Leica R4–R7

Following commercial success of the Minolta based Leica R3, in 1980 the R4 was introduced. Based on the Minolta XD-7 but with Leica developed mirror box and metering and new body design. The same body & chassis was used for all refex models through to the R7.

R4 / R4s / R4s MOD II

The first Leica reflex camera where all models could take a winder or motor drive, the original name R4 MOT Electronic was changed following complaints that this implied a built in motor and subsequently the camera was known simply as R4.

Also for the first time the camera offered both selective and integrated metering as well as multiple exposure modes (note: this was selective rather than spot metering and Leica always referred to it as selective).

Viewfinder

Typically comprehensive viewfinder display included:

• Exposure / metering mode
• Selected aperture (small optical window)
• (m & T modes) Selected shutter speed
• (m, AE, & P modes) Range of shutter speeds with LED indicating metered setting
• (T mode) Range of apertures with LED indicating metered setting
• Over / under exposure
• Exposure compensation set (flashing)
• Flash ready (steady, using the exposure compensation indicator)

Focussing screens were interchangable all with a central 7mm ring indicating the selective metering area. Built in viewfinder blind but dioptre correction by seperate eyepiece.

Exposure & metering modes

The camera offered a preset range of metering & exposure modes:

• m - Manual, selective exposure
• a - Aperture priority semi automatic, selective exposure with exposure lock
• A - Aperture priority semi automatic, integrated exposure
• P - Program fully automatic, integrated exposure
• T - Shutter priority semi automatic, integrated exposure

R4s / R4s MOD II

The R4s was a lower priced model with reduced features, lacking P & T modes. MOD II was a later revision with changed controls, principally much improved exposure conpensation control.

Notes

Made by Leica's factory in Portugal, early models suffered electronic failures. Later cameras and any that still survive should be trouble free. Foam light seals on the camera back degrade causing light leak around the film DX window.

Personal Experience

I have owned an R4 since 2000 and very much enjoyed using it, especially the superb Leica optics, every bit as good as the legend. The camera, accessories, and all my lenses I bought second hand, latterly through eBay.de.

The camera is very easy and comfortable to use. I mostly use it with winder & grip attached which, for my long fingers, gives an excellent secure grip, perfectly secure in one hand when making adjustments. Quite heavy but for me very comfortable.

Exposure compensation is so fiddly as to be useless, it requires two fingers to release the lock and operate (much improved from R4s MOD II onwards).

I had the problem of light leak from degraded camera back light seals which I cured by getting a new R5 back second hand, this also gave me the very useful contoured thumb grip from the R5.

R5 / RE

The R5 introduced Program shift and, much more importantly, TTL flash exposure.

In P Program mode the shutter speed dial is used to bias towards longer or shorter shutter speeds (if possible). A small "P" at 1/30s indicates the normal setting.

TTL flash is measured by a second light sensor beside the main sensor and always measures full field regardless of mode.

The RE, like the R4s, was a lower cost version lacking P & T modes. Production of the RE was in Solms, Germany, where all future R cameras were assembled although the factory in Portugal continued to manufacture sub assemblies and accessories.