Thinking about doing some film photography again....love your reviews and history lessons about the Leica film cameras....so far I’m all in to buy the LeicaFlex SL2.
I got a new R4 in the 1980s. Sadly, I sold it. I wish I still had it and all the R lenses I had back then. The Leica rabbit hole is indeed very steep and very deep. Good word of caution.
Would love a noctilux history video showing side by side the 1.2, 1, and 0.95. We all know that the nocti is your lens of choice for a lot of things. Would love to see some images and hear you talk about the practical side of using them in the field. Especially now the 75mm is here as well and others coming.
I Gad an R4 Mot with handgrip/motor with the 35, 50, and 90mm lenes. Sadly it was stolen - heartbreaking. Currently I’m scooting a Nikon F3, D700 and D7200 with lots of Nikkor glass. I miss the Leica images as there is nothing like it. I found a near mint R4 Mot body on eBay which I bought. Now I need the hand grip and lenses. The good thing if that they are so much cheaper than back in the ‘90s. Your video convence me. I shoot some weddings, magazine spreads - mostly aviation and air to air. The R4 I want for my own pleasure and amazement.
The development of the R4 is based on the Minolta XE at first (the body is from the XE). With the growing popularity of the Olympus OM-1 changing the idea that SRLs had to be big and heavy, Minolta and all other brands felt compelled to develop at least some model that could compete with the small size and weight of the OM-1. Minolta quickly discontinued the XE model and released the XD-7 camera in Europe, the latter using a capal shutter that had been developed for the Leica R series being the first SRL to have both aperture priority as shutter priority as automatic exposure modes. Leitz took two more years but finally released the R4 (I think) improving the light measurement system a little more but using the same capal shutter.
Sorry, you are mistaken: the first SLR Leica made in cooperation with Minolta is de R3. And by the way, it was also the last. Minolta made the body and electronics for the Leica CL, and in return Leitz let them have the "recipe" for the ground glass for their SLR.
nice Video, i was starting with the R3, but it is very big so i bought the R4 and for me it is perfect size, i wish they would made a R10D in the size of this R4, digital :D
The Leica R3, R4, R5 and the R6 needs much more pressure to release the shutter than any other camera of that time like an Nikon F3, Minolta XD7 and the Olympus OM 2n. For the rest they are wonderful camera’s.
Hello From Canada. I hope over the time since you posted the video that someone would have corrected you on few points. First of all There were other modesl of Leica SLR before the R4 There were the SL2, R3, R3MOT (not R4 Mot like you said) Then the R4 all made In Germany As far as I know Then there were few R4 later made in Portugal then They made the R4-P I believe.
If Im correct the 800 mm apo telyt was 44000 gulden in 1995, wich was 24444,44 dollars. For normal people, that lens was just out of reach; even leica was just unreachable for most people. So calling it "not that expensive is a little odd". XD But yeah, they are now relative dirt cheap.
Shame on you! The R4 is a disaster! Leica electronics cause of that disaster! Cams that needed to be fitted, if possible, at very high prices! On a body prone to stop! Trading an F3 for a poor SLR, was your disaster.. It's down hill after that! Go carefully about those 'Leica' lenses. Having used Minolta cameras and lenses, many of Minolta lens have identical look of Leica! Same flares, same odd things! I guess they are the same!. Friends of mine who had the R4 all, ALL had camera failure! It's wrong to 'push' crap!
Oh my! That must have been a while since you had that experience. And yes, back then both cameras and lenses were made Leica/Minolta versions, a bad habit they got over. I remember a zoom my neighbor bought, made by Minolta for Leica, and not a pretty sight. This day Leica make their own lenses, except that some of the SL lenses for the Leica SL system is made together with Panasonic.
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I've been really enjoying this video series on the non-M Leica cameras
I appreciate your sense of history and am looking forward to reviewing your work.
Thank you 🙂
Thinking about doing some film photography again....love your reviews and history lessons about the Leica film cameras....so far I’m all in to buy the LeicaFlex SL2.
I got one few weeks ago, it's a fantastic camera and I love the sound of the shutter!
Really enjoy your reviews on these old classics
I have a R4 that still works wonderfully. Thank for the great review as always.
I got a new R4 in the 1980s. Sadly, I sold it. I wish I still had it and all the R lenses I had back then. The Leica rabbit hole is indeed very steep and very deep. Good word of caution.
Would love a noctilux history video showing side by side the 1.2, 1, and 0.95. We all know that the nocti is your lens of choice for a lot of things. Would love to see some images and hear you talk about the practical side of using them in the field. Especially now the 75mm is here as well and others coming.
What are the “impressive” lenses that you introduce in the video, please? Model?
I Gad an R4 Mot with handgrip/motor with the 35, 50, and 90mm lenes. Sadly it was stolen - heartbreaking. Currently I’m scooting a Nikon F3, D700 and D7200 with lots of Nikkor glass. I miss the Leica images as there is nothing like it. I found a near mint R4 Mot body on eBay which I bought. Now I need the hand grip and lenses. The good thing if that they are so much cheaper than back in the ‘90s. Your video convence me. I shoot some weddings, magazine spreads - mostly aviation and air to air. The R4 I want for my own pleasure and amazement.
The development of the R4 is based on the Minolta XE at first (the body is from the XE). With the growing popularity of the Olympus OM-1 changing the idea that SRLs had to be big and heavy, Minolta and all other brands felt compelled to develop at least some model that could compete with the small size and weight of the OM-1. Minolta quickly discontinued the XE model and released the XD-7 camera in Europe, the latter using a capal shutter that had been developed for the Leica R series being the first SRL to have both aperture priority as shutter priority as automatic exposure modes. Leitz took two more years but finally released the R4 (I think) improving the light measurement system a little more but using the same capal shutter.
Thank you. Good info.
Sorry, you are mistaken: the first SLR Leica made in cooperation with Minolta is de R3. And by the way, it was also the last. Minolta made the body and electronics for the Leica CL, and in return Leitz let them have the "recipe" for the ground glass for their SLR.
Leica copied Minolta's 35-70 lens later on
You're also wrong.
LeicaFlex was their first slr digicam 4k ultra graphics 60fps mirror less camera
Oh, forgot to say... I agree with what others here are saying. Love your Leica history and the background on these cameras. Very cool
I love my Leica R3 Safari...May be you will introduce R3 next time!
The R6 was my dream camera in the late eighties
Beautifully! & very nice tutorial.
what light meter is in it and how do you use it?
You fundamentally turn the aperture ring until it is in the center.
What company in the U.S. cleans and oils the Leica 4’s?
just bought a Leica R4 today ;-)
nice Video, i was starting with the R3, but it is very big so i bought the R4 and for me it is perfect size, i wish they would made a R10D in the size of this R4, digital :D
Very good video
Have you worked w/ the R7? The feel of the body, for me, is so beautiful and solid.
No, didn't do the R7. Did R3, R4, 6.2, 8 and 9
The Leica R3, R4, R5 and the R6 needs much more pressure to release the shutter than any other camera of that time like an Nikon F3, Minolta XD7 and the Olympus OM 2n. For the rest they are wonderful camera’s.
Yes the XD7 shutter is very light :)
Great Video on R4 Thanks man
my first leica was a minilux as well! Sadly I couldn't afford to fix it when it got the E02 error but it went to a good home
I heard you can get it fixed (if you still have it)
Enjoyed your review. Thank You.
Thank you 🙂
I can see my old balcony in the thumbnail! And I own a Leica R4!
That's some sort of "Magic Of Light" bingo, I think? :-)
..great to see other leica cameras.....🙂
Warning is valid. I start with R 4, X2, TL, and now SL. You might get hook too.
What made you go for the leica and stay there?
The lenses
I want to see an "unboxing" of a Leica lens that comes with a free Volkswagon .. 🤣
Hello From Canada. I hope over the time since you posted the video that someone would have corrected you on few points. First of all There were other modesl of Leica SLR before the R4 There were the SL2, R3, R3MOT (not R4 Mot like you said) Then the R4 all made In Germany As far as I know Then there were few R4 later made in Portugal then They made the R4-P I believe.
If Im correct the 800 mm apo telyt was 44000 gulden in 1995, wich was 24444,44 dollars. For normal people, that lens was just out of reach; even leica was just unreachable for most people. So calling it "not that expensive is a little odd". XD
But yeah, they are now relative dirt cheap.
Yes, it is strange they could be that expensive then, and so dirt cheap on eBay and elsewhere today.
Shame on you! The R4 is a disaster! Leica electronics cause of that disaster! Cams that needed to be fitted, if possible, at very high prices! On a body prone to stop! Trading an F3 for a poor SLR, was your disaster.. It's down hill after that! Go carefully about those 'Leica' lenses. Having used Minolta cameras and lenses, many of Minolta lens have identical look of Leica! Same flares, same odd things! I guess they are the same!. Friends of mine who had the R4 all, ALL had camera failure! It's wrong to 'push' crap!
Oh my! That must have been a while since you had that experience. And yes, back then both cameras and lenses were made Leica/Minolta versions, a bad habit they got over. I remember a zoom my neighbor bought, made by Minolta for Leica, and not a pretty sight. This day Leica make their own lenses, except that some of the SL lenses for the Leica SL system is made together with Panasonic.
The bigger the better😅