Re: [Leica] R5-R7 decision

["David Burdoin" <herzilein@clear.lakes.com>]

Hello Aram,

I speak as one who has used the R system for 25 years as a hobby
photographer.  I have all of the R  cameras you mention in your message and
have used them all extensively over the years.

I am 61 now, and about 10   years ago I too noticed that I needed some
viewfinder diopter correction.  At that time I had just the R3  and the R4.
So I made an educated guess as to how  much correction I needed and got two
Leica +2 diopter correction lenses.  They worked just fine.  I could see
sharply again.  So 10 years later one is still on the R3  and one is on the
R4.  In the early 90's I got an R5 with its adjustable diopter correction
setting.  That is very, very nice!  I set it once for my eyes and forget it.
No additional correction lens required.  The same of course holds true for
the later R models.

I still use the R3 and R4 sometimes.  Later this week I'm heading off to
Thailand and will take along the R3 and 35,50,90 Summicrons.  This is a
compact outfit for  me and not the most expensive in case of loss or damage.

Mostly I use now the R6, R7 and R8.  I like them all very much.  I like the
R8 the best; it's the nicest camera I've ever used.  The R7 is very nice
too, but of course the R6 is special being all mechanical.  There are times
when that is what you want.

As to the business of 1/2 or whole shutter speeds, that has never made any
difference to me.  I have just used the aperture to compensate for a 1/2
stop.  So the issue of shutter speed intervals would not affect my own
choice of a  camera body.  The R5 is a fine camera, but the R7 is a little
newer, otherwise there's not much difference.

After I bought my first Leica, the R3 and a 50mm Summicron, it was 6 years
before I could afford another lens or camera body.  So I just shot with the
R3 and the 50 for that length of time.  But 25 years is a fair amount of
time now, and hate to admit how many  empty Leica boxes of one kind or
another have been accumulating in  my closet.  So my advice is not to sweat
it, just take your time, you'll probably get all the stuff you want
eventually!

All the best,
David Burdoin
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Aram Langhans <alanghans@komoto.naches.wednet.edu>
To: leica users group <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2001 11:38 AM
Subject: [Leica] R5-R7 decision


> 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"
>
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> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>

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