Leica R-8

I have had more cameras than I have had dinners. Few are truly satisfying. Few make photography an enjoyable experience. Enter the Leica R8. This camera isn't for the weak-handed. It is heavy, particulalry with the standard Leica lens possibilities. This, however, is only a feature, not a weakness. With this camera you can forget about fiddlilng with mysterious and confusing and over-complicated dials and the inevitable autofocus flip-flop. It is simply beautiful. Aim, think, compose, focus, shoot, wind on to next frame, aim, think, compose, focus, etc. Everything is reachable on the body without having to take your eyes off the subject. And the EV correction lever is a joy to use. This feature has really been thought out properly. Because this camera is expensive and the lenses moreso, I run my R8 with a 50/2 Summicron only. The result is that I am learning to appreciate the one lens one camera ideal. I find I am now shooting in a Ze-like state, looking at autumn leaves, simple oceans, people alone on the street. Next year when I sell the remainder of my worldly possessons (I sold a car and a couple of rooms of inherited collectibles to buy the R8 and 50/2), maybe I'll break out and buy a 21-35 ASPH. But then again, I might just have to get an R9 to go with it!! Another thing, I have no desire to go digital anymore.

perfect ergonomics,
solid,
simple to use,
well thought out feature set which is just right, and it uses those great lenses,
the nicest shutter thunk in cameradom,
never had a poor result even in the strangest light,
excellent EV lever design,
a film camera!!

very few but:
the base which is made of reinforced fibreglass scratches too easily (why not a metal base),
the main switch wanders a bit (needs a lock button, a la the R9),
too costly (never mind, sell every thing that's not tied down and enjoy it)

Canon AE1P, Minolta Dynax, Nikons Nikons Nikons, Contax G1, various Olympuses including the amazing XA2.

Not necessary yet, but the 5 year warranty sounds great

While I liked the classic look of the old R's better (was afraid, it might "attract" the wrong sort of people while travelling in Asia - but nobody cared so far), I nonetheless opted for the R8 because of better handling (I had been using a Canon F1n for 9 years now, but got used to handling the R8 within hours!) and the amazingly bright viewfinder. Though a bit heavy, all functions are within reach. Some of the softer plastic on the bottom is wearing off - you can see this only if you look closely. Also, sometimes, though very rarely, the display on the backside (would prefer the R8 w/o it for the looks) does not turn on, even though the camera is switched on - but the rest is working ok, so not a big problem. Some of the things I would to see improved, has been done in R9; number of pictures even when camera is off, ASA-number in dx-mode (okay, could just have a look a the film through the window) and preventing the selector-switch from turning on unvoluntarily. What else is "not perfect": the DOF-testing-lever is sometimes a bit difficult to reach (especially, if you have already pressed the release button half-way to save the metering), the exposure-metering-mode-selector is easy to switch from right to left, more difficult sometimes from left to right (selective to multi-field). But okay, these are only minor problems. Cannot say much about motor/winder and flash, as I do not need them. All in all, I am very content. On a 1-10 scale, it would be a 9: All that you REALLY need within reach w/o all that gimmicks that are only confusing.

+ Leica-R-lenses (main reason to buy this body) + no gimmicks, but all you need for creative photography, yet fast enough for a snapshot + ergonomic form, all functions within reach + apparently well manufactured + bright viewfinder

- too big, too heavy, looks (personal taste, but as I am travelling in very poor regions of the world, an "older" looking camera would be better) - lcd display: number of pictures taken only visible after turning camera on - room for improvement in minor aspects (see above)

Canon F1n; Pentax sf

not needed yet

Certainly it is not a camera for everyone. It is made like a HP RPN calculator. At first, you have the impression, that it lacks many useful functions, which you can find even in very cheep models of other brands. But when using it, you discover, that it has just what is really necessary and useful for creative photography. It is very intuitive and easy to operate. Its ergonomics is surprising. Heavy and bulky at glance, seems losing half of its weight and volume in hand. For me it is the best manual SLR camera till now! I hope Leica will be continuing this exclusive line.

Bright, high-eyepoint viewfinder with built-in dioptric adjustment; viewfinder display with easy to read and only necessary information; ergonomics; sturdy construction; flash-metering.

Not 100% viewfinder.

Many, but none similar. It reminds me my first impression with Pentax MX, many years ago, which I use till now without any problems.

Not used yet.

I was attracted to the R-8 by the finest viewing system that I had ever seen. I purchased two of these cameras at the same time. They feel great with the motor winder or drive. I experienced major reliability problems with both bodies as did a fellow shooter I compared notes with. I had electronic problems with both which were solved by Leica. I also had the worst camera nightmare of my entire professional career. One of my bodies developed a weird focus error. It was not the mirror out of alignment which can be detected by looking through the viewfinder. When the lens looked perfectly focused it was actually focused behind the subject. That was the final straw for me. I dumped the system and went back to the Contax RTSIII. It was like returning to the girl that you never should have left. Aside from these reliability problems I did find one glaring design flaw. The mode selection wheel has no lock as is much to easily turned. I kept finding myself in manual mode when I thought I was in aperture prioriy.

View finder, lens quality, ergonomics

poor mode selection wheel design, reliability problems ,overpriced lenses

Contax RTSIII

very slow to respond to a paniced professional.

Nice camera. Very well built, but no info on reliability. mirror movement is well dampped, smooth, the best feature to me. Great optics. battery need. a couple things I don't have good experiences with them. 1. the ttl flash. it goes to 1/250 when it meters in dark. I don't know what is the logic behind this, but 1/250 is very likely to put the object in the black hole, manually adjustment need. 2. batteries need for shutter. 3. for some reasons, the shutter speed knob are easily moved, too smooth I guess. I had tried a R8 with the motor drive in a shop last year, and they do match nicely.

Well built, mirror vibration will dampped. great lenses to get, well, they are expansive

shutter speed knob easily moved 1/250 ttl setting, stated above

Contax SLR, Nikon SLR

don't know. I bought it grey market