Question:
I am an amateur. I like to shoot landscape, architecture and found still life, but might be interested in combining figure with these in the future. I use a Wisner 4×5 as my "serious" camera and have a Canon Elan for family snapshots. I am thinking about moving down to either MF (Rollei 6003) or 35mm (Leica R8) given the time constraints of using the 4×5. Any thoughts from you Leica users? Thanks.
Response:
I have found the R-8 a pleasure to drive. Probably the most capable and flexible of the leica R’s. I have found 35mm to have a flexibility that med-format does not, and of course reproduction costs are much lower. Some argue that the larger format has added sharpness…….well Leica lenses bring it to an eve par in my mind, and better than some. Take into account the portability, you have yourself a winner. If you want to see some R-8 results, check out my gallery www.netlink.com.au/~argyle. r8 shots were all the lighthouse photos, roses, the stag, tree fern, and the untitled shot at the beach. p.s. some feedback on the site would be nice to! Regards, Chris
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am an amateur. I like to shoot landscape, architecture and found still life, but might be interested in combining figure with these in the future. I use a Wisner 4×5 as my "serious" camera and have a Canon Elan for family snapshots. I am thinking about moving down to either MF (Rollei 6003) or 35mm (Leica R8) given the time constraints of using the 4×5. Any thoughts from you Leica users? Thanks.
Response:
I am thinking about moving down to either MF (Rollei 6003) or 35mm (Leica R8) given the time constraints of using the 4×5. Any thoughts from you Leica users? Thank
The R8 is great. However, since you sound like you’re pretty comfortable with manual type of photography, and because you already have a 35mm SLR, I’d suggest that before you shell out the $$ for the R8, you might want to investigate the Leica M6. With the R8 you still have to contend with those characteristics that all SLRs have, which is mirror slap and blackout during film exposure. Of course, SLR systems have their advantages, especially in telephoto ranges, which is why I also have a Nikon F4S. Also, because of the mirror, the lens designers are more limited. You might want to talk to your Leica dealer about both systems. Good luck. Ilan Shanon
Response:
p.s. some feedback on the site would be nice to!
Gray text on a black background doesn’t do much for me. Paul
Response:
Hi Josh, I have both the R8 and Rollei 6008i.Both are great. I prefer the "look" of the Leica glass to Zeiss. I can’t tell the difference all the time but enough to prefer the Leica. As the user of a large format, I don’t have to tell you that at 16×20 and larger, I will use the Rollei for detail and tonality. I use the R8 more just for ease of use and carry. The M6 delivers images at least as well as the R8, but the latter is more versaitle if you think you’ll want to use fill flash, longer tele’s or zooms. Good luck. Bill
Response:
Thank you very much for the response. As it happens, I usually print my 4×5 transparencies to 16X20 using the Ilfochrome process.
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