[LRFlex] Re: R4s
- From: "Peter M.C. Werner" <pwerner@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 15:37:34 +0100
I agree with Doug's opinion about the SL. Although I have never owned
one, from all I have read and heard, it is as reliable as the SL2.
>Many early R4 bodies were very unreliable but by the time the R4s was
>produced the reliability problems had been sorted out.
Doug must have been very lucky. I had the following problems with my
secondhand R4 (bought from a good dealer, who eventually took it back
and refunded me)
- The DOF lever was sticky and the actuating button broke off when I
tried to use it
- a fresh battery went flat after 3 days and 12 shots
- On each shot there was a 3cm (~1 in.) wide orange/red stripe due to a
defective film cartridge window masking foam rubber.
- The film transport did not work correctly and I had double- treble-
and other multiple- exposures. Not a single shot of my test film was
correct
While I may have been particularly unlucky with the R4 I bought, I NEVER
had such an amount of incidents from any previous "quality" camera I
owned (Leica IIIb,M3, 5 Alpa Reflexes, 5 Nikons, 5 Exactas and several
others).
I am not the only one with such "bad luck" and you can find many more R4
horror stories in the archives of the Leica Forum and other user groups.
My advice for someone buying an R4(x) body is to get it with a guarantee
you can return it no-questions-asked within a reasonable period (like 2
weeks), and at least a 60 day warranty beyond that. Repairs on R bodies
are quite expensive.
Peter Werner
http://www.alpareflex.com
http://www.kilfitt.org
http://www.werner.mu
> -----Original Message-----
> From: leicareflex-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:leicareflex-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Doug Herr
> Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 14:45
> To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [LRFlex] Re: FW: R4s
>
> on 11/29/04 3:35 AM, Peter M.C. Werner at pwerner@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> >> Is it altogether an issue of lenses?
> >
> > In my opinion yes. The R camera bodies are just a support allowing
you
> > to mount the superb Leitz and Leica lenses. I would stay away from
the
> > R4 series (including R4s). These cameras are particularly prone to
> > defects. They are basically Minoltas with a few modifications and a
> > different lens mount.
> >
> > See e.g. my own experience at
> >
> > http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008rK8
> >
> > On that board you will find more discussions about the merits and
> > demerits of the various Leica reflex bodies.
> >
> > I now own a Leicaflex SL2 and a Leica R8. Both are excellent and
very
> > agreeable to work with. The big clear viewfinder is outstanding on
both
> > cameras, reminding me of the first Nikon F. You do not find such
good
> > viewfinders on other contemporary cameras.
> >
> > I hope this helps.
> > Peter Werner
> > Bursins, Switzerland
> >
>
> I agree with Peter's opinion of the SL2 and R8, and would add that the
SL
> is
> equally good. I don't agree entirely with his opinion of the entire
> R4-series of cameras. I used three R4-series bodies for about ten
years
> (one R4s, 2 R4sP) and had very little trouble with them. They seem to
> require a CLA every ten to fifteen years, otherwise aperture actuating
> rings
> and internal switches will act up, while with the SL and SL2 a camera
due
> for a CLA is more likely to be a bit off peak performance but still
very
> usable.
>
> Many early R4 bodies were very unreliable but by the time the R4s was
> produced the reliability problems had been sorted out. The "s" BTW
means
> "simplified", meaning it has no shutter-priority mode and in manual
mode
> the
> shutter speed you've set isn't visible in the viewfinder. The R4sP
> replaced
> the R4s, adding dust- and idiot-resistant external switches, and
including
> the manual shutter speeds in the viewfinder. It also has additional
> internal simplification and serviceability vs. the R4s. IMHO the R4sP
is
> the best of the R4 series.
>
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sacramento
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
>
>
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