Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The history of my Leica SLR experience is: 1966 - Leicaflex Mark I with 50 Summicron, 90 Elmarit-R, and Elpro for 90. 1966 - Leicaflex Mark I jams, and is replaced by Leitz with a Leicaflex Mark II 1968 - Second Leicaflex mark II 1978 - Mint Leicaflex SL 1980s - 28 Elmarit-R " - 60 Macro Elmarit-R " - Did not buy mint 21 f4 Super Angulon R - SOB!!! " - 135 Elmarit-R " - 100 f4 Macro Elmar and bellows R " - 135 f4 Tele Elmar lens head and adapter for Bellow R " - 65 f3.5 black Elmar and focusing tube " - 60 Macro Elmarit-R 1990s - Leica RE " - Mint 35mm f2.8 Elmarit-R " - Mint 24 f2.8 Elmarit-R " - 400 f6.8 Telyt-R " - 100 f2.8 APO Macro Elmarit-R " - Mint Leica R6 " - Leica motor winder for the Rs and a shoulder stock and trigger release for the winder. I still have it all, and use it all for color and black and white work of all kinds. The Leica R cameras are wonderful for every thing, and I use them more than the flexes. But, the Leicaflexes are still my favorites, and not only for emotional reasons. The ergonomics of the Leicaflex is unequaled for me (I haven't tried them backwards yet! The R8 is a backwards flex!). They fit my hands perfectly, and the weight and balance make for super hand holdable photography. Pick one up with the 50 and an R with a 50, and it is very evident that the Leicaflex package is much more steady than the R package. The viewfinder, especially the original Leicaflex screen, is brilliant, but you can only focus in the central circle, and it is not easy, in spite of its brilliance, to focus in dim light. The SL screen is a definite improvement for focusing, but it is not as bright and it has a slight greenish color. The SL BTL meter is nice, and the ergonomics, although excellent, are not as good as the original flex, but are definitely better than the Rs. On the other hand, the Rs do everything well, and the small size and lower weight are nice. The RE fitted with a motor winder, the 400 Telyt, and the shoulder stock is fantastic (How do you use the SL and 400 quickly Doug?). I have handled the R8, but my comments above don't apply to it. My opinion is that the R8 does every thing a SLR should, but the large size does not appeal to me. If they introduce a smaller sized "R8" with the ergonomics of the original flex and the controls of the R8, I will buy it immediately. I must confess that if I were not going into larger format photography, I would buy an R8 now - especially for the flash metering. Ferrel Anderson