Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sun, 11 November 2001, "Aram Langhans" wrote: > > 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 > Aram, I also faced this problem a couple years ago. The R4sP I had been using was too difficult to focus, and the full-stop increments in manual mode were driving me batty. The 1/2 stop increments of the R7 or R8 are worthwhile for what I do, relying on a specific aperture (f/6.8) and adjusting the shutter speed for correct exposure. I agree with Don, consider the SL or SL2 bodies as well as the R bodies. The shutter speed is continuously variable except between 1/4 and 1/8 and between 1/30 and 1/60, and the viewfinder is MUCH easier to use and focus than the R4. The R8's viewfinder is nearly as good as the SL's with the bonus of much more information. If it were impossible to keep my trio of SL bodies in good working condition I'd be using an R8. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com ___________________________________________________ The ALL NEW CS2000 from CompuServe Better! Faster! More Powerful! 250 FREE hours! Sign-on Now! http://www.compuserve.com/trycsrv/cs2000/webmail/ - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html