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Leica R-8

27 reviews 4.56 of 5 Write a Review >> Manufacturer Site MSRP: $ 2595.00

Click here for more Product Specifications information - Fast shutter, 32 seconds to 1/8000 second in half steps; flash synch time 1/250 for fast-moving subjects. - Three exposure-metering modes: selective - setting can be stored, center-weighted-integral and multi-field for successful mastering of every light situation. - Four operating modes: manual, aperture- and shutter-speed-priority and variable programmed automatic control - Stable and solid metal construction

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(27 Reviews Total) | View First 5

Review Date Reviewed by: Christian Nagel, Expert, from Karlsruhe, Germany April 15, 2002 Price Paid: $1200 at Ebay Overall Rating 5 of 5 Photography Experience: 6-10 years, Outdoor Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: I'm also using a EOS-1 with EF 28-70/2.8 L and EF 80-200/2.8 L. Used product for And a R8 + R7 with 4/35-70, 2.8/70-180 APO, Apo-Macro-Elmarit More than 1 year 100 and 2.8/24. And the R8 and its lenses is way ahead of the Canon L Series. It's well worth the price. The mechanics are also Visitors rate this review way ahead. Not only in sharpness or contrast. There is contrast 4 of 5, 1 votes and shadow detail, sharpness and smoothness at the same time and accurate bright colors ! It's built for a lifetime ! The EF Rate this review? 2.8/70-200 is a good lens, but compared to the Vario-Apo-Elmarit 5 Highest 70-180 just a cheap plastic lens. Chips and plastic are less expensive than brass and premium UD and fluorite glass. Contax + Zeiss Lenses are very good, but the Zeiss 100 macro 4 DVDs for $.49 >> and the corresponding zoom for the Leica APO 70-180 are no match for the leica lenses. The greatest advantage of a quality SLR-System is its flexibility. And that is inceased by premium APO Zoom-lenses and specialty lenses like macro ones. And there, Leica is top notch ! The R8 itself is great. One wheel or knob for one funktion. Fast and intuitive. Not like the Canon EOS-Series with displays and multi-funktion-knobs. The R8 is tough, reliable, easy to use and well balanced for heavy high performance zooms and big hands. The learning curve is as short as possible !

Strengths: Tough, intuitive, reliable, best lens system in the world, very flexible and well balanced

Weaknesses: No complaints ! You get what you pay for !

Similar Products Used: R7, EOS-1

Customer Service: Great. Equipment is checked for free. You only have to pay for repairs.

Review Date Reviewed by: Jason , Professional March 20, 2002 Price Paid: $0 Overall Rating 2 of 5 Photography Experience: 21+ years, Outdoor Value Rating 1 of 5 Summary: Was given an R8 to take along on a photo shoot to the Everglades Used product for and the ten Thousand Islands for 3 weeks. Got some nice, usable Less than 1 month shots. Camera was nice to use. Extremely bright viewfinder. HOWEVER, I'll stick to my Contax RTS III's for my general Visitors rate this review photography and the Canon 1V for telephoto and autofocus when 2.6 of 5, 5 votes needed.

Rate this review? Leica lens prices are ABSURD!! Before rebates, if they are still 5 Highest giving them, (and they should be) here are some comparisons: 4 DVDs for $.49 >> Leica 50 1.4 - $1795. Contax, reviewed as the sharpest 50mm in Pop. Photg.-$385.

Leica 80 1.4 - $2795. Contax, considered "legendary" by portrait photogs - $865.

Leica 70-180 2.8 (are you sitting?) $5095. Yes, that's correct, a zoom lens in this range for more that 5 grand!! Canon 70-200 2.8 'L', AS SHARP AS THEY COME, $1200. Quite a price to pay to have that "Leica" hanging around your neck. Those kind of prices really tick me off. How can anyone support a company that wants to fleece their customers like this.

Sure, there are those who have an almost 'cult' type following for the 'M' series, but even these prices are absurd. And we are talking 35mm!!

I guess there 's a lot of money out there!

Strengths: bright viewfinder

Weaknesses: rediculously priced lenses.

Similar Products Used: Contax RTS Canon 1V Contax G2

Review Date Reviewed by: Patrick Pevenage, Beginner, from Wetteren September 24, 2001 (Belgium)

Overall Rating Price Paid: $0 4 of 5 Photography Experience: Value Rating 0-1 years, People 5 of 5 Summary: Used product for At 45 years old, a beginner and yet a black Leica R8. I always 3 Months to 1 year wanted to take photos, and now I have the time (but not always the money). I went for a Nikon SLR, but came home with a Leica Visitors rate this review SLR. I love the lens, the sharpness, the contrast, the soul, the 2.67 of 5, 3 votes extravagant design. I buyed a Leica to have it forever. I love the old-fashioned features. (Re)winding manually, no auto-focus. Rate this review? Modern basics. No clics, a silent shutter, well built, and most of the 5 Highest people (in Europe by the way) don't know Leica. They think it's an old East-German name and they don't bother. So I can go on 4 DVDs for $.49 >> shooting. Most of the people don't like the design. Strengths: Easy to understand how it works. Aperture-priority is all I need. Well built. Very nice summicron 50 lens (that's all I need). Black paint is strong (thought I made a scratch, but no).

Weaknesses: A little big for my hands. It takes time to learn to handle it well (ergonomics). Always have to turn it on to see how many pictures left. No 100% viewfinder (why?).

Similar Products Used: Nikkormat FT3 (very good), Fujica (good for bric and brac), Leica Minilux zoom (made me turn to Leica forever).

Customer Service: Not needed yet.

Review Date Reviewed by: ubique, Professional, from Australia September 18, 2001 Price Paid: $0 Overall Rating 5 of 5 Photography Experience: 21+ years, People Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: I have 2 R8 bodies, with the motor drive attached (not the Visitors rate this review winder)the R8 is superb. 3.33 of 5, 3 votes Only complaint I have is that you can't use AA batteries in the drive. Leica claims that AA don't last long enough, who cares? It Rate this review? would be nice to have them as a back up if the NM-HI 5 Highest rechargables suddenly went flat. The shape of the grip on the Motor drive is better than the motor winder and the camera itself, 4 DVDs for $.49 >> it's easier to hold and feels less likely to slip out of your hand. All the controls are in the right places. Overall the best Leica ever. I hope Leica see the light and make a digital back to fit the R8, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds being able to shoot film or digital with an R8 body.

Strengths: The TTL flash metering is so good I don't bother with my Minolta spot meter in the studio anymore. The Lenses are truly superb, sepecially the 70-180 f2.8 APO, the 28-70 Japanese built Leica lens surprised me, for portraits it is exceptionally sharp. I am not a fan of zoom lenses but Leica zooms ar as sharp as their prime lenses.

Weaknesses: Not being able to use AA batteries, Lithium batteries are expensive and don't last very long, and are hard to obtain in remote places. The rechargable motor drive solved most of the R8 battery problems. Pity Leica didn't give users the option of a AA pack for the drive.

Similar Products Used: Leica R3, R4, R6,R6.2, Canon F1, Nikon F4,and FE2, Olympus OM2

Customer Service: Customer service is outstanding in Germany, not so good in Australia, it takes about 3 months to get a camera back through the dealer network here.

Review Date Reviewed by: Wilson Chow , Casual, from Hong Kong August 17, 2001 Price Paid: $1070 at H.K. Overall Rating 4 of 5 Photography Experience: 2-5 years, Outdoor Value Rating 3 of 5 Summary: It is easy to understand to use the camera. I found one thing is not Visitors rate this review very wise that I need to change the ISO manually even I use the 4 of 5, 3 votes so called DX function, the DX function just show warning signal and not automatically change the ISO. Also, such a high grade Rate this review? camera body cannot provide 100% viewfinder field and non 5 Highest interchangable viewfinder prism head like F3 and LX. Anyway, this body should be suitable for those who like old style cameras 4 DVDs for $.49 >> and the price nowaday is afforable and comparable with other top classic cameras.

Strengths: Very solid body, good surface finishing, I really feel the deluxe design. If I am not wrong, R8 can compatible with all R lenses. All round functions are provided.

Weaknesses: The handle is a bit too big for small size Chinese people like me (I am 165cm tall). Thus, using motor drive for comfortable holding is recommeded when using heavy lenses. R8 is a bit heavy even without motor drive, weighs 890g.

Similar Products Used: Nikon F3P, Pentax LX, Ricoh XR 8. Other AF bodies.

Customer Service: No experience.

Review Date Reviewed by: Alex Ng , Intermediate, from HK SAR July 15, 2001 Photography Experience: Overall Rating 11-20 years, Other 4 of 5 Summary: Value Rating Most practical Leica SLR camera that I've tried, Excellent shutter 3 of 5 with AEL built in, great for portraits. Handles well but too heavy with the motor attached. Shutter locks to 1/250 of a second in P Visitors rate this review mode, nothing quite like those ETTL, or 3D balanced flash 2 of 5, 3 votes programs. The bottom line is, this is the best body to use with those unparelled Leica R lenses. Rate this review? 5 Highest Strengths: Convenient features, such as high flash sync speed, half step 4 DVDs for $.49 >> shutter speeds, Spot meter with AEL on the shutter, great handling, wonderful R series lenses.

Weaknesses: Way too heavy with the motor attached. Shutter delay too long without the motor, shutter bounce quite serious for modern cameras. Not very good coupling with the SF-20 flash. Program shift better than none.

Similar Products Used: EOS-1V, Dynax 9, F100, N-1

Customer Service: None required

Review Date Reviewed by: Vincent Cheng, Expert, from Penang, Malaysia May 30, 2001 Price Paid: $1500 at Penang Overall Rating 4 of 5 Photography Experience: 6-10 years, Outdoor Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: A big leap for Leica-R camera that put leica quite on par with other Visitors rate this review Japanese camera with all pro features you always wish for when 2 of 5, 2 votes using RE/R7/R5 and below. More importance here, Leica offer all first class quality lenses. You will love your R system now. This Rate this review? camera in fact is not heavy compared to other pro cameras. My 5 Highest only wish is that if this camera could be made smaller and the MD speed can be boost up to at least 5.5fps as I need this feature 4 DVDs for $.49 >> occasionally for birds in action. Bottom line, R8 is a great camera. You will love it.

Strengths: Solid built quality, ergonomic, simplicity and very beautiful camera! It has all the pro features required (wide shutter speed from 32s-8000 in half stop, 2nd sync flash, mirror lock-up..). Both auto and mannual features..

Weaknesses: A little too thick for my hand (not big nor bulky). With this size, I expect it has built in wider like other branded cameras do while keeping the option for mannual rewind. Also, quite dissapointed with the motor drive speed which could only reach 4.5fps. This is a suprise that such a big (pro-look) camera can only go up to 4.5fps when attached with MD.

Similar Products Used: EOS-1, EOS ELAN, Contax RTSIII, Contax S2

Customer Service: No error encountered so far after >100rolls of film.

Review Date Reviewed by: Christian Nagel, Expert, from Karlsruhe, Germany April 26, 2001 Price Paid: $1400 at ebay Overall Rating 5 of 5 Photography Experience: 2-5 years, Outdoor Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: The best manual camera on earth ! Solid like a tank, if you get Visitors rate this review used to this one, you won't feel the camera any more after a while. 5 of 5, 1 votes You have the choice of manual winding and rewindig or of motorized winding/rewinding. It's suitable for every situation and Rate this review? compatible with the best lenses on earth, e.g. the famous 5 Highest Apo-Telyt 180/3.4, the super sharp Apo-Macro-Elmarit 100/2.8, Summicron 90 and some very fine zooms (Apo-Elmarit 2.8/35-70, 4 DVDs for $.49 >> Vario-Elmar 4/35-70 and 4/80-200). To mention just some of them. I'm using it with the R7 as a second body. It is a very expandable camera system for life. I also use a Canon EOS-1 with the Sigma 2.8/14mm EX, the brilliant Canon EF 2.8/28-70 L USM and the EF 2.8/80-200 L when speed matters. But the feel and intuitive use of the Leica system can't be beat. The customer service is great. The check your cameras and lenses as often as you wish and the do only charge you if something is broken. Nothing compared to Nikon, Canon or Minolta. Canon CPS is also great, but you need a permission to join the CPS. And they won't check it for free as often as the Leica customer service does. And they are very fast : 1 to 2 weeks here in Germany. I had a few things that needed to be re-adjusted many months after the guarantee-period ran out, and they did it for free. So 5 stars for the Customer service. The R8 has everything a serious photographer needs : fast shutter speed, great lenses, it is tropicalized and very sturdy, it has all metering capabilities you need, it is very creative to use and very ergonomically. The price is OK compared to the top cameras of all other brands. It doesn't make sense to compare this manual and high quality SLR with an autofocus SLR. The systems are too different and no, really no AF-lens can compete with the mechanical and optical built-quality of a top-of-the-line Leica lens. Those AF-cameras and lenses won't last forever. The chances that a Leica system does are quite good.

Strengths: Rugged, sturdy, solid like a tank, the most ergonomic camera alive !, easy to use, very reliable and flexible, you get what you pay for ! Weaknesses: None

Similar Products Used: Canon EOS-1, Leica R7

Customer Service: Great ! Best service I've ever experienced ! Fast and friendly !

Review Date Reviewed by: Moth Ray, Intermediate, from Jakarta, Indoensia March 16, 2001 Price Paid: $1100 at Jakarta Overall Rating 5 of 5 Photography Experience: 21+ years, Outdoor Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: I consider the R8 to be the best camera for me and that includes Visitors rate this review its value for money. It is surprisingly cheap in Asia (I bought mine 3 of 5, 1 votes new) but even in the USA it's still good value. The lenses are prohibitively expensive if bought new but are surprisingly cheap Rate this review? on the used market. It mat be considered big and heavy, 5 Highest considering it doesn't have a built-in motor or autofocus.

Strengths: 4 DVDs for $.49 >> Comfortable shape for my hands.

Controls well set out in general, although there are some oddities.

Any of the 3 metering methods (spot, matrix, center-weighted) can be combined with any of the 4 exposure mdes (manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, program)

Viewfinder display is clear and uncluttered.

Bright viewfinder and easy to use with spectacles.

Superb lenses that can be had for reasonable prices on the used market (but very expensive new).

Easy to use mirror & aperture pre-fire.

Very well-damped mirror and reasonably quite operation.

1st/2nd shutter curtain flash synch option.

Flash control very flexible, mainly because of SCA 3000 compatibility.

Range of shutter speeds from 16 sec to 1/8000 sec, selectable manually in half-step increments or automatically in stepless increments.

Max flash synch speed of 1/250 sec.

Provides "idiot-proof" control of exposure and flash in program mode. Very well suited to beginners (but probably more than a beginner would want to pay!).

Fully compatible with lenses for previous R cameras; the ROM insert is not needed unless you want automatic zoom flash.

Weaknesses: Cannot see frame counter unless camera is activated.

Totally reliant on batteries.

Operation and position of exposure compensation switch - uncomfortable to operate and doesn't work unless camera display is activated. Heavy compared with previous R models.

Expensive, except in Asia at the moment.

Not many R8 bodies or accessories have reached the used market yet.

Similar Products Used: Leica R7 Olympus OM-10, OM-2n, OM-2S

Customer Service: Not needed yet.

Review Date Reviewed by: vipul Patel, Intermediate, from vipul patel March 9, 2001 Price Paid: $1855 at cameraworld.com Overall Rating 5 of 5 Photography Experience: 2-5 years, Outdoor Value Rating 5 of 5 Summary: If one really wants to learn and enjoy the photography this is the Visitors rate this review camera to buy. I am happy with the camera. 2 of 5, 1 votes Strengths: Rate this review? robust, perfect. stimulates your brain.you are controling the 5 Highest camera and not other way round

4 DVDs for $.49 >> Weaknesses: none

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