Leica R-Series SLR

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Leica Mount Cameras:

 

Leica-mount Lenses:

 

Leica R-Series SLRs

by Karen Nakamura

 

Overview and Personal Comments

As detailed in my Leicaflex page, Leica was slow to respond to the growing threat of Japanese single-lens reflex cameras. But by the 1970s, it was clear that SLRs represented the future of camera design. While Leica was superb at designing lenses, their previous camera bodies were largely mechanical and they could not compete with the auto-exposure features in the electronic marvels from their Asian rivals. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

To solve this, Leica teamed up with the Japanese company Minolta to design a new series of single-lens reflex cameras to replace the Leicaflex series. Leica borrowed the electronics and some of the chassis technology from the Minolta XD and XE cameras to produce the Leica R3 and R4 cameras (more info here). It should be emphasized that the Leica R3-R6 were designed with some Minolta technology (the XD series), but were manufactured by Leitz in Portugal or Germany.

Here's a quick run-down of the R series in a nutshell:

Model Years Features
R3 1976-79 A small SLR with auto-exposure based on the Minolta XE series
R4 1980-85 A smaller camera based on the Minolta XD series. The first units came with many bugs that marred its reputation, see Doug Herr's R4 page for more info about which serial numbers to avoid.
R5 1986-92 TTL flash metering, program auto-exposure
RE 1990-94 Economy model of the R5; reduced feature set
R6 1988-92 A return to the all-mechanical SLR. No auto-exposure, manual metering only.
R6.2 1992-97 Improve R6; speed increased to 1/2000 sec.
R7 1992-97 A redesign of the R5, electro-mechanical and auto-exposure and program modes.
R8 1996~ A totally new design by Leica, much larger and heftier than the earlier R series, with a totally new line of accessories. Spot, center, and matrix metering. Can even meter studio strobes! The R8 is almost fully compatible with the new Digital Module R (DMR) 11-megapixel digital back.
R9 2000~ The latest R system camera. A slight modification of the R8: 100grams lighter and digital-ready (some think it should have been called the R8.2). Perfection indeed, if you have forearms of steel, don't mind manual focusing cameras, and love R-glass.
Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service. I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. This may result in your account being cancelled. I also reserve the right to file claim for civil penalties.

Unfortunately, Leica was not as capable in producing electronic cameras as it was in manufacturing mechanical ones. Early R3 and R4 cameras were troubled with a number of electronic "bugs" that made them seize up or operate improperly. This gave Leica SLRs a reputation for being finicky.

This was not really resolved until the R6 in 1988, which was the return to the all-mechanical SLR. The speed-increased R6.2 is considered by many to be the best Leica SLR ever, that is unless you need auto-exposure metering.

There's a great page with things to check before buying an R4-R7. If you enjoy Leica SLR cameras, you should join David Young's Leica Reflex Forum.

Best Leica SLR Cameras

Best Overall: Leica R6.2
Best Beginner / Least Expensive:
Leica SL or SL2
Best Finder:
Leica SL2
Best Auto-exposure: Leica R9
Best Digital-Ready: Leica R9

 


R-Lenses

The R-series cameras use only the so-called "R-cam" or third stepped cam on Leica R lenses. If you use an older 2-cam or 1-cam lens, you'll have to use stop-down metering.

There are R-only lenses that only have the R-cam. You can of course use these.

ROM lenses also contain the third-cam (R-cam) so they can be used on all R series, but they can't be used on the older Leicaflexes.

More info on my Leica R lens page.


 

Leica R3 manual scans courtesy of David Young.
Used with permission.

Leica R3

 

As noted above, the R3 is a compact SLR based in part on the Minolta XE. I bought my R3 on ebay in February 2005. When it arrived, I was surprised by how solid it felt. The body is all metal and the only plastic is on the tips of some of the controls. This gives the camera considerable heft. It's the same weight (780g) as the Leica R9, which many consider a beast, although the R3 is considerably smaller in volume (size).

The excerpt from the following chart illustrates just how hefty the R3 is, especially in comparison with the Nikon FE, which came out in 1978; or with the Leica M rangefinder series. The full chart is on my SLR vs. RF page.

SLRs Weight Weight Rangefinders
Bodies + Standard Lenses
Nikon F5 + 50mm f/1.4
~1580g
885g
Leica M7 + Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4
Canon EOS-3 + EF 50mm f/1.4
1130g
893g
Yashica Lynx 14 (50mm f/1.4)
Nikon FE + Series E 50mm f/1.8
714g
697g
Yashica Electro 35 GSN (45mm f/1.7)

Leica R3 + 50mm f/2.0

1090g
880g
Leica M7 + Summicron-M 50mm f/2
Bodies Only
Canon EOS 1v
945g
643g
Leica M7 (w/batt.)
780g
623g
Canon 7
780g
595g
Leica M3
Canon EOS 7e
580g
555g
Nikon S2

R3 Feature Set

That being said, I was suprised how many features the R3 had for being a late-1970s camera. In that sense, it's definitely more than the Nikon FE. Here are my comments on them:

Auto-exposure: AE works great and along with size, is a major reason to use the R3 instead of the Leicaflex SL which I also have. When in auto-exposure mode, the shutter is stepless between about 16 seconds and 1/1000 second. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

One 'bug' I have about the R3 is that the meter needle isn't illuminated. This means its pretty hard to see at night or in a theatre-type situation where only the person in the center of the frame has a spot on them.

Shutter-priority / aperture priority AE: While the R3 doesn't have shutter- or aperture-priority auto-exposure, the manual tells you how to pretend that you do:

  • Shutter priority: Set the shutter-speed dial to the speed you want. Then adjust the aperture until the meter needle matches the selected shutter speed.
  • Aperture priority: Set the aperture to your selected aperture, then adjust the shutter speed to match where the meter needle indicates.

Once you get used to it, it's not as clunky as it seems.

Leica R3 manual scans courtesy of David Young.
Used with permission.

Integral vs. selective metering: These are Leica's jargon for center-weighted and spot-metering. When the switch in front of the shutter-speed dial is set to integral metering (the white square), the camera meters in a center-weighted pattern. The selective metering (white dot) meters only the small portion of the scene as indicated by the outer frame of the focusing circle. Very few 1970s cameras had selectable spot/central metering.

Eyepiece shutter: The R3 has an eyepiece shutter (which only a few high-end SLRs have). If your eye is away from the shutter and you meter, stray light can enter through the eyepiece and through your metering off. This is important for auto-exposure SLRs like the R3 when using a remote-release or self-timer. Very few SLRs have this - most notably the Nikon single-digit F series and the Canon EOS 1 series. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

Multiple-Exposure Switch: I was surprised by the presence of a multiple exposure switch on the wind lever. Turn it clockwise so that two white dots are visible - the wind lever will only cock the shutter, it won't wind the film. This is much easier than other cameras which require fooling with the film rewind button.

Battery life: The two SR44 silver-oxide batteries will power the meter continuously for 2 months. But you'll normally shut the camera off in between shoots, so the battery life should 400 rolls or between 1~2 years. The meter power-switch is located on the rear of the camera. It also locks the shutter-button against false release.

The battery check button doubles as the film DIN indicator arrow. Pressing it down with your fingernail turns on the self-check. If the red light on the left side of the camera turns on, the batteries are still usable. Without batteries or with dead batteries, the shutter will only work at X (1/90th second) and B (bulb). Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law.

Quirks: The film counter is on the rear of the camera. If you're shooting and you want to check the current film count, it's handy..... but we're used to having the film counter on the top -- and Leica should know, they put it there with the original Leica standard!


Technical Details

Camera Name
Leica R3 Leica R4 Leica R6.2 Leica R9
Manufacturer
Ernst Leitz GMBH Wetzlar Germany
Leica Camera
Place of Manufacture
Portugal
Portugal or Germany
Date of Manufacture
1976-80 1980 1992 2000
Focusing System
Single-lens reflex
x magnification factor
92% coverage
Split-image rangefinder
Single-lens reflex
x magnification factor
xx % coverage
Split-image rangefinder

Single-lens reflex
.80x magnification factor
95% coverage

Interchangeable focusing screen

Single-lens reflex
.75x magnification factor
93% coverage
Lens Mount

Leica R bayonet mount compatible

3-cam mount
ROM Mount
Shutter

Vertical bladed metal focal-plane shutter
4 sec - 1/1000 sec + B & X (1/90sec)

Vertical bladed metal focal-plane
1 sec - 1/1000 sec + B & X (1/100sec)

Vertical bladed metal focal-plane
1 sec - 1/2000 sec + B & X (1/100 sec)

Vertical bladed metal focal plane
16 sec - 1/8000 sec + B + X (1/250 sec)

Features / Controls

Battery self-check
Eyepiece shutter
Multiple-exposure
Selective/Integral

DOF Preview
Self-timer
Meter on/off

Battery self-check
Eyepiece shutter
Multiple-exposure
Selective/Integral
DOF Preview
Self-timer

Battery self-check
Eyepiece shutter

Full-field/selective
Multiple-exposure
DOF Preview
Self-timer
Auxiliary viewfinder light

Mirror pre-release socket

Metering System

TTL selective (7mm) or center-weighted

7mm selective;
Center-weighted integral; or matrix.

Aperture-priority auto-exposure; shutter-priority AE; program AE; or manual


Aperture-priority auto or manual exposure

Aperture-priority auto-exposure; shutter-priority; program; or manual exposure
Manual exposure
EV1-18
EV -1-20 EV2-20
Flash
Accessory hot shoe
Sync cable connector on front
1/90 sec X sync and focal plane (FP) sync
Accessory hot shoe
1/100 sec X sync

External hot shoe
1/250 sec X sync

Film type

Type 135 film (35mm standard)
ASA 12-3200

Type 135 film (35mm standard)
ISO 8-6400
Type 135 film (35mm standard)
ISO 6-12500
Battery type
2 x SR44 cells or
1 x CR1/3N

2 x CR2 lithium cells

Dimensions and weight

148 x 96.5 x 64.4mm
780g

1090g w/ Summicron 50mm f/2.8

138.5 x 88 x 60mm
630g

138.5 x 89.1 x 62.2 mm
625g

158 x 101 62mm
790g

Retail price
$996 $2495 MSRP

Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service. I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. This may result in your account being cancelled. I also reserve the right to file claim for civil penalties.

 

 


About Leitz/Leica

Leitz was originally a microscope and scientific optics company. The first series of screwmount Leicas were designed by Oskar Barnack and have been named Barnack cameras by some. The prototype Ur-Leica was designed in 1918, but mass production did not start until 1925 when the Leica I came out. I have a write-up of the Leica III (1933).

The Leica M3 rangefinder was released in 1954 and represented the end of the Barnack-series of screwmount Leicas. The M-series had an integrated viewfinder/rangefinder with automatically switching projected framelines, coincident and split-image rangefinder, lever wind, hinged rear door, integrated shutterspeed dial, and M-bayonet mount. I have write-ups of the M3 (1954), M2 (1957), MD (1963), and M7 (2002). The Leica CL (1973) is technically not an M-Leica but it uses the M-bayonet mount.

The design of the Leica M has not changed considerably since the M3 of 1954. In 1967, the M4 came out with a crank-rewind instead of a knob rewind. Since then, the M series remained essentially unchanged from the Leica M4 (1968) up to the current M7. The only difference is that the M7 has an electronically controlled shutter and automatic exposure metering. (This leaves out the fiasco of the M5 which was considerably different and considerably unpopular at the time).

Leica's single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras have not been as popular as their rangefinders. I have write-ups of the original Leicaflex SL camera as well as the newer R3 and R6 SLRs and the R-mount lenses.

Leitz... blah blah.... and in 2000, fashion conglomerate Hermes bought 31% of Leica's stock. The only tangible result of this has been the emergence of the Hermes Special Edition Leica MP, dressed in the best coach leather and costing a mere US$8000.

 


On the Net

R Lens Cam information:

Instruction books:

Leicaflex (Original):

Leicaflex SL:

Leicaflex SL2:

Leica R Series

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