Leica R4–R7
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| Original R4 with Macro-Elmarit 60/2.8 image by Carlos Santisteban (Image rights) |
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 subsequent models through to the R7.
Contents
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.
Metering
A single light cell was mounted in the base towards the fron and pointing back at the film plane. The main mirror was semi silvered and light passing through was reflected by a large secondary mirror onto the sensor. A small condensing lens was moved mechanically to effect the change from selective to full field metering (this can be felt quite distinctly when moving the selector between modes "a" and "A").
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, full field exposure
- P - Program fully automatic, full field exposure
- T - Shutter priority semi automatic, full field 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.
Winder & Motor Drive
For the first time a Leica reflex camera was offered from the outset with the option of winder or motor drive. The winder transported at 2fps and the bulkier and heavier motor drive at selectable 2fps or 4fps. Both could be fitted with the handgrip, both also supplied power to the camera providing an alternative power supply for the camera itself.
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.
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 (where 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 (including some later R5 cameras), although the factory in Portugal continued to manufacture sub assemblies and accessories.
R6 / R6.2
A very different camera, developed and manufactured in Solms. Operation was entirely mechanical with electronics for light measurement only. Operation was manual only, the selector simply switched between selective and full field measurement. Aimed at professional photographers, the R6 was significantly more expensive than the R5.
Automatic TTL flash exposure was provided, as on the R5.
R6.2 had an improved shutter with 1/2000s top speed.
Viewfinder
Information display in the viewfinder was simplified, the previous vertical scale of exposure LED's was replaced by a 3 segment LED beneath the main view amongst the other settings indicating under / correct / over exposure.
R7
The R7 was extensively reworked and Leica's first microprocessor controlled camera. This entailed an additional circuit in the base necessitating an increase in the height of the camera which, in turn, required a new taller winder / motor drive grip.
Viewfinder
Together with the simplified data display of the R6, selected shutter speed was now shown digitally. However, aperture display was still a small optical window and so, in P & T modes, the camera could not display the actual aperture to be used.
References
- Leitz:Handbook of the Leica System:1984 Leitz
- Kisselbach, Theo:Leica-R4:Hove Foto Books 1981 ISBN 0-906447-12-7
- Eastland, Jonathan:Leica R Compendium (Handbook of the Leica R System):Hove Books 1995 ISBN 1 897802 07 2
