Great review, thanks for sharing. I have been shooting with an R4 for the last 25 years, since I inherited it from my dad. He received it brand new for Christmas 1982. That was a memorable Christmas! I absolutely love the R4 but as you say, the lenses are the most important. The Leica lenses are so beautifully made and deliver such fantastic images, making them a joy to use. I recently bought a R 135mm f:2.8 lens on eBay. It essentially came with a free R-E camera body. The lens was as new, as is the R-E. I can now carry around one Leica R with colour and the other body with black and white, each using my amazing Leica glass. A pleasure to use. Oh and to complete the picture, after our dad died recently, my two brothers each bought an R4 and 50mm Summicron in memory of him, so we now have Leica shoot outs!
Hi Greg, thanks and what a lovely story! (I will share it in the monthly MrLeica.com newsletter if that's OK to inspire others). If you follow the blog look out for it! (Also see me 135mm R lens video, it might inspire you. Excellent lens!)
While they've never been inexpensive lenses in real world terms, it used to be that a person could find Leica R series lenses for quite a bit less money than the equivalent M series lenses. This was definitely a bonus for Leica R shooters.
Correct! That is certainly stick the case. I wouldn’t be rocking around with a 35mm Summicron otherwise! (some ROM and gem lenses still have high price tags but there are cheap options to which I like). I wish I’d got into the R series years ago. I just never considered before as I had Ms.
True but partly because some R lenses used the Minolta design and did not require as much work from Leica. Leica M lenses were/ are unique because of their compactness due to the short distance between focal point and film/sensor.
Don't be shy about mentioning Nikon. I just got the F3, and discovered it is far nicer than I even expected. Not much larger than the FE/FM cameras. The best Nikon film camera I have. The lever arm on my Leicaflex SL is loose as on your R6.
Very nice mechanical camera, the R6 is a joy to use and that shutter sound is amazing! I use R camera a R8 who is completely different when compares to R6, but I love it. I also have one R3 electronic, who was my first Leica camera, and at this moment I made my myself a complete restoration whit removal of the prism for re-silvering. However the R3 was functional only the viewfinder needs repair. R cameras was great whit legendary Leica quality.
I have the R5 and love it. I mainly shoot with the 50 'Cron and one of the things I really love is that you can see the aperture at the bottom of the viewfinder very easily, and the big ol DOF preview lever is super easy to find and engage. I shot mostly Olympus OM before this for 35mm, and although I might actually like my Zuiko glass better than Leica R glass, the reliability of my R5 is much better than any of my Oly's over the years. I love taking my R5 as my film camera with the 50mm and pairing that with my M240 with the 35mm for a day out shooting.
Thanks and i'm glad you enough the Cron too! v1 or v2!? I now have both. I'm using v2 for film (future photos), v1 for digital as more flare which can be nice. Glad to hear your R5 works OK. A friend just got a bad copy so is sticking to 6 and 6.2s now.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have the V2 since I wanted a bit less flare using it on the R5 with film. Love the build quality and built in lens hood and it's rarely off my R5 (I have the 135 and a 35-70 as well) and love pairing it with PanF 50 or the gobs of BW400CN I got a few years ago for 50 cents a roll. I've heard of some problems with the R5 and others, but I got mine in mint condition from KEH to try to avoid any issues. I agree with your assessment of what kind of camera the R series is. I have more modern SLR's (Canon Elan 7e, Minolta Maxxum 7 - probably the most advanced SLR I own) and I have the super small Oly's and a Pentax ME Super SE, and I got the Leica R5 because it hit the sweet spot of features, build, lens quality and (so far) reliability. And I do love the rendering of Leica glass - mayyybe even over my tried and true Zuiko glass for BW.
I have an R3 and a Leicaflex SL2 and the difference as with the SL is night and day- that said I tend to shoot more with the R3 and M4 than with the SL2 because it’s such a beast to carry around. The R3 also has a very nice sounding shutter and all the controls feel well made.
Possibly my favourite mechanical SLR ever made! It even does full TTL flash metering with some Metz and Nissin flashes. Absolutely love that camera and the R mount lenses! And I actually prefer the dampened shutter, even though it felt a little weird in the beginning. Now I can get sharp photos down to 1/8th if I concentrate, and that's 1-2 stops better than I can manage with most other SLRs.
Thanks Don! Great to hear it! It looks like it will become my favourite camera to use too! Thanks about the shutter. I will play with slower speeds, thanks!
@@MusicInfiniteLyrics I think the most common one is any Metz flash with one of these base adapters: SCA 350/351/550/551. But I use the less common Nissin 280fx which also has full ttl metering with the R6 and R6.2. Got it for 20 euros on ebay, and it works very well. Not much info on it online though.
Congrats Martin! The video should of been out last week but I was waiting to big on a R camera than I had to delay it so not bidding against all my viewers haha. Try it, they are amazing!
Great review - and brought back some good memories! I used the R6 for many years during the 90's and early-to-mid noughties. To me, it was like a mechanical Rolex watch compared to the battery-operated film SLR's, with autofocus and multi-function, electronic capabilities. Although I bought the R8 towards the end of the 90's, which took excellent photos (and still does), The R6 was the go-to for expeditions and travel. It was small, lightweight, ergonomic and extremely reliable, and always took a great shot. The R6 and R8 delayed my foray into digital photography because I enjoyed them so much. Whilst the convenience of digital has been all-consuming, it is so nice to spend a day with 35mm film and what better choice than a fully mechanical, extremely well made camera, such as the R6?
Hi Phil, sorry I missed this and great to hear you enjoy the Leica R cameras too! I later bought a cheap R5 and R7 too so I enjoy them all now. Nice cameras for sure!
I currently own the Leicaflex SL and the R5. I once owned the R6 but sold it in favor of the of the R5. I prefer the auto exposure feature of the R5 because it allows me to shoot faster in certain situations where exposure changes quickly. I've found Leica's R5 auto exposure to be very accurate. I typically shoot in aperture priority mode.
Don't forget that if you are going to own one of these - and you should - to get the 'R' 3 Cam lenses as other earlier 1 or 2 cam lesnes may not work correctly if at all
I have the R6.2 model and the M 6. I use them very often but the M6 has a very quiet shutter, and is more compact and easy to carry, so at last I use more the M6. Very nice video, thank you very much for sharing!
Thank you Rafael! Great combo!! I think once I get back to traveling and shooting in Europe weight and size becomes an issue so then i might be back to the M3 and similar cameras (once i've repaired it!)
I used the Leicaflex, and the Nikon F3 professionally in the 80'ties. I loved to pose with the Leica back then, but the Nikon F3 was the better camera, as it never had to go for repair, the Leicaflex broke down two times, during a job.
I have a Leica R6. If I run into a good Leicaflex SL offer, I would add this one to my collection, too. That's an exception, because I'm selling most of my 35mm cameras (I'll only keep the R6, an OM-1, the Exakta Varex IIb and a Carl Zeiss Jena Werra IV) since I'm switching to medium format for analog film photography.
Thank you for another well done review! Apparently the Leica R series was the result of Leica's partnership with Minolta, and borrowed/adapted some of Minolta's technology. Minolta produces some very well made cameras so that's not really a problem. I haven't tried the R6, nor any other R-designated named cameras, but I do have the Leicaflex SL and SL2. I like them both, but do feel that the SL2 is more refined, as could be expected, and relatedly appears smaller and lighter. (At the same time, I have read that the SL2 has been knocked for being less well made than the SL. But as I said, the SL2 seems a more refined camera to me and is extremely well made as far as I can tell. Bottom line then is there are some very good reasons for you to pick up another camera, the SL2! ) In addition, there are certain wide angle lenses -- i.e., 24mm and below, that will not fit on the SL but only the SL2 or R cameras, even though they are the 3-cam variety. Specifically I find the 3-cam 24mm Elmarit will not fit on the SL, and I believe that is true of certain more extreme wide angle lenses (which apparently partly relied upon Minolta designs). (Now I'm thinking I really need an R6 or R6.2! Happy days.) As a final note, the R6.2 apparently varies from the R6 by bumping up the maximum shutter speed to 1/2000, but as the last fully mechanical R-named camera, tends to command a premium.
Thanks D! Great info on the SL2 and 24mm. As I own that lens that interests me. I've sold a few cameras recently so that funded a purchase of a 6.2. I'll share in a future video i'm sure but it's basically the same as the 6.
It ought to be less expensive, based mainly on Minoltas.. When I seen how inexpensive Minolta and lenses were, I bought a few! The surprise was the lenses! Exact flare and other similarities of Leica! So don't simply disagree, try! A few of mine need attention, but soldier on regardless. The R6 was finally a good camera, after the the R4 debacle. I've never been tempted by the later SLR of Leica, The Hunchback of Solms.. I bought a Minolta X-700 because nobody knew how to switch it on, and it didn't need fancy battery Only 2 R44! Light, bright and very silent! Bravo! I love SLR, but do use my M's.. Your portraits of those lovely girls are a testimony of your skills! Bravo, more images!
Thanks Jason, I had a bad copy of a X700 (see that video), so I returned it. Yes I have Minolta lenses, 25,35,45,50. The 45 is excellent. See Minolta X300 video
Hi Matt This is where it might be better for users of R series’s lenses to purchase a R4 or R5 which are almost identical to look at with actually more features, as they are electronic at less than half the cost of a R6 or R6.2 because they were far more common Also because the R6 has an aluminium chassis it is far lighter than the brass used in the Leicaflex but is actually deceivingly far stronger All the very best!
Yes, many years ago when the R4 was available new (showing my age) I asked a salesman at a high end camera store if the build quality was up there with the Nikon F3 He immediately placed a hanky over the top of the prism of a R4 and whist balancing himself over the counter, stepped on the top of the camera with one foot and all his weight without causing damage, he said don’t try this with the F3!
@@ronaldsand3000 Well he should have probably tried just to make the comparison fair. I have seen F3s going through a lot I would be interested in the result. Now going back to your argument about getting an R4 or an R5 over an R^ (except for financial reasons), the #1 reason for which people tend to buy an R6 or R6.2 is that it is not an R4 or an R6, meaning it is a fully mechanical camera (apple) versus two electronic ones (oranges) ;o)
Sweet. I'm a big fan of the Leicaflex SL. They're very reasonably priced for Leicas. For me it was a dilemma between that or the Nikon F2 and I went for the Nikon, but eventually I'll get myself the Leicaflex.
Thanks! Yes Nikon offer a lot more functions for similar money. Love my FE2 but I prefer Leica glass (even as non bias Leica fan boy - I use both). Voigtlander glass on Nikon - excellent! (See that video) :)
I do use Leicaflex SL2 black with Elmarit 60mm f2.8. The camera is slow, heavy, but a pleasure to use. Everything is very well damped. Shutter sound is so nice. Similar to Mamiya RB67 SD shutter sound. I also use M-9 (distinctive shutter sound), M-10p (very quiet sound). Image quality is Leica glass.
At the time (1990) the R6 was missing 2 key features that discourage me from buying this camera: Limited shutter speed of 1000, whereas the competition already had 2K. Very simple light meter that is limited to 7mm in spot mode. Looking backwards, the simplicity of the R6 gives it the reliability after 30 years of use.
Great video. Thank-you for posting. Yes, I would be very interested to view a comparison of the R6 versus an M6 - with equivalent focal lengths of lenses. Cheers from Canada
Great video. It's worth mentioning ( maybe somebody already did ? ) that the cheaper R4, R5, R-E and R7 bodies do at least have a mechanical 'B' and a mechanical 1/100th second to fall back on if your batteries fail. That helped me out on a couple of occasions in the last 25 years. The R7 was my fave because of the half-stops on the shutter dial - do the R6 or the R6.2 have that ?
Thanks Mark! I did a video on my R5/R7 too. Yes it's good they have a backup M option. R6 doesn't have half stops, can't remember about my R6.2. I use R7 the most now strangely!
I would Like to see you compare with a Nikon F100 which I have and was for me better than my Nikon F3hp for the features. I think the F100 works great with the Nikon flash system, and high sync speeds, great viewfinder and built very well. I like the R6.2 for the shutter speed for shooting in bright light. The F100 metering is dead on, the electronics works and never had an issue with batteries, just so small and last so long I just carry a spare and never had to use it. Works with just about every F mount lens from AI , AIS, on. Yes I would love to some day get an F6 but really the F100 does about as much
Thanks I have a similar video planned / testing in progress but not the F100. That was too automated for me so I’m comparing to a more closely matched Nikon with MF only. Stay tuned! (The F100 is great with AF lenses, well any, but I rather not carry the extra weight if using MF lenses)
Hey Matt! Great video as always, thanks for all the great information! I have a question for you- I have the R7 and love it...wondering where did you get that eyecup?
The Leica R-series was always one step behind the competition, people bought it only to be able to use the Leica lenses, which, after the advent of photoshop became a moot point. You could make a $20 compact camera picture just as contrasty and saturated as a Lecia picture. The R8 never pleased the Leica-crowd, many says that the Minolta Maxxum 9 is what the Leica R8 should have been, including myself.
Thanks for your thoughts. I love the R glass both on the R system and adapted to digital. Agree you can make nice photos with a cheap camera too. I use Nikon and Minolta SLR too.
Just one point here about the contrast and color saturation rendered by lenses: This was the choice of Japanese lens manufacturers, to produce lenses that would give contrast and saturation. In the days of film people would buy Leitz and Zeiss lens for the subtlety with which they rendered contrast and color (with the same level of detail/resolution) leaving the high contrast and saturation to Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Mamiya. This was a definite reasons for many photographers I know, including myself, to move from Canon or Nikon to Leica or from Bronica, Mamiya or Fuji to Hasselblad. Obviously both choices were guided by wanted results not budgets ;o)
I'm curious of the R series. But I don't want any electronics in the camerabody, so that is limiting. I have to look into this. A 100% mechanical camera with R tele/supertele lenses would be interesting. I do mainly wildlife photography on my Leica M3 Visoflex kit. It would be interesting to compare the two.
Very good video very instructive on the R series. I hope you'll have time to make some videos on the R lenses that would be great. I sold my SLR (FM2 and old Canon) .. so maybe sometime I'll go for one of these R body and R lenses to stay in this Leica world :-)
Thanks Jerome! Yes I think partly I enjoy being able to shoot Leica with Rs but they just work so well do. See the R lens video and more to come too + blog posts 👍🏻😊
Nice comparison, Matt! I've been using Leicaflexes for over 40 years - and their successors, the Leica R's. I recognize the differences between the Leicaflex and the R6, but I am amazed that you find the viewfinder of the R6 more pleasant, or even better than that of the Leicaflex, because that is not my experience. I bought the Leicaflex SL at the time (1977) because of my using long telephoto lenses (Novoflex 5,6/400 and 8/600mm) and the ground glass of the Leicaflex is so much clearer than any SLR. The screen was so sought after, that Minolta made the Leica CL in exchange of the "secret" of the groundglas of the Leicaflex. What they didn't realize is that the pentaprism of the Leicaflex collects much more light because it is shaped like a condensor. So, when Minolta produced its first Minolta SLR with that particular groundglas, the image was not half as bright as with the Leicaflex SL, again, when using long telephoto lenses. The difference is far less and not as noticeble when using more normal lenses. The build quality of both cameras differs a lot. The Minolta is/was a rather flimsy camera, the Leicaflex SL sturdy, built like a tank. Moreover, as you also make some comparisons with the Leica M: I find the Leicaflexes and Leica R s much easier to handle than the Leica M' cameras.
Thanks Les, I think I probably enjoy the R6 finder and I can see super clear with the diopter. I don't use a diopter on the SL so it's not a fair test. I prefer to shoot 35mm and 50mm anyway so that helps me being closer. Thanks for info on Minolta-Leica. I'm always learning too!
Hey Matt, Those portraits were really good, they had a special look, do you think it's too do with the film or the Leica lenses?(I know it's a lot to do with your skill too !). Also have you done comparisons between Leica/Nikon glass, Can you look at images from the past and say "that's from the Leica" or "from the Nikon"?.
Thanks Leslie, see my Nikon vs Leica video and blog with photos on MrLeica.com . See the 50mm shoot out videos too to compare. I’m not sure I could tell the difference, maybe for some photos.
I was shooting the R4 for long time, i still use it and love it, somehow it is from size and function a perfect camera for me ... because we neder got a R10 digital, i was switching first to M4-P , then M9 and M 240, but the R4 is still very special for me ...
Hey Matt :) Great video again! And perfect timing since i bought a leica R7 with a few lenses last week. Im curious about your opinion on "the best R lenses" and a shootout with the R6 and M6 would be interesting as well. Hope Youre well! Kind Regards.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have issues with a genocidal communist dictatorship getting my money. Gotta say that . Sometimes it's hard not to buy from the factory of the world. But anyways I want to wish You an extremely talented visual artist with amazing tools, the very best of 2024. Have a great year !
It's like you guessed a future video! ;) R6 is basically the same and cheaper. If both same price get the 6.2 (I will share when I get chance)(I have both now)
No it’s not mechanical, only 6 & 6.2. I just picked up a R5 to do a video with - a poor mans 6 but more or less the same function wise. The R-E is a cheap R5 I think, maybe double check on Google.
The R-E is s simplified R5 with a few less modes, other than that it is basically identical. These days the R-E and R5 go for similar prices, so depending on your shooting needs, get either. I shoot an R6 and R-E side by side and like both.
ı buy a beatifull r3 body last week and wait for a m39 adapter it comes from china ı know ı cant focus infinity but can ı use m39 lens except focusing infinity in my r3?(ı usually shhot from 2meter to 10 meter )
Bought the 50 summitar based on your recommendation and it’s become my favorite lens (for full frame) in terms of rendering. Unfortunately, the lens is not well suited for golden hour backlit portraits, due to lack of suitable coating. Wld a lens shade do the trick or is this just not the ideal lens for this particular purpose? Which M lens wld you recommend for vintage rendering paired with decent coating? (Is there anything like the voigtlaender nokton 58mm 1.4 for M mount?) Thanks!
Hey Lugen, Yes that lens is not for shooting at the sun for sure. Lens hood wont work if directly at the sun. Decent coating + vintage look, hmm.. maybe Voigtlander 40/1.2 or 50/1.2 wide open have some character or a Summicron later version but it starts to look more modern.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Currently trying out the C Sonnar 50/1.5 zm, classical design with modern coating. Blows me away, totally sold on it. (And I say that as someone who usually considers heavy focus shift a deal breaker.)
Hello hopefully you can get my comment. I gonna buy a 1st camera film. And i wonder between leica R8 with Bessa T. Can you give me some advices which one better or gimme some comparison both of them?
Hi, very different. Compare SLR vs RF to decide first what type of camera you want. They are opposites, big vs small, light vs heavy, big lenses vs small lenses, I would make a list of your likes and dislikes and then see which will suit you. Watch the T video for more on that.
Although this review is over a year old, I just watched it courtesy of CZcams recommandations ;o) Great detailed review as usual Matt. With its battery working ;o), the R6 and R6.2 are mechanical and semi-automatic cameras (rather than "manual"). The term semi-automatic was used at its inception to describe a camera whose light-meter was linked to both shutter-speed and aperture information so that any change of either of these settings would show in the exposure read-out in the view-finder (by opposition to former cameras where, if any, the light meter information had to be read on the lightmeter itself (as in a Leicameter for Leica Ms or Nikon F) and then applied to shutter speed dial and aperture ring). [I am adding this precision, not for you Matt, but for potential readers (among which younger CZcamsrs who regularly mistake "semi-automatic" exposure for "automatic" exposure (Automatic exposure had two variations: 1-with aperture priority = A (Av (Aperture Value I suppose) in Canon speech and 2-with shutter-speed priority = S (Tv (Time Value I suppose) in Canon Speech. Now we also have ISO priority on many digital cameras). They also mistake Automatic (the two modes just mentioned) for what is in fact "Program". Sorry, on several occasions, it just rubbed me the wrong way when some actually publish videos with erroneous information ;O)]... and that's why I enjoy yours that are well-documented and tested. Now I would just like to add a comment to what you said about choosing an SL over an R6 or R6.2. One of the great satisfaction I have had with Leica Ms (except the M5 and I'll soon explain this point) was the ease, comfort and tactile experience in using them. That, I found again when I first used an R6, which I do not experience when I use an SL. This latter camera feels like a tank: it is a reliable tool (although designed and produced in the 1960s by comparison to one produced in the late 1980s (R6) or the 1990s (R6.2) and probably more likely to stop working at some point with parts harder to find than for the R6s). And there comes the M5 point, for me the M5 is to the M6 (I tried one M5 but never acquired one for this reason) what the SL is to the R6: a bulky older camera, not quite figured out. I am aware that part of my appreciation is subjective (the ease and pleasure of using a specific camera) and I would advise anyone interested in an SL to have a look at an R6 and compare for themselves before buying. PS: just one detail you could add, the ISO button can also be used to check the battery. All the best.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yes the R6 is my favorite all-mechanical camera too. It is so well-built. I first used it when it was lent to me at its release by a local camera store where I lived in France at the time. I did several assignments covering the local national theatre company. It was love at first click! ;O) Now if you speak of smooth and slick manual film advance, for me nothing beats the F3's.
Just imagine a digital R body nowadays (with or without a mirror) with all that cheap glass available! But if the dog didn't shit haha ... well, with a digital R, the lenses would still be expensive, wouldn't they?
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom And don't forget the digital CL also L mount can take TL lenses, M and R lenses via adapters. I got a 16mm Sigma F1.4 a 35mm Leica TL 35mm F1.4 and a Sigma 56mm F1.4, with the crop APSC factor these lenses are 24mm, 50mm and 84mm all at F1.4 and full autofocus and superb wide open at F1.4
@@zenjitsuman thanks, yes! There are quite a few L mount lenses coming out now which is good for L users, whether CL, S5 or any other body. Sounds a nice setup!
You mean a lovely but rebadged Minolta Vs a ' real ' Leica ? The R series are excellent cameras so I'm not dissing them, however the ' real' M series is dead as the digital Ms have a mass of none German guts so aren't ' pure' . I'm not alone thinking this just see how far film Leica's are increasing in price 2nd hand.
Thanks Mike. Haha I think that is the common joke when Leica R is mentioned. If you read into it a bit more some Leica R bodies are more Leica than others. (The same with R lenses, some were made with Minolta (24mm for example and some zooms). As a Leica nut I agree that film Ms and Leica iii Barnacks feel more Leica like. I also agree for digital as I use M, CL and SL bodies and only the M feels more Leica like but no matter what people say a Leica FEELS 100% better than (well better than..call it as we like) any other brand. I bought the Lumix S5 as a cheap Leica SL2-S. I then had to buy the SL as I didn't enjoy the feel of the Lumix. Same goes for Fuji, Sony etc.. they all take nice photos but for me I buy what I enjoy using. Strangely for film i'm happy to use most camera brands as stuff was made properly back then. I use a lot of film Nikons, any price point and use them along side the R6. (See the R6 vs Nikon shootout video)(Guess which took the better photos!?) :) ..and yes prices keep going up and up for used stuff, especially film now demand beats supply.
What are you talking about? Comparing cameras or switching to one? You just can't compare an SL to an R6, no way. The R6 has a CDS metering system and needs a battery!!! to be seen on the bottom. Do you know, what you are talking about, I doubt it.
Hi Roland, you sound like you are getting stuck in the details. The SL has a battery too if you are worrying about batteries. Have you seen how big batteries are for the Leica M6 or R6 in this case? So small it's not an issue but as they are only needed for the meter (which we dont really need) it's not a problem either way. Most of my Leicas I use without meters/ batteries (film bodies*). If you need any more help on the specifics let me know. (The SL comment was a TLL view comment vs using a RF).
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Great review, thanks for sharing. I have been shooting with an R4 for the last 25 years, since I inherited it from my dad. He received it brand new for Christmas 1982. That was a memorable Christmas! I absolutely love the R4 but as you say, the lenses are the most important. The Leica lenses are so beautifully made and deliver such fantastic images, making them a joy to use. I recently bought a R 135mm f:2.8 lens on eBay. It essentially came with a free R-E camera body. The lens was as new, as is the R-E. I can now carry around one Leica R with colour and the other body with black and white, each using my amazing Leica glass. A pleasure to use. Oh and to complete the picture, after our dad died recently, my two brothers each bought an R4 and 50mm Summicron in memory of him, so we now have Leica shoot outs!
Hi Greg, thanks and what a lovely story! (I will share it in the monthly MrLeica.com newsletter if that's OK to inspire others). If you follow the blog look out for it! (Also see me 135mm R lens video, it might inspire you. Excellent lens!)
While they've never been inexpensive lenses in real world terms, it used to be that a person could find Leica R series lenses for quite a bit less money than the equivalent M series lenses. This was definitely a bonus for Leica R shooters.
Correct! That is certainly stick the case. I wouldn’t be rocking around with a 35mm Summicron otherwise! (some ROM and gem lenses still have high price tags but there are cheap options to which I like). I wish I’d got into the R series years ago. I just never considered before as I had Ms.
True but partly because some R lenses used the Minolta design and did not require as much work from Leica. Leica M lenses were/ are unique because of their compactness due to the short distance between focal point and film/sensor.
Don't be shy about mentioning Nikon. I just got the F3, and discovered it is far nicer than I even expected. Not much larger than the FE/FM cameras. The best Nikon film camera I have.
The lever arm on my Leicaflex SL is loose as on your R6.
Thanks Kim! I like Nikon too.. I do need to look at an F3.. I hear a lot of good things. Sorry to hear about your SL arm.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have a mint F3. The wind on lever is loose and the action is awful. Are they all like this?
Very nice mechanical camera, the R6 is a joy to use and that shutter sound is amazing!
I use R camera a R8 who is completely different when compares to R6, but I love it.
I also have one R3 electronic, who was my first Leica camera, and at this moment I made my myself a complete restoration whit removal of the prism for re-silvering.
However the R3 was functional only the viewfinder needs repair.
R cameras was great whit legendary Leica quality.
Thank you, nice 👍🏻
Jesus Christ!!! That shutter sound of the SL sounds totally like a loading sound of the AK-47. And I'm not even kidding...
Haha, thanks. (I quite like it!) ..but perhaps don’t take to a war zone!
I have the R5 and love it. I mainly shoot with the 50 'Cron and one of the things I really love is that you can see the aperture at the bottom of the viewfinder very easily, and the big ol DOF preview lever is super easy to find and engage. I shot mostly Olympus OM before this for 35mm, and although I might actually like my Zuiko glass better than Leica R glass, the reliability of my R5 is much better than any of my Oly's over the years. I love taking my R5 as my film camera with the 50mm and pairing that with my M240 with the 35mm for a day out shooting.
Thanks and i'm glad you enough the Cron too! v1 or v2!? I now have both. I'm using v2 for film (future photos), v1 for digital as more flare which can be nice. Glad to hear your R5 works OK. A friend just got a bad copy so is sticking to 6 and 6.2s now.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have the V2 since I wanted a bit less flare using it on the R5 with film. Love the build quality and built in lens hood and it's rarely off my R5 (I have the 135 and a 35-70 as well) and love pairing it with PanF 50 or the gobs of BW400CN I got a few years ago for 50 cents a roll. I've heard of some problems with the R5 and others, but I got mine in mint condition from KEH to try to avoid any issues. I agree with your assessment of what kind of camera the R series is. I have more modern SLR's (Canon Elan 7e, Minolta Maxxum 7 - probably the most advanced SLR I own) and I have the super small Oly's and a Pentax ME Super SE, and I got the Leica R5 because it hit the sweet spot of features, build, lens quality and (so far) reliability. And I do love the rendering of Leica glass - mayyybe even over my tried and true Zuiko glass for BW.
I have an R3 and a Leicaflex SL2 and the difference as with the SL is night and day- that said I tend to shoot more with the R3 and M4 than with the SL2 because it’s such a beast to carry around. The R3 also has a very nice sounding shutter and all the controls feel well made.
Thanks, yes I love the tank feel of the SL cameras, see that video. That said, like you I use R bodies more as easier for me to focus.
Possibly my favourite mechanical SLR ever made! It even does full TTL flash metering with some Metz and Nissin flashes. Absolutely love that camera and the R mount lenses!
And I actually prefer the dampened shutter, even though it felt a little weird in the beginning. Now I can get sharp photos down to 1/8th if I concentrate, and that's 1-2 stops better than I can manage with most other SLRs.
Thanks Don! Great to hear it! It looks like it will become my favourite camera to use too! Thanks about the shutter. I will play with slower speeds, thanks!
Which flash do you use? I'm not entirely sure which flashes for it has full TTL flash metering
@@MusicInfiniteLyrics I think the most common one is any Metz flash with one of these base adapters: SCA 350/351/550/551. But I use the less common Nissin 280fx which also has full ttl metering with the R6 and R6.2. Got it for 20 euros on ebay, and it works very well. Not much info on it online though.
Agreed: in terms of design and tactile experience this has been the best designed all-mechanical camera for me.
LeicaFlex SL2 silver chrome. Love the camera!
Nice! I have the previous model, see that video!
Just bought a R6 last weekend and you release a video to this camera 😉 haven’t shot a film right now but looking forward
Congrats Martin! The video should of been out last week but I was waiting to big on a R camera than I had to delay it so not bidding against all my viewers haha. Try it, they are amazing!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thanks mat I will
Great review - and brought back some good memories! I used the R6 for many years during the 90's and early-to-mid noughties. To me, it was like a mechanical Rolex watch compared to the battery-operated film SLR's, with autofocus and multi-function, electronic capabilities. Although I bought the R8 towards the end of the 90's, which took excellent photos (and still does), The R6 was the go-to for expeditions and travel. It was small, lightweight, ergonomic and extremely reliable, and always took a great shot. The R6 and R8 delayed my foray into digital photography because I enjoyed them so much. Whilst the convenience of digital has been all-consuming, it is so nice to spend a day with 35mm film and what better choice than a fully mechanical, extremely well made camera, such as the R6?
Hi Phil, sorry I missed this and great to hear you enjoy the Leica R cameras too! I later bought a cheap R5 and R7 too so I enjoy them all now. Nice cameras for sure!
I currently own the Leicaflex SL and the R5. I once owned the R6 but sold it in favor of the of the R5. I prefer the auto exposure feature of the R5 because it allows me to shoot faster in certain situations where exposure changes quickly. I've found Leica's R5 auto exposure to be very accurate. I typically shoot in aperture priority mode.
Thank you, yes the R5 and R7 offer excellent photos and the same photos as the R6 / 6.2
Don't forget that if you are going to own one of these - and you should - to get the 'R' 3 Cam lenses as other earlier 1 or 2 cam lesnes may not work correctly if at all
Thanks, great advice!
I have the R6.2 model and the M 6. I use them very often but the M6 has a very quiet shutter, and is more compact and easy to carry, so at last I use more the M6.
Very nice video, thank you very much for sharing!
Thank you Rafael! Great combo!! I think once I get back to traveling and shooting in Europe weight and size becomes an issue so then i might be back to the M3 and similar cameras (once i've repaired it!)
Matt : you are so exceptionally knowledgeable with top quality, well prepared presentations. Thank you. RS. Canada
Thanks Richard, it’s because I have no life haha :)
I used the Leicaflex, and the Nikon F3 professionally in the 80'ties. I loved to pose with the Leica back then, but the Nikon F3 was the better camera, as it never had to go for repair, the Leicaflex broke down two times, during a job.
Thanks for the memories! I have quite a few Nikon but not the f3 yet!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom , And thanks to you, for non biased reviews, and many beautiful portraits on Flickr ;)
My experience confirms yours! One issue is that the SL is a mechanical camera (the Nikon equivalent then would be the F2) and the F3 is not.
I have a Leica R6. If I run into a good Leicaflex SL offer, I would add this one to my collection, too. That's an exception, because I'm selling most of my 35mm cameras (I'll only keep the R6, an OM-1, the Exakta Varex IIb and a Carl Zeiss Jena Werra IV) since I'm switching to medium format for analog film photography.
My Exacta VIIb is long gone but I have the 50mm 2.8 Tessar & adapter to Leica etc. Neat lens.
Thanks Rabert, i'm happy to hear your RB is on your keepers list!
Thanks Stuart, I had a Tessar but had to send it back as a bad copy.
Thank you for another well done review! Apparently the Leica R series was the result of Leica's partnership with Minolta, and borrowed/adapted some of Minolta's technology. Minolta produces some very well made cameras so that's not really a problem. I haven't tried the R6, nor any other R-designated named cameras, but I do have the Leicaflex SL and SL2. I like them both, but do feel that the SL2 is more refined, as could be expected, and relatedly appears smaller and lighter. (At the same time, I have read that the SL2 has been knocked for being less well made than the SL. But as I said, the SL2 seems a more refined camera to me and is extremely well made as far as I can tell. Bottom line then is there are some very good reasons for you to pick up another camera, the SL2! ) In addition, there are certain wide angle lenses -- i.e., 24mm and below, that will not fit on the SL but only the SL2 or R cameras, even though they are the 3-cam variety. Specifically I find the 3-cam 24mm Elmarit will not fit on the SL, and I believe that is true of certain more extreme wide angle lenses (which apparently partly relied upon Minolta designs). (Now I'm thinking I really need an R6 or R6.2! Happy days.) As a final note, the R6.2 apparently varies from the R6 by bumping up the maximum shutter speed to 1/2000, but as the last fully mechanical R-named camera, tends to command a premium.
Thanks D! Great info on the SL2 and 24mm. As I own that lens that interests me. I've sold a few cameras recently so that funded a purchase of a 6.2. I'll share in a future video i'm sure but it's basically the same as the 6.
Just one addition, the collaboration between Minolta and Leica for the R series stopped with the R8 and R9, both100% designed in Solms by Leica.
It ought to be less expensive, based mainly on Minoltas.. When I seen how inexpensive Minolta and lenses were, I bought a few! The surprise was the lenses! Exact flare and other similarities of Leica! So don't simply disagree, try! A few of mine need attention, but soldier on regardless. The R6 was finally a good camera, after the the R4 debacle. I've never been tempted by the later SLR of Leica, The Hunchback of Solms.. I bought a Minolta X-700 because nobody knew how to switch it on, and it didn't need fancy battery Only 2 R44! Light, bright and very silent! Bravo! I love SLR, but do use my M's.. Your portraits of those lovely girls are a testimony of your skills! Bravo, more images!
Thanks Jason, I had a bad copy of a X700 (see that video), so I returned it. Yes I have Minolta lenses, 25,35,45,50. The 45 is excellent. See Minolta X300 video
Hi Matt
This is where it might be better for users of R series’s lenses to purchase a R4 or R5 which are almost identical to look at with actually more features, as they are electronic at less than half the cost of a R6 or R6.2 because they were far more common
Also because the R6 has an aluminium chassis it is far lighter than the brass used in the Leicaflex but is actually deceivingly far stronger
All the very best!
Thanks Ronald, yes totally agree that the R4/R5 offer excellent value. Thanks for info and the R6 build, great to know this.
Yes, many years ago when the R4 was available new (showing my age) I asked a salesman at a high end camera store if the build quality was up there with the Nikon F3
He immediately placed a hanky over the top of the prism of a R4 and whist balancing himself over the counter, stepped on the top of the camera with one foot and all his weight without causing damage, he said don’t try this with the F3!
@@ronaldsand3000 interesting!! Thanks for sharing that :)
@@ronaldsand3000 Well he should have probably tried just to make the comparison fair. I have seen F3s going through a lot I would be interested in the result. Now going back to your argument about getting an R4 or an R5 over an R^ (except for financial reasons), the #1 reason for which people tend to buy an R6 or R6.2 is that it is not an R4 or an R6, meaning it is a fully mechanical camera (apple) versus two electronic ones (oranges) ;o)
Sweet. I'm a big fan of the Leicaflex SL. They're very reasonably priced for Leicas. For me it was a dilemma between that or the Nikon F2 and I went for the Nikon, but eventually I'll get myself the Leicaflex.
Thanks! Yes Nikon offer a lot more functions for similar money. Love my FE2 but I prefer Leica glass (even as non bias Leica fan boy - I use both). Voigtlander glass on Nikon - excellent! (See that video) :)
I do use Leicaflex SL2 black with Elmarit 60mm f2.8. The camera is slow, heavy, but a pleasure to use. Everything is very well damped. Shutter sound is so nice. Similar to Mamiya RB67 SD shutter sound. I also use M-9 (distinctive shutter sound), M-10p (very quiet sound). Image quality is Leica glass.
Yes! Love the sound. I have the earlier SL and it’s one of my most fun cameras to fire the shutter.
As always a great video and lovely sample images
Thanks Ronald!
Matt, have you made a video explaining visually the different R cams lenses?
Not yet, there’s a detailed blog post covering quite a few lenses. Search Leica R lenses on the blog homepage.
At the time (1990) the R6 was missing 2 key features that discourage me from buying this camera:
Limited shutter speed of 1000, whereas the competition already had 2K.
Very simple light meter that is limited to 7mm in spot mode.
Looking backwards, the simplicity of the R6 gives it the reliability after 30 years of use.
Thanks Yoram, you could get the 6.2 for the 1/2000 (or a Nikon!) See more on this in a follow up video! :)
Hey Matt
You’re video got me so excited
and I bought an R6
Expecting it to be delivered via courier tomorrow
All the best
Haha thanks Ronald! Congratulations! See the next video you will be interested I think 😊😊
Those are some stunning portraits (and the models too! ;) )
Thanks Daniel!
Great video. Thank-you for posting. Yes, I would be very interested to view a comparison of the R6 versus an M6 - with equivalent focal lengths of lenses. Cheers from Canada
Thanks I will put it on the list for this year!
Leicaflex first series, Leicaflex SL and SLII, the R6.2 and I do not touch the electronic Voodoo stuff !! Good Vid my friend :-)
Thanks Eric!
Great video. It's worth mentioning ( maybe somebody already did ? ) that the cheaper R4, R5, R-E and R7 bodies do at least have a mechanical 'B' and a mechanical 1/100th second to fall back on if your batteries fail. That helped me out on a couple of occasions in the last 25 years. The R7 was my fave because of the half-stops on the shutter dial - do the R6 or the R6.2 have that ?
Thanks Mark! I did a video on my R5/R7 too. Yes it's good they have a backup M option. R6 doesn't have half stops, can't remember about my R6.2. I use R7 the most now strangely!
I would Like to see you compare with a Nikon F100 which I have and was for me better than my Nikon F3hp for the features.
I think the F100 works great with the Nikon flash system, and high sync speeds, great viewfinder and built very well.
I like the R6.2 for the shutter speed for shooting in bright light. The F100 metering is dead on, the electronics works and
never had an issue with batteries, just so small and last so long I just carry a spare and never had to use it. Works with just
about every F mount lens from AI , AIS, on. Yes I would love to some day get an F6 but really the F100 does about as much
Matt I would like to add I have a Leica M4 P and Sl-2 and CL digitals, Q -- MP. Many L and M mount lenses
Thanks I have a similar video planned / testing in progress but not the F100. That was too automated for me so I’m comparing to a more closely matched Nikon with MF only. Stay tuned! (The F100 is great with AF lenses, well any, but I rather not carry the extra weight if using MF lenses)
Hey Matt! Great video as always, thanks for all the great information! I have a question for you- I have the R7 and love it...wondering where did you get that eyecup?
Thanks Michael. Great I have the R5 and R7 too. Love them. I try to buy cameras with the eye-cup but you can try eBay if not.
The Leica R-series was always one step behind the competition, people bought it only to be able to use the Leica lenses, which, after the advent of photoshop became a moot point. You could make a $20 compact camera picture just as contrasty and saturated as a Lecia picture.
The R8 never pleased the Leica-crowd, many says that the Minolta Maxxum 9 is what the Leica R8 should have been, including myself.
Thanks for your thoughts. I love the R glass both on the R system and adapted to digital. Agree you can make nice photos with a cheap camera too. I use Nikon and Minolta SLR too.
Just one point here about the contrast and color saturation rendered by lenses: This was the choice of Japanese lens manufacturers, to produce lenses that would give contrast and saturation. In the days of film people would buy Leitz and Zeiss lens for the subtlety with which they rendered contrast and color (with the same level of detail/resolution) leaving the high contrast and saturation to Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Mamiya. This was a definite reasons for many photographers I know, including myself, to move from Canon or Nikon to Leica or from Bronica, Mamiya or Fuji to Hasselblad. Obviously both choices were guided by wanted results not budgets ;o)
Had the R8 & R9... way too fancy for me... Got the R7 and still have the SL...
Thanks Stuart, I looked at an R7 recently but have the R6 now. SL are great and thanks about R8/R9!
I'm curious of the R series. But I don't want any electronics in the camerabody, so that is limiting. I have to look into this. A 100% mechanical camera with R tele/supertele lenses would be interesting. I do mainly wildlife photography on my Leica M3 Visoflex kit. It would be interesting to compare the two.
Hey Jesse! I know you like nice kit. Look at the R6 or R6.2. Full mechanical + lightmeter. Lenses are excellent and good value too! 180mm and longer
Excellent as always, Matt. I'd like to add: The biggest advantage of the Nikon SLRs is that you can use Nikkor lenses ;-)
Haha great point! Much cheaper price point. (I can feel a shoot out coming on!)
Thanks btw.. the other big advantage of Nikon is you can use Voigtlander SL glass!
Another advantage is you can use leica r lenses on nikon as well via a leitax adapter 🔥
Very good video very instructive on the R series. I hope you'll have time to make some videos on the R lenses that would be great.
I sold my SLR (FM2 and old Canon) .. so maybe sometime I'll go for one of these R body and R lenses to stay in this Leica world :-)
Thanks Jerome! Yes I think partly I enjoy being able to shoot Leica with Rs but they just work so well do. See the R lens video and more to come too + blog posts 👍🏻😊
Nice comparison, Matt! I've been using Leicaflexes for over 40 years - and their successors, the Leica R's. I recognize the differences between the Leicaflex and the R6, but I am amazed that you find the viewfinder of the R6 more pleasant, or even better than that of the Leicaflex, because that is not my experience. I bought the Leicaflex SL at the time (1977) because of my using long telephoto lenses (Novoflex 5,6/400 and 8/600mm) and the ground glass of the Leicaflex is so much clearer than any SLR. The screen was so sought after, that Minolta made the Leica CL in exchange of the "secret" of the groundglas of the Leicaflex. What they didn't realize is that the pentaprism of the Leicaflex collects much more light because it is shaped like a condensor. So, when Minolta produced its first Minolta SLR with that particular groundglas, the image was not half as bright as with the Leicaflex SL, again, when using long telephoto lenses. The difference is far less and not as noticeble when using more normal lenses. The build quality of both cameras differs a lot. The Minolta is/was a rather flimsy camera, the Leicaflex SL sturdy, built like a tank. Moreover, as you also make some comparisons with the Leica M: I find the Leicaflexes and Leica R s much easier to handle than the Leica M' cameras.
Thanks Les, I think I probably enjoy the R6 finder and I can see super clear with the diopter. I don't use a diopter on the SL so it's not a fair test. I prefer to shoot 35mm and 50mm anyway so that helps me being closer. Thanks for info on Minolta-Leica. I'm always learning too!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Oh I now understand your preference. Indeed, the SL has no diopter. They're both fantastic cameras, though.
@@leslumieres1237 agreed! Yes for me cameras that let me focus clearly, easily, quickly and close are my favorites.
Hey Matt, Those portraits were really good, they had a special look, do you think it's too do with the film or the Leica lenses?(I know it's a lot to do with your skill too !). Also have you done comparisons between Leica/Nikon glass, Can you look at images from the past and say "that's from the Leica" or "from the Nikon"?.
Thanks Leslie, see my Nikon vs Leica video and blog with photos on MrLeica.com . See the 50mm shoot out videos too to compare. I’m not sure I could tell the difference, maybe for some photos.
Great video!
Thanks Lugen!
I was shooting the R4 for long time, i still use it and love it, somehow it is from size and function a perfect camera for me ... because we neder got a R10 digital, i was switching first to M4-P , then M9 and M 240, but the R4 is still very special for me ...
Hey thanks Oliver, nice! I later go a cheap R5 too to play with. Great value!
I’m a Nikon shooter looking to “also” shoot Leica. Also looking at the odd m5
Thanks Troy, nice. I came from digital Nikon in the past and still enjoy film Nikons next to Leicas and others.
Would love to see Leica R vs Nikon F shoot out!
Thanks Ryan! I was hoping someone would say that! :)
Hey Matt :) Great video again! And perfect timing since i bought a leica R7 with a few lenses last week. Im curious about your opinion on "the best R lenses" and a shootout with the R6 and M6 would be interesting as well. Hope Youre well! Kind Regards.
Hi, thanks! Congrats on your R7! Did you see my R lens video? I did a video R6 vs Nikon and yes next I need to do R6 vs M6! :)
Them are sexy..made in Canada lenses are a revelation I bet..good job..really nice comparison..
Thanks! Yes I don’t mind where the lens was made.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I have issues with a genocidal communist dictatorship getting my money. Gotta say that . Sometimes it's hard not to buy from the factory of the world. But anyways I want to wish You an extremely talented visual artist with amazing tools, the very best of 2024. Have a great year !
Which one do you prefer Leica R6 vs Leica R6.2. Thanks in advance Matt. Take. Care. All the best.
It's like you guessed a future video! ;) R6 is basically the same and cheaper. If both same price get the 6.2 (I will share when I get chance)(I have both now)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom , thank you so much for your attention. I will waiting. Greetings.
@@federicofloresmoy8385 thanks!
Hi Matt! Curious what your setup looks like for flash with the Leica R6?
Hi Justin, any OCF (say Godox AD200) and Godox triggers (see video on flash)
HELLO MATT OSBORNE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REVIEW ON THE LEICA R8 FROM SPRINGFIELD MA FRED
Thanks Fred, I can do almost that. I tested the R9 some weeks ago so I'll share the results and about the camera when I get time to develop the film.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom thank your
Matt thanks for great video. Is the R-E fully mechanical like the R6? Are their any cons with the r-e versus the R6?
Many thanks again!
No it’s not mechanical, only 6 & 6.2. I just picked up a R5 to do a video with - a poor mans 6 but more or less the same function wise. The R-E is a cheap R5 I think, maybe double check on Google.
The R-E is s simplified R5 with a few less modes, other than that it is basically identical. These days the R-E and R5 go for similar prices, so depending on your shooting needs, get either. I shoot an R6 and R-E side by side and like both.
I would like to see your scaning process.
Thanks, there are several posts on Patreon showing my setting etc and I'll try to do a Patreon zoom seminar on the topic when I get chance.
Why not the R6.2 ?
I got the R6.2 after but they are basically the same
I had two R6 and 6.2 but only problems and expensive repairs, I was so pissed off that I sold them
Sorry to hear this Steve, yes I have the same + R5 & R7. Can I ask what issues you had?
Nikon mechanical cameras are the best. Mechanical
Thanks Christopher! I have quite a few Nikons!
ı buy a beatifull r3 body last week and wait for a m39 adapter it comes from china ı know ı cant focus infinity but can ı use m39 lens except focusing infinity in my r3?(ı usually shhot from 2meter to 10 meter )
Hi, congrats on R3. I didn’t know you can use m39 lenses. Let me know how you get on!
Bought the 50 summitar based on your recommendation and it’s become my favorite lens (for full frame) in terms of rendering. Unfortunately, the lens is not well suited for golden hour backlit portraits, due to lack of suitable coating. Wld a lens shade do the trick or is this just not the ideal lens for this particular purpose? Which M lens wld you recommend for vintage rendering paired with decent coating? (Is there anything like the voigtlaender nokton 58mm 1.4 for M mount?) Thanks!
Hey Lugen, Yes that lens is not for shooting at the sun for sure. Lens hood wont work if directly at the sun. Decent coating + vintage look, hmm.. maybe Voigtlander 40/1.2 or 50/1.2 wide open have some character or a Summicron later version but it starts to look more modern.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Currently trying out the C Sonnar 50/1.5 zm, classical design with modern coating. Blows me away, totally sold on it. (And I say that as someone who usually considers heavy focus shift a deal breaker.)
@@lugentaubner6853 if you can find a good copy new or used they are amazing yes!
Hello hopefully you can get my comment. I gonna buy a 1st camera film. And i wonder between leica R8 with Bessa T. Can you give me some advices which one better or gimme some comparison both of them?
Hi, very different. Compare SLR vs RF to decide first what type of camera you want. They are opposites, big vs small, light vs heavy, big lenses vs small lenses, I would make a list of your likes and dislikes and then see which will suit you. Watch the T video for more on that.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom yes thanks a lot i will watch it now
whats your opinion about leica r3?
They are better models. The R4-R7 are said to be better by most users.
Does the Leica R lens Mount share the same mount as the Leica R8 and the Minolta XE/XD?
Hi Juan, All Leica R bodies use the same mount but different to Minolta.
Although this review is over a year old, I just watched it courtesy of CZcams recommandations ;o) Great detailed review as usual Matt. With its battery working ;o), the R6 and R6.2 are mechanical and semi-automatic cameras (rather than "manual"). The term semi-automatic was used at its inception to describe a camera whose light-meter was linked to both shutter-speed and aperture information so that any change of either of these settings would show in the exposure read-out in the view-finder (by opposition to former cameras where, if any, the light meter information had to be read on the lightmeter itself (as in a Leicameter for Leica Ms or Nikon F) and then applied to shutter speed dial and aperture ring).
[I am adding this precision, not for you Matt, but for potential readers (among which younger CZcamsrs who regularly mistake "semi-automatic" exposure for "automatic" exposure (Automatic exposure had two variations: 1-with aperture priority = A (Av (Aperture Value I suppose) in Canon speech and 2-with shutter-speed priority = S (Tv (Time Value I suppose) in Canon Speech. Now we also have ISO priority on many digital cameras). They also mistake Automatic (the two modes just mentioned) for what is in fact "Program". Sorry, on several occasions, it just rubbed me the wrong way when some actually publish videos with erroneous information ;O)]... and that's why I enjoy yours that are well-documented and tested.
Now I would just like to add a comment to what you said about choosing an SL over an R6 or R6.2. One of the great satisfaction I have had with Leica Ms (except the M5 and I'll soon explain this point) was the ease, comfort and tactile experience in using them. That, I found again when I first used an R6, which I do not experience when I use an SL. This latter camera feels like a tank: it is a reliable tool (although designed and produced in the 1960s by comparison to one produced in the late 1980s (R6) or the 1990s (R6.2) and probably more likely to stop working at some point with parts harder to find than for the R6s). And there comes the M5 point, for me the M5 is to the M6 (I tried one M5 but never acquired one for this reason) what the SL is to the R6: a bulky older camera, not quite figured out. I am aware that part of my appreciation is subjective (the ease and pleasure of using a specific camera) and I would advise anyone interested in an SL to have a look at an R6 and compare for themselves before buying.
PS: just one detail you could add, the ISO button can also be used to check the battery. All the best.
Thanks Bruno! For me I use the R6 over the SL as I need the diopter but the feel of the SL film advance is one of the best I’ve ever used. Drool :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yes the R6 is my favorite all-mechanical camera too. It is so well-built. I first used it when it was lent to me at its release by a local camera store where I lived in France at the time. I did several assignments covering the local national theatre company. It was love at first click! ;O) Now if you speak of smooth and slick manual film advance, for me nothing beats the F3's.
Where can I get a CLA for the older Film Leicas
Ask repair shops in your country. In the UK there are a few places that do it- Google Leica repair and your country name.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks Matt. Will be interesting to watch the Voightlander LTM lens review. ☺️
My nikon f2 put to sleep my m3,
Thanks Emilio! See my Nikon vs Leica shoot out. You might be able to relate!
Just imagine a digital R body nowadays (with or without a mirror) with all that cheap glass available! But if the dog didn't shit haha ... well, with a digital R, the lenses would still be expensive, wouldn't they?
Thanks Jos, I think that is the SL line you are talking about! (Digital SLs) :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom No, since this means L-mount ... and not R. Am I wrong?
@@luxseven1 yes but just use L-R adapter like I use.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom And don't forget the digital CL also L mount can take TL lenses, M and R lenses via adapters.
I got a 16mm Sigma F1.4 a 35mm Leica TL 35mm F1.4 and a Sigma 56mm F1.4, with the crop APSC factor
these lenses are 24mm, 50mm and 84mm all at F1.4 and full autofocus and superb wide open at F1.4
@@zenjitsuman thanks, yes! There are quite a few L mount lenses coming out now which is good for L users, whether CL, S5 or any other body. Sounds a nice setup!
Ilford Pan is a “cheap T-max” nowadays?! Where has the world gone, lol
Haha yes Kodak and Fuji prices are higher than Ilford. TMax is still better but Ilford can be nice too.
You mean a lovely but rebadged Minolta Vs a ' real ' Leica ? The R series are excellent cameras so I'm not dissing them, however the ' real' M series is dead as the digital Ms have a mass of none German guts so aren't ' pure' . I'm not alone thinking this just see how far film Leica's are increasing in price 2nd hand.
Thanks Mike. Haha I think that is the common joke when Leica R is mentioned. If you read into it a bit more some Leica R bodies are more Leica than others. (The same with R lenses, some were made with Minolta (24mm for example and some zooms). As a Leica nut I agree that film Ms and Leica iii Barnacks feel more Leica like. I also agree for digital as I use M, CL and SL bodies and only the M feels more Leica like but no matter what people say a Leica FEELS 100% better than (well better than..call it as we like) any other brand. I bought the Lumix S5 as a cheap Leica SL2-S. I then had to buy the SL as I didn't enjoy the feel of the Lumix. Same goes for Fuji, Sony etc.. they all take nice photos but for me I buy what I enjoy using. Strangely for film i'm happy to use most camera brands as stuff was made properly back then. I use a lot of film Nikons, any price point and use them along side the R6. (See the R6 vs Nikon shootout video)(Guess which took the better photos!?) :) ..and yes prices keep going up and up for used stuff, especially film now demand beats supply.
What are you talking about? Comparing cameras or switching to one? You just can't compare an SL to an R6, no way. The R6 has a CDS metering system and needs a battery!!! to be seen on the bottom. Do you know, what you are talking about, I doubt it.
Hi Roland, you sound like you are getting stuck in the details. The SL has a battery too if you are worrying about batteries. Have you seen how big batteries are for the Leica M6 or R6 in this case? So small it's not an issue but as they are only needed for the meter (which we dont really need) it's not a problem either way. Most of my Leicas I use without meters/ batteries (film bodies*). If you need any more help on the specifics let me know. (The SL comment was a TLL view comment vs using a RF).
Leica R6 is Poorman's Leica !
Haha, R bodies offer great value 100% but they are bigger. I went back to the small Leica iii and M bodies for most of my work.