this, the 5 was  good but at
times would simply just not work, and I had to hold my mouth just right at times to
get the flash to work). With out fail everyone had a quirk or two and some more
than others. In fairness to Leica I have three of their bodies R4s, R7 and R8. The
only one I've had a body problem with was the R7 (bought used and I fear abused)
with a broken wire. I've also had 3 M's (2-M3 DS-which I kick ma ass regularly for
ever letting go of) and an M4 with a viso housing (newspaper days and being young I
had to trade everything I got my hands on). Really I feel it comes down to who you
are and what you feel comfortable and confident with. For myself that would be the
Leica "R" system. Now if we can get Leica to get to work on a 24-120 3.5 zoom I
will be ever so happy. Leica are you listening? Please before I turn "60".
Cheers Wilber

Steve LeHuray wrote:

> > On Tue, 22 August 2000, "Steve LeHuray" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Sorry, but, I can not resist after listening to all this foo-foo-ra over the
> >> R8 ever since I have been on this list. I have two Nikon F's bought used 30
> >> years ago, heavy pro useage on dirty, dusty motorsports tracks around N
> >> America. Never even been serviced, never broke. F2, ditto. F3, FM2n, fifteen
> >> years and ditto, ditto. Still have all five, still trucking right along. For
> >> the marginal gain (if any) in Leica optics why are ya'll doing this to
> >> yourselves????? Can somebody start a separate R list please.
> >>
> >> Steve (Love my Leica M's)
> >> Annapolis
> >
> > Steve,
> >
> > You obviously don't have functional meter heads on your F bodies.  You also
> > don't have one of the early F2 bodies (or, it was repaired before you
> > bought it).  I don't know what Nikkors you're using or what you're doing
> > with your photos but in my experience and for my uses of the photos the
> > difference in optics is not marginal.
> >
> > Have you used an R8?  For a more current perspecitve of the Nikon system,
> > find a Nikon list and read about the electronic glitches on current Nikon
> > bodies, some of which leave the camera completely useless.
> >
> > If you really want to compare brands, compare contemporaneous models.  I
> > bought a Leicaflex SL (1968-1972) 21 years ago after multiple Nikon meter
> > failures.  I've used the Leicaflex SL in the tropics, the arctic, in rain,
> > snow and very dusty conditions, and have accidentally dropped it on
> > concrete.  The entire camera, including the meter, is still working.
> >
> > I'm not saying that failures like some R8 users have seen are acceptable,
> > I'm saying that they are not unique to Leica R equipment.  You've found
> > some Nikon bodies that meet your needs, and you don't think the benefits of
> > the R system would be worth the costs.  I don't have a problem with that.
> > An M camera is not for me, but I can acknowledge the value of the M system
> > even after reading of rangefinder flare and mis-adjustments, parallax
> > errors, partially blocked viewfinders, bad pressure plates, slow sync
> > speeds and excess battery consumption.  Can you do the same for the R system?
> >
> > Doug Herr
> > Sacramento
> > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt
> > --------------------------------------------------
>
> Doug,
>
> Sorry, but this is the first time I have ever commented on the R8 and will
> probably be the last. And probably most Leica R cameras are just fine, but,
> there seems to be some problems attached to at least the R8. And all these
> problem R8's seem to show up here on the LUG which is really to bad for the
> entushiastic Leica R8 owners, to be honest it drives me nuts to keep hearing
> all this. In fairness I have never even touched a Leica R so maybe I  am
> missing out on a great camera, but, after a couple years of hearing all
> these problems, I have no inspiration or incentive to think of them as
> anything other than a not very good camera. Also, please note that my
> comments were directed toward the R8 as a follow up to a post Tina had made
> about her R8 going back to Leica over what seems to me to be an inexcuseable
> problem.
>
> As far as the meters on any of my Nikons they all work to the same exposure
> from my first to my last and I have checked them all with two handmeters. I
> have had 30 years trouble free experience with 5 Nikons and I doubt that is
> possible with Leica R's. While the M's are the standard for rangefinder
> cameras the R's are really not more than novelties in the reflex world.
>
> As far as hearing the problems over on the Nikon Group, I don't belong, this
> list, the LEG and the SP list are the only lists I belong to and at times
> that seems to be to much.
>
> Steve
> Annapolis