I’ve owned an R4, an M6 and a lllB ..1938 vintage .. l eventually selling R4, buying into the rangefinder camera system. The M6 plus acquiring a couple of lenses.. l loved the rangefinder cameras. They just felt so beautifully made, were whisper quite in operation. Even the lllB, after being professionally serviced worked just fine, The screw on lenses were a bit soft by standards of the day but still gave pleasant results…The love of small quiete cameras stayed with me, l now use Olympus Micro 4/3 system. These cameras still retain that small solid well made feel l remember from forty years ago… Leica, Expensive Yes, but quality never comes cheap
I was very impressed by the model and the picture you took!!! Didn’t see it coming honestly. She’s really pretty and you both know what you are doing! Shame of the leak
I think that it's unfair to describe it as "obviously a faulty camera". You have taken a camera from the 70's without testing it properly and the only issue is the degraded light seals. Any vintage gear should be tested and serviced if you expect to get the best from it. You could have had exactly the same results from any vintage camera.
I will happily buy you a roll of film. You definitely deserve it. I love this serie and your assertiveness in telling us stories and sharing knowledge!
Worked in a pro camera shop in London in the late 70s and was sent to UK Leitz where I was educated on the manufacture/operation and why they got involved with Minolta. The R3 was a modified version of Minoltas own camera which sold alongside the R3. Leitz freely admitted that they had a lot of catching up to do with SLR technology then being developed by the Japanese and Minolta was in their opinion a good fit regarding manufacturing excellence. Compared with the previous Leica SL/SL2 cameras the R3 was a complete departure. All the “faults” mentioned are commensurate with any comparable cameras being made in the 70s even top brands like Nikon/Canon/Minolta/Pentax etc. Commonly used materials at that time like light seal deteriorate over time especially if cameras are not stored correctly over long periods of non use. The R3 was in my opinion an exceptional well put together consumer camera but the M series rangefinder cameras were/are of a different league in terms of materials used and manufacture. Nice to see a vintage Leica camera being given a public outing 👍
Thank you for your in depth reply. Over the years my opinion on faults have changed a little. Doing this channel has made me more empathetic to the tools, than when i was a pro. It wasn't well articulated in the video but i borrowed the camera that was up for sale as fully functional. and that's where the frustration came from. The thing i love most here is the lenses.
I do not agree in the statement "the leica M6 had sold very badly". It was the Leicaflex SL2 (very high production cost and low sale) and the Leica M5 that almost broke the Leica company. They saved it by start producing M4-2 and M4-P. The M6 was not on the market until 1986.
man the locations you choose ! always a pleasure to discover and the pictures you took are amazing too. This leak of light are like a touch of analog feeling...
Ah Jaffa cakes - whole moon, half moon. I had the opportunity a few years ago to get my hands on one of these Leica,'s, but was aware at the time re the possible issues and decided to leave it. A really enjoyable series of videos. Look forward to your next one.
Interesting video with a bit of a sting in the tail (light leaks). I've been shooting film since 1973/4 when I was 12/13 and my dad bought me my own camera (to keep me away from his beloved Rollei). I love film but I'm also a bit of a control freak and light leaks used to drive me nuts until I realised it was a small price to pay to make sure that all the traps were adequately protected. A lesson well learned as I used to shoot weddings to supplement my salary - and I'd have dreaded having to go back to a couple / family with a load of "buggered" wedding shots. I had an R3 for a year. Great camera but mine had a flaky meter. If you're ever in the market for a Leica R, I've known a few owners of the 6.2 model and they seem very reliable. Lovely model, great location and I'm 100% in favour of Jaffa Cakes to lighten the mood on a wet day.
Very nice struggling artist video, I’m happy to subscribe. and by now you’ve either figured out the proper loading technique (attach leader to take up reel first, then pull canister past shutter to feeder reel and drop in place) or you’ve sold the camera. Either way, more videos, please!
I have had this sort of problem before. we used to have short rolls of 24 for quick test of shutters and apertures not to mention light leaks. After testing a quick fix would be using black sharpie on the outer glass window then covering it up with black electrical tape. These cameras may also have a leather cover that could further seal the back from light. Great to so more people using them if just for some fun. Nice video and you really got my attention when you mentioned Dunkirk and the historical significance of the wreck in the background...
I'm with the 2nd school of opinion on light leaks, they're a bugger!! I guess if it had have been your own camera you could have stuck some electricians tape over the window & even repaired the light trap. What a shame though because it looked like you would have managed to get some cracking images without those leaks. I love the jaffa cake moment ; ) Thanks for sharing and maybe you also need a golf umberaella on your wish list , along with the towel . Take care :D Teddy
love the video, thx! onthe other hand i diosagree with your conclusion about a professional photographer, because professional photographers have their equipment regularly serviced and checked. which means seals are replaced and shitter is always in top condition. i was a professional press photographer and it was normal to hand in your equipment for service and get a replacement in the meantime. and I now not only canon, nikon and hasselblad did this but all camera manufacturers. and leica would service this one today, as It did service my leicaflex sl2 last year. but question is today instead is servicing and maintenance worth the money or buying new one on ebay easier?
I've become more empathetic to the cameras and manufactures since this video. I think the point was badly articulated , this was camera that was for sale as working, i used it and it wasn't. in hindsight, i think if your selling an analogue camera you have the responsibility to test it . So the actual issue today is the ebayer and second hand seller
I'm one of those guys who as a brand new still in the box Leica R 3 MOT. I was going to give it away but then decided that would be stupid... so I still have it. Might have to try it out one day. Nice video in spite of the frustrations.
@@olitography Four of them actually, and the motor winder. I also own a vintage Leica SL (SLR not the new digibody), and an R5, which is why I haven't used the R3 yet. No real need to..
As much as I enjoy your camera reviews, I think that I like your photos just as much. I hope neither you nor your model caught pneumonia but this is why I use a view camera and only photograph things which can't sneeze. Many years ago when I got my first view camera I invested an evening in front of the television sewing up my own oversized dark cloth (focusing cloth, whatever. I have no idea what you call them Over There.) Every couple of years the outside gets re-sprayed with water repellant and it makes a wonderful umbrella/raincoat/towel. For traveling light I have a very cheap plastic poncho (Hmm. Think a plastic cape with a hood. I got it for US $1.) Good luck!
Great job my man. I know it isn't easy shooting film while doing behind-the-scenes video in the rain. Too bad about the leaks I've been there but it was actually my fault that I open the back of the camera realizing I hadn't rewound it yet
What a shame, the results were tantalisingly good. I'm with the 2nd school of opinion on light leaks, they're a bugger. If you want that look buy a cheap Lomo camera. Anyway you both suffered for your art which is noble I'm told. Jaffa cakes in the car while waiting for the rain to stop, it could only be England.
Well, on a camera that old, with which you are not familiar, you probably should have shot a 24 exposure roll, half following the internal meter exactly, half following your external meter exactly. (Without traveling to a distant, wet, rainy location.) That would have told you something about whether the shutter (and everything else) was working correctly.) The difficult loading is your problem, unless the camera is broken. And, for cripes sake, one look at that foam seal should have told you that it was rubbish. This camera probably needs all its seal replaced. And....all Leica SLRs,, from the R3 onwards, feel Japanese, except that they're heavier, and stiffer.
sir free tips for you feed it into the right side take up spool then pull to the left lower the film wind crank tighten it and tad close the back the rest is history. light leak take gaffer tap tape over it
Load your film like press photographers do from right to left snug it in the rake up spool wind once to secure fit pull to the left seat cartridge in place done
We bought Leica R3, R4 and R4s and R8 cameras then invested over $25.000 in the M Series digital models and lenses. They were all constent - that is they were ALL consistently the most unreliable cameras we have ever used for commercial photography! Like Jaguars we had to buy two of each so that we could use one while the other one was visiting the service center every other week! To top things off the snobbish Leitz staff had no interest in offering any support or loan equipment when our production pressure was on! We use Fujifilm cameras now and are 100% happy with their interface, technology and brilliant support!
The transparent window on the back of the camera is not present on the Minolta XE-1 version, the shutter is identical, it is a part of the electronics which is different. The Leica 50 f2.0 is not a fabulous lens either. For a lot less you will find a Minolta XE1 with an absolutely sublime 50mm 1.4. The collaboration with Minolta has been up to R6. I happened to have the Minolta XE1 and the Leica R3 in my hands, I kept the Minolta and I still have it.
The Summicron R 50mm is sublime and much better than the Minolta Rokkor and even much better than my Planar 1,4 for my Contax. Its bokeh is ethereal. There is a reason that cinematographers are using those old R lenses nowadays and adapted them. The transition from sharp to unsharp is magnificient and unsurpassed. It is a Mandler lens!
not to be rude, but I don't think you're fair about the loading of the camera, it's always been like that on a lot of cameras, you're the first to show it like that.. it's been like that in almost all SLR cameras throughout time in one way or another, as a photo dealer since 1992, I've probably seen most of them... and I have to say the Leica M models are the worst ;-) to load new film until you find the method.
![The Real "Poor Mans Leica." [A Brief History of the Leica R]](/img/1.gif)
The light leaks are unbelievably perfect
Nice, very well done and enjoyable presentation. Thank you very much. RS. Canada.
It was again a great pleasure to watch your video. The feathers and the rubber boots: what a look ;)
That's why birds wear Wellies
Enjoying this series.
Why thank you sir
I’ve owned an R4, an M6 and a lllB ..1938 vintage .. l eventually selling R4, buying into the rangefinder camera system. The M6 plus acquiring a couple of lenses.. l loved the rangefinder cameras. They just felt so beautifully made, were whisper quite in operation. Even the lllB, after being professionally serviced worked just fine, The screw on lenses were a bit soft by standards of the day but still gave pleasant results…The love of small quiete cameras stayed with me, l now use Olympus Micro 4/3 system. These cameras still retain that small solid well made feel l remember from forty years ago… Leica, Expensive Yes, but quality never comes cheap
I was very impressed by the model and the picture you took!!! Didn’t see it coming honestly. She’s really pretty and you both know what you are doing! Shame of the leak
Thanks
love it
I think that it's unfair to describe it as "obviously a faulty camera". You have taken a camera from the 70's without testing it properly and the only issue is the degraded light seals. Any vintage gear should be tested and serviced if you expect to get the best from it. You could have had exactly the same results from any vintage camera.
Thanks for commenting positive and negative sides of this analog camera.
I will happily buy you a roll of film. You definitely deserve it. I love this serie and your assertiveness in telling us stories and sharing knowledge!
That would be amazing, thank you
olitography You’re welcome! I’ll get you a tri-x today, looking forward to see what you can do with that outstanding film :)
This is truly good. You deserve more credit.
Thank you, spread the word
I love the light leaks!
Well, that’s Turnham castle! Love finding local youtubers!
i fly gliders there sometimes
Worked in a pro camera shop in London in the late 70s and was sent to UK Leitz where I was educated on the manufacture/operation and why they got involved with Minolta. The R3 was a modified version of Minoltas own camera which sold alongside the R3. Leitz freely admitted that they had a lot of catching up to do with SLR technology then being developed by the Japanese and Minolta was in their opinion a good fit regarding manufacturing excellence. Compared with the previous Leica SL/SL2 cameras the R3 was a complete departure. All the “faults” mentioned are commensurate with any comparable cameras being made in the 70s even top brands like Nikon/Canon/Minolta/Pentax etc. Commonly used materials at that time like light seal deteriorate over time especially if cameras are not stored correctly over long periods of non use. The R3 was in my opinion an exceptional well put together consumer camera but the M series rangefinder cameras were/are of a different league in terms of materials used and manufacture. Nice to see a vintage Leica camera being given a public outing 👍
Thank you for your in depth reply. Over the years my opinion on faults have changed a little. Doing this channel has made me more empathetic to the tools, than when i was a pro. It wasn't well articulated in the video but i borrowed the camera that was up for sale as fully functional. and that's where the frustration came from. The thing i love most here is the lenses.
Great, honest review.
I do not agree in the statement "the leica M6 had sold very badly". It was the Leicaflex SL2 (very high production cost and low sale) and the Leica M5 that almost broke the Leica company. They saved it by start producing M4-2 and M4-P. The M6 was not on the market until 1986.
Leica R3 is a 70th camera. M6 comes way later.
Amazing video, nice review and mesmerizing model
Glad you think so!
man the locations you choose ! always a pleasure to discover and the pictures you took are amazing too. This leak of light are like a touch of analog feeling...
Thanks a lot!
What a shame about the leak, another enjoyable upload all the same.
Thank you
Ah Jaffa cakes - whole moon, half moon. I had the opportunity a few years ago to get my hands on one of these Leica,'s, but was aware at the time re the possible issues and decided to leave it. A really enjoyable series of videos. Look forward to your next one.
It was a test, a few people got the triggered by my Pentax video, saying what about the the R series or Nikon FE or Fm2, i tried it
Interesting video with a bit of a sting in the tail (light leaks). I've been shooting film since 1973/4 when I was 12/13 and my dad bought me my own camera (to keep me away from his beloved Rollei). I love film but I'm also a bit of a control freak and light leaks used to drive me nuts until I realised it was a small price to pay to make sure that all the traps were adequately protected. A lesson well learned as I used to shoot weddings to supplement my salary - and I'd have dreaded having to go back to a couple / family with a load of "buggered" wedding shots. I had an R3 for a year. Great camera but mine had a flaky meter. If you're ever in the market for a Leica R, I've known a few owners of the 6.2 model and they seem very reliable. Lovely model, great location and I'm 100% in favour of Jaffa Cakes to lighten the mood on a wet day.
i think i would replace my M2 as i still have the lenses, and there better cameras
Very nice struggling artist video, I’m happy to subscribe. and by now you’ve either figured out the proper loading technique (attach leader to take up reel first, then pull canister past shutter to feeder reel and drop in place) or you’ve sold the camera. Either way, more videos, please!
Was happy to give that one back
I have had this sort of problem before. we used to have short rolls of 24 for quick test of shutters and apertures not to mention light leaks. After testing a quick fix would be using black sharpie on the outer glass window then covering it up with black electrical tape. These cameras may also have a leather cover that could further seal the back from light. Great to so more people using them if just for some fun. Nice video and you really got my attention when you mentioned Dunkirk and the historical significance of the wreck in the background...
Thanks, also thank you for your advice on the camera.
I'm with the 2nd school of opinion on light leaks, they're a bugger!! I guess if it had have been your own camera you could have stuck some electricians tape over the window & even repaired the light trap. What a shame though because it looked like you would have managed to get some cracking images without those leaks. I love the jaffa cake moment ; )
Thanks for sharing and maybe you also need a golf umberaella on your wish list , along with the towel . Take care :D Teddy
I think i have one of my dad location umbrellas in the lock up but they are big and cumbersome. We can always go back there with another camera
love the video, thx! onthe other hand i diosagree with your conclusion about a professional photographer, because professional photographers have their equipment regularly serviced and checked. which means seals are replaced and shitter is always in top condition. i was a professional press photographer and it was normal to hand in your equipment for service and get a replacement in the meantime. and I now not only canon, nikon and hasselblad did this but all camera manufacturers. and leica would service this one today, as It did service my leicaflex sl2 last year. but question is today instead is servicing and maintenance worth the money or buying new one on ebay easier?
I've become more empathetic to the cameras and manufactures since this video. I think the point was badly articulated , this was camera that was for sale as working, i used it and it wasn't. in hindsight, i think if your selling an analogue camera you have the responsibility to test it . So the actual issue today is the ebayer and second hand seller
Amazing seriers
Thank you
I'm one of those guys who as a brand new still in the box Leica R 3 MOT. I was going to give it away but then decided that would be stupid... so I still have it. Might have to try it out one day. Nice video in spite of the frustrations.
Does it have a lens?
@@olitography Four of them actually, and the motor winder. I also own a vintage Leica SL (SLR not the new digibody), and an R5, which is why I haven't used the R3 yet. No real need to..
As much as I enjoy your camera reviews, I think that I like your photos just as much. I hope neither you nor your model caught pneumonia but this is why I use a view camera and only photograph things which can't sneeze. Many years ago when I got my first view camera I invested an evening in front of the television sewing up my own oversized dark cloth (focusing cloth, whatever. I have no idea what you call them Over There.) Every couple of years the outside gets re-sprayed with water repellant and it makes a wonderful umbrella/raincoat/towel. For traveling light I have a very cheap plastic poncho (Hmm. Think a plastic cape with a hood. I got it for US $1.) Good luck!
We’re both well, we call it a dark cloth over here.
Great job my man. I know it isn't easy shooting film while doing behind-the-scenes video in the rain. Too bad about the leaks I've been there but it was actually my fault that I open the back of the camera realizing I hadn't rewound it yet
:) That's something you only do once, but we've all done it
What a shame, the results were tantalisingly good. I'm with the 2nd school of opinion on light leaks, they're a bugger. If you want that look buy a cheap Lomo camera. Anyway you both suffered for your art which is noble I'm told. Jaffa cakes in the car while waiting for the rain to stop, it could only be England.
Jaffa Cakes, tea and July Rain, now that's England
I thought they came out really, really good despite the circumstances.
Thank you
Well, on a camera that old, with which you are not familiar, you probably should have shot a 24 exposure roll, half following the internal meter exactly, half following your external meter exactly. (Without traveling to a distant, wet, rainy location.) That would have told you something about whether the shutter (and everything else) was working correctly.)
The difficult loading is your problem, unless the camera is broken.
And, for cripes sake, one look at that foam seal should have told you that it was rubbish. This camera probably needs all its seal replaced.
And....all Leica SLRs,, from the R3 onwards, feel Japanese, except that they're heavier, and stiffer.
i took it off a friend i work with who was selling it, my assumption was that he had already done that.
sir free tips for you feed it into the right side take up spool then pull to the left lower the film wind crank tighten it and tad close the back the rest is history. light leak take gaffer tap tape over it
Load your film like press photographers do from right to left snug it in the rake up spool wind once to secure fit pull to the left seat cartridge in place done
Excellent review as usual: The R series’s were are plagued with issues, there are youtube sites confessing to the fact:
I did learn that
olitography of course you would have. I shouldn’t comment with a tired mind. Sorry friend
Does it ever not rain, or be cold, in
england? Perhaps move to the south of France?
Might head down there when we can get about more
We bought Leica R3, R4 and R4s and R8 cameras then invested over $25.000
in the M Series digital models and lenses. They were all constent -
that is they were ALL consistently the most unreliable cameras we have
ever used for commercial photography! Like Jaguars we had to buy two of
each so that we could use one while the other one was visiting the
service center every other week! To top things off the snobbish Leitz
staff had no interest in offering any support or loan equipment when our
production pressure was on! We use Fujifilm cameras now and are 100%
happy with their interface, technology and brilliant support!
I’m sorry, but this does make me feel better. Utterly over hyped cameras
The transparent window on the back of the camera is not present on the Minolta XE-1 version, the shutter is identical, it is a part of the electronics which is different. The Leica 50 f2.0 is not a fabulous lens either. For a lot less you will find a Minolta XE1 with an absolutely sublime 50mm 1.4. The collaboration with Minolta has been up to R6. I happened to have the Minolta XE1 and the Leica R3 in my hands, I kept the Minolta and I still have it.
I was recently given the Minolta, XE1 so will be able to test it out on the channel. I’m pretty sure you’ll be right, but it’ll be fu. To see.
The Summicron R 50mm is sublime and much better than the Minolta Rokkor and even much better than my Planar 1,4 for my Contax. Its bokeh is ethereal. There is a reason that cinematographers are using those old R lenses nowadays and adapted them. The transition from sharp to unsharp is magnificient and unsurpassed. It is a Mandler lens!
@@haiku8272 ruclips.net/video/ApEZ5StOURs/видео.html&ab_channel=MattRice
Could you not put tape over the window in the back
Yeah, once you know it’s leaking
not to be rude, but I don't think you're fair about the loading of the camera, it's always been like that on a lot of cameras, you're the first to show it like that.. it's been like that in almost all SLR cameras throughout time in one way or another, as a photo dealer since 1992, I've probably seen most of them... and I have to say the Leica M models are the worst ;-) to load new film until you find the method.
It’s a fair point, that was the only time I’ve ever used a Minolta.
I had an M2 which was ok to load but then I had it for more than a day