Leica R8–R9

About 1990 Leica management decided to break away from the Minolta co-developed cameras and design a completely new replacement in house.

A new team of developers were put on the project and some of their design briefs were:

• A completely new design with no links to previous models
• Best possible ease of use especially in manual control
• Maximise benefits of electronic control

An industrial designer was employed and given the brief to make the camera look less like a conventional SLR and more like the flat topped M cameras.

When the camera was released in 1996 it met a very mixed reception, attracting criticism for its size and the styling was also not universally appreciated, some derisively calling it "The Hunchback of Solms".

R8

Metering

The highly sophisticated metering system allows free choice of metering mode and exposure mode. By contrast, the earlier R4-R7 series lacked multi pattern metering and offered only pre-set combinations of metering and exposure.

Three metering modes are offered:

• Integrated centre weighted
• Selective
• Multi pattern (Matrix)

and five exposure modes:

• Manual
• Aperture priority semi automatic
• Shutter priority semi automatic
• Program fully automatic
• Flash pre exposure measurement

Mounted on the secondary mirror itself was a single cell for selective measurement and in the camera base was a five segment cell for integrated measurement with multi pattern measurement using both giving six measurement areas. Switching of both metering mode and exposure mode was electronic. Flash pre exposure measurement was provided allowing the camera's meter to measure manually controlled flash such as studio flash. Pre-flash measurement was always selective and in addition to automatic TTL flash measurement during exposure with suitable automatic flash units which was always full field using two small light cells either side of the main multi pattern cell. Exposure compensation was available in all exposure modes.

Program mode can be biassed towards longer or shorter shutter speeds by using the shutter speed dial. Also in program mode automatic flash exposure was fully controlled by the camera: off in daylight conditions, fill in flash with low light, full flash when dark. Normal flash synchronisation speed is 1/250s with suitable flash units (when using many older professional flash units a slower synchronisation speed must be selected).

The viewfinder display was digital LED visible in any lighting.

Lens mount changes

The same bayonet and stepped cam of earlier R cameras was used, but additional electrical contacts called "ROM Contacts" were added to convey lens focal length setting. Any lens fitted with the R stepped cam may be used, but very early lenses fitted only with sloped cams (1 or 2 cam lenses) may damage the ROM contacts and should first be fitted with the stepped cam.

Lens / camera combinations are as follows:

	Leicaflex	SL/SL2	R3-R7	R8-R9
1 Cam	Y	S	S	S!
2 Cam	Y	Y	S	S!
3 Cam	Y	Y	Y	Y
R Only	X	X	Y	Y
ROM	X	X	Y	Y+

Y = full metering
Y+ = full metering + focal length data
S = stop down metering
S! = stop down metering, possible damage to camera contacts
X = will not fit

Leica 1 cam, 2 cam, 3 cam, & R stepped cam lenses may be fitted with ROM contacts but as this entails removal of the original sloped cams they would then be incompatible with the original Leicaflex cameras. This was the first break in on-going compatibility of Leica reflex lenses.

Notes

After initial excellent reliability, the R8 began suffering regular failures when the winder was finally released. This was eventually traced to out of tolerance contacts and Leica had to recall all cameras for modification.

The other problem related to the flash speed of 1/250s. This was faster than any previous camera and many existing flash units, especially large professional units, could not be used as, at high power, the flash duration was longer than 1/250s. The instructions were quite clear about the limitation but this did not prevent some "knowledeable" photographers blaming the camera for their own mistake. Leica's own SF20 and SF24 of course were suitable, as are more recent Metz units.

Personal Experience

I bought my R8 second hand in 2005 and have loved using it. I don't see any reason for the fuss over its size and design, it is a delight to use with every control easily to hand. When fitted with the very compact winder it is almost exactly the same bulk and weight of an R4/5/6/7 with winder & grip.

Viewfinder information is superb, simply presented and easy to read at a glance. Camera operation is a delight, the mirror pre-release feature is useful and easy to use, and I also find flash pre-exposure measurement useful as I mostly use manual flash and don't much like TTL flash.

Fill in flash with an SF20 in daylight, taking advantage of the 1/250s flash speed, was very useful until the flash failed, most annoying.

Two things I don't like: to allow use when wearing glasses the viewfinder image size is significantly reduced. A real pity, the R4 view is better. Also with my long fingers I don't find the contoured body so secure to hold as the R4 with winder & grip.