Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/11/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Aram, Having owned all of the reflex Leicas from the Mk II Leicaflex to the R-7, I'd advise you to get the R-7 over the R-5 even if it costs a few hundred dollars more. The incremental improvements in the R-7 are really worth it. Any of these would be a big step up from the R-4. The R-8 is liked by many while others dislike it, mainly because of its size and shape. It is very much a matter of personal preference. Why not rent one for a weeek from your local dealer to see if it suits you ? Note that if you do macro work no TTL ringlights are available for the R-8, whereas the R-5 through R-7 can be used w. the Minolta 360PX flash. Finally, if you need assistance with focussing why not wait until early next year when the improved R-8 (?) w. electronic focus assist is introduced ? The price is likely to be very much higher, though. Regards, Akhil 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 > > 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 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html