Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Fri, 26 Jul 2002 03:24:44 -0400 Allan Wafkowski <allanwafkowski@mac.com> wrote: >>> Does anyone have any experience with the R4S? I have a change to get one if I want it, but I know nothing about Leica SLRs. Is it worth going back that far, or should my exploration be with a newer body? <<< Allan, I used an R4s for several years and found it to be a reliable camera. A CLA every 15 years or so is all it should need. I sold it for 3 reasons: the viewfinder isn't as bright as the SL's (but then, what is?), the manual-exposure mode seems like an afterthought, and it's hard for me to get a good grip on the smaller body (vs. the SL or R8) when using long lenses. The first and last issues aren't a big deal if all you're going to use is reasonably fast normal-ish lenses. I've just turned 50 and I have a much harder time focussing the R4s than the SL with the f/6.8 telyts or with the 60 macro at close range. In manual-exposre mode, the shutter speed you've set on the shutter speed dial isn't visible in the viewfinder. This wouldn't be a significant problem if the meter readout were a match-diode type, but what the meter does is tell you what shutter speed to set! Also as previously mentioned, some repair techs no longer service R bodies, and some are reluctant to. BTW both Sherry Krauter and Don Goldberg gladly service the SL. Doug Herr<BR>Birdman of Sacramento<BR>http://www.wildlightphoto.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html