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. There are R-only lenses that only have the R-cam. If you use an older 2-cam or 1-cam lens, you'll have to use stop-down metering.
The R-series cameras use only the so-called "R-cam" or third stepped cam on Leica R lenses. If you enjoy Leica SLR cameras, you should join David Young's Leica Reflex Forum.īest Beginner / Least Expensive: Leica SL or SL2 There's a great page with things to check before buying an R4-R7. The speed-increased R6.2 is considered by many to be the best Leica SLR ever, that is unless you need auto-exposure metering. This was not really resolved until the R6 in 1988, which was the return to the all-mechanical SLR. This gave Leica SLRs a reputation for being finicky. Early R3 and R4 cameras were troubled with a number of electronic "bugs" that made them seize up or operate improperly. Unfortunately, Leica was not as capable in producing electronic cameras as it was in manufacturing mechanical ones. I also reserve the right to file claim for civil penalties. This may result in your account being cancelled. I will report you to ebay if I discover such a violation taking place. Note: Using the text or images on this site in an ebay auction without permission is a violation of your ebay Terms of Service.
Leica m7 serial numbers year manual#
Perfection indeed, if you have forearms of steel, don't mind manual focusing cameras, and love R-glass. A slight modification of the R8: 100grams lighter and digital-ready (some think it should have been called the R8.2). Can even meter studio strobes! The R8 is almost fully compatible with the new Digital Module R (DMR) 11-megapixel digital back. Improve R6 speed increased to 1/2000 sec.Ī redesign of the R5, electro-mechanical and auto-exposure and program modes.Ī totally new design by Leica, much larger and heftier than the earlier R series, with a totally new line of accessories.
TTL flash metering, program auto-exposureĮconomy model of the R5 reduced feature setĪ return to the all-mechanical SLR. 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.
Leica m7 serial numbers year series#
Here's a quick run-down of the R series in a nutshell: ModelĪ small SLR with auto-exposure based on the Minolta XE seriesĪ smaller camera based on the Minolta XD series. 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. 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). 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. Using the text or images on this website without permission on an ebay auction or any other site is a violation of federal law. 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. But by the 1970s, it was clear that SLRs represented the future of camera design. As detailed in my Leicaflex page, Leica was slow to respond to the growing threat of Japanese single-lens reflex cameras.