LEICA DMR +R8
Converting a film camera to a digital camera
A review and Photo example of the Leica DMR (Digital Module R) and LEICA R8
Table of contents
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Review
The DMR itself has only a digital recording function, and the camera depends on the functions of its mother cameras, the LEICA R8 and LEICA R9.
It is about the same size as the CANON EOS1 series and NIKON D1-digit series.
Except for its large size, the R8/R9 can be used as an ordinary SLR camera.
The shutter sound is quite loud, although this is a problem on the R8/R9 film camera side.
Since the sensor size is smaller than 35mm, a dedicated normal screen with masked edges is included with the DMR, which is interchangeable with the R8/R9’s screen.
As noted in the specifications, a 2GB SD card will allow you to take exactly 100 shots, which is enough for about 3 rolls of 36-shot film, which is just the right number of shots for me personally.
The battery has a special shape and is not interchangeable. Around 2018, if you brought your old battery to LEICA Ginza, they would exchange it for a battery with a new, refreshed battery inside. Two of our batteries were also exchanged for new batteries.
The DMR I purchased had only one battery, so I purchased a used battery on eBay.
Personally, I don’t find much of a problem with the R8/R9 screens, but for those who are particular, the reference link Cosmos Photo Gallery has more information on the screen details. There is a wealth of information on the personally created screen Talberg, which seems to be used in the R series.
The DMR itself was purchased used, fully functional, at a reasonable price, but it has not aged well, the internal battery has been depleted, the clock cannot be recorded, the ISO dial is malfunctioning, and the camera is almost a paperweight with ISO 100 barely usable. It is a problem that digital equipment has a short life span and is difficult to repair.
Specification of DMR
With the LEICA R8, the camera power switch and the DMR power switch must be turned on.
When using the LEICA R9, the DMR is also activated when the camera is turned on.
The recording medium is an SD card, and although the rare 4GB-SD card is supported, it is difficult to obtain. A 2GB SD card, which is readily available on the market, can be used to take approximately 100 shots in DNG format.
| Items | Value | Note |
| Image sensor | KODAK / KAF-10010CE | Focal length is x1.37 |
| Recorded Media | SD card | Supports up to 4GB |
| Battery | 14447 [Lithium-ion battery DMR] | |
| Size(mm) | W x H x D 165 x 42 × 70〜83 | Excluding protruding parts |
| Weight(g) | 605 | Only body |
| Release date | 2002 | Product end 2006 |
Specification of R8/R9
| Items | Value | Note |
| Finder | Real-image reverse Galilean perspective finder | |
| ファインダー倍率 | x 0.7 | |
| Shutter | Vertical travel laminar metal forcal plane shutter | |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000〜1sec | Bulb mode is available |
| 測光 | Center weighted TTL average metering upon light depression of shutter release | |
| Battery | CR2 x2 | |
| Size(mm) | W x H x D 158 × 101 × 62 | Excluding protruding parts |
| Weight(g) | R8:890 / R9:790 | Only body |
| Release date | R8:1996-2002 / R9:2002-2003 |
Options
- 14447 [Lithium ion battery DMR]
- 14392 [Standard Screen DMR]
- 14387 [Cross clear glass screen DMR]
- 14343 [Finder screen universal screen R8/R9]
- 14344 [Ground glass screen R8/R9]
- 14345 [Micro Prism Screen R8/R9]
- 14346 [Ground ground glass screen R8/R9]
- 14347 [Cross clear glass screen R8/R9]
Reference links
Update
- 2024.2.9:Update the article
- 2023.7.31:First draft
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