Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Maybe I could get some help with my decision. I use an R4 right now and would like to upgrade a bit. My main motive is that my eye sight is getting to the stage at age 51 that I will need some viewfinder diopter help. I was all set on an R5 from a fellow LUGite, but then a friend brought over his "new" R7. A bit larger, but not much. I have to admit I was always put off by the R5's lack of 1 second manual shutter selection. I take quite a few 1 second shots as I like to shoot waterfalls, streams and do a fair amount of macro work where 1 sec gives me that one extra stop DOF. I know that this speed is available in aperature priority mode, but I have never trusted auto modes. Having shot with an all manual Rollei SL35 for close to 30 years before getting my R4 last year, I haven't made the physological switch. Often I must use less or more exposure than the meter tells me and in manual mode this is easy. The R7 has this 1 second and more. It has 1/2 shutter speeds. I tend to think that f-stop is more important than shutter in my style of shooting, and often have to open or close a 1/2 stop to be able to use the full shutter steps. Maybe this 1/2 stop thing is carrying things too far. Can anyone give me any perspective in this deilema? Should I get an R5 or spend twice the money on an R7? Has anyone seen real practical beneifts to the R7? Is the meter more accurate? Benefits of 1/2 shutter speed selection? Any other real improvements on the R7? Actually looking at used prices it is only a few hundred bucks more for an R8. R7's are going for $8-900 and R8's are around $1100. I could get another lens for the difference in price if I bought the R5. Decisions, decisions. Aram This message is made of 100% recycled electrons. No new atoms were destroyed in making it. Aram Langhans Science Teacher, Naches High School P. O. Box 159/101 W. 5th. St. Naches, WA 98937 "Science Rules" - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html