[LRflex] Re: Camera Choice Advice Sought

Kevin Willey wrote:

>Serious question on an investment dilemma.  Retired after 30 years in  
>the USAF and finally trying to get serious in becoming a bona fide  
>amateur photographer.  As I have mentioned before, I recently bought a  
>Hassi 500CM and 50, 80, 120, 150, and 250 Superachromat.  Have had a  
>Leica Digilux 2 which I love but find the electronics limiting for  
>spontaneous shots, etc.  So I bought a Leica R8, 35mm/2 and Vario- 
>Elmarit 80-200mm/4 lens.  Also bought motor winder which I like more  
>than I anticipated.  Pics are beautiful.
>
>Also, love the process of shooting MF with Hassi but I want a travel  
>camera and long zoom options and a backup body.  Rather than go the  
>M8.2 as I originally intended and then have to invest in a M lens  
>line, I am considering a second R8 or R9 body.  Yet the R6.2 tempts me  
>because of reputation, size, all mechanical so I can keep it a long  
>time w/o worrying about electronic parts to repair R8 or R9.  Do I  
>lose noticeable image quality with a less capable metering,  
>programming system in R6.2 versus R8/9?  There is currently a new 6.2  
>on eBay for $1,700.

I'm sure others will (and should) voice their opinions but I've never gotten 
along with auto-exposure systems so for me the totally manual metering of the 
R6.2 would be just fine.  I leave my R8 on manual all the time, BTW.  Whether 
that works for you might be another matter, depending on subject matter, 
personal habits, film choices and the quality level you expect in your photos.

A camera from the R4 through R7 series if chosen wisely is a good choice for a 
travel camera because of their relatively small size and light weight.  IMHO 
the R6.2 is a fine camera but $1700 is a LOT of cash!  Is this US$?  The R6.2, 
being the last mechanical Leica reflex, has probably drawn some collector 
interest which has pushed the price beyond what would be justified from a 
user's point of view.

On mechanical vs. electronic, my natural bias as a mechanical engineer is the 
mechanical camera but it should be mentioned that my daughter's R4sP and my 
nephew's R4 are about 25 years old and still working well.  My R4s, which came 
to me from a humid environment, has mechanical problems but no electronic 
problems.  All FWIW.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com


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