LEICA R8
Leica original SLR camera
A review and photo examples of the LEICA R8 SLR film camera by Leica
Table of contents
Gallery
- Photo examples were taken with FUJIFILM COLOR100 film, KODAK Pro Image100 KODAK COLORMAX 200.
- Lenses used were SUMMILUX-R 35mm, SUMMICRON-R 35mmm, SUPER ELMAR-R 15mm, and SUPER ELMARIT-R 15mm. More details in the gallery captions.
Review
1．About camera
The Leica R8 (hereafter referred to as R8) is a film camera of which about 40,000 units were manufactured between 1996 and 2002.
The R8 underwent minor improvements over four generations, with the first generation produced early on being the most widely distributed. The serial number identifies which generation a camera belongs to, with the first generation consisting of 2.28 million to 2.422 million units (13,500 units) produced in 1996-1997, the second generation consisting of 2.427 million to 2.4358 million units (6,000 units) produced in 1997-1998, the third generation consisting of 2.464 million to 2.477 million units (4,000 units) produced in 1998, and the fourth generation consisting of 2.55 million to 2.85 million units (8,050 units) produced in 1998-2002.
Since the R8 was almost perfect as an electronic camera without AF, the improvements over the four generations were minor, such as improvements to durability. The differences in parts are introduced in “RLFC R8 Minor Changes”, but the differences are slight and it is difficult to tell them apart except by the serial number. Even older serial numbers may use parts from the time of repairs, so it cannot be said that cameras with older serial numbers are inferior in durability.
If the camera is not equipped with a motor winder, you will need to wind and rewind the film manually.
As with Japanese cameras, it has a function to read the DX of the film, so the ISO setting can be done automatically.
There are two options for automatic winding on the R8/R9: motor winder (2 frames/sec) and motor drive (4.5 frames/sec). According to the owner of Matsumoto Camera in Osaka, it is better not to use the motor drive because it will damage (break down) the camera. This is presumably because the camera parts cannot withstand the driving force exerted by the motor drive’s high-speed continuous shooting (4.5 frames per second, 36 shots can be completed in 8 seconds).
- The batteries required for using the camera are different, so the following are the batteries required.
- The basic R8 requires two CR2 lithium batteries to operate.
- When using the motor winder, two CR123A batteries are required.
- When using the motor drive, a dedicated Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) battery is required, which has a different battery type and shape from the lithium-ion battery of the DMR.
The viewfinder screen is exclusive to the R8/R9, probably because the viewfinder magnification is different from that of the R7 and earlier, and five types are provided in addition to the standard, including microprism screens and grid screens, and all the necessary screens are provided. In the 2010s, there were quite a few of them, but as of 2023, they are not often seen even used. Below is a list of viewfinder screens.
| Screen number | Screen name | Note |
| 14343/14392(DMR) | Universal Split Wedge Micro Prism | Center Split + Microprism |
| 14344/14393(DMR) | Plain Matte | |
| 14345/14394(DMR) | Microprism | Center microprism |
| 14346 | Matte with Grid & TV Mark | |
| 14347 | Clear with Crosshairs | |
| 14387/14395(DMR) | Ground-Glass Screen with Grid |
2．Usage
Since the DMR broke, the R8 has been a paperweight (ornament) in my house, but in 2023, I got the ELMARIT R 15mm F2.8, one of the rare lenses, so I decided to use the third-generation R8 with a serial number of 2.47 million as a film camera to use this lens on my Leica camera. It had been about 10 years since I last shot with film, and I had a little trouble loading and winding the film, but I managed to take one roll of 36 exposures.
I remembered the fun of using film, so I bought a fourth-generation R8 silver with a serial number of 2.75 million along with a motor winder. When using the R8 with film, the hassle of manual winding made me interested in motor winders, and although motor winders for the R8 and R9 are available second-hand, they cost about 20,000 yen each, so when I was traveling in Osaka, I found an R8 silver body and motor winder set for 57,000 yen and bought it.
The motor winder automatically winds the first three frames, leaving two or three completely black frames at the beginning of the film. Also, when shooting, the charge ends instantly when the shutter is pressed, so if you release the shutter button too late, two frames may be taken in a row. You never know until you try it.
I think the shutter sound is the same as when I used it with the DMR, but the fourth generation seems a little quieter. And as of 2024, electronic R series cameras such as the R8 and R9 cannot be repaired in any case, and if they break down, they will be discarded or removed for parts.
3．About LEICA R
The R mount has a long history, and while physical mechanisms have been added to the mount, it has evolved to the point where it can be equipped with electronic contacts, although it was ultimately unable to install autofocus. Therefore, it is very difficult for beginners to R-type Leica cameras to understand the compatibility of lenses and cameras.
The information below from the R LEICA FAN CLUB (RLFC) is considered to be the most accurate, so we will introduce it here. Information about R-type Leicas on current websites is often based on this. I have also seen online shopping sites that simply copied the RLFC explanations.
About the compatibility of Leica R-mount lens cams and cameras
Even if you use a mirrorless camera and use a lens via a mount adapter, depending on the mount condition and the accuracy of the R-mount adapter, the lens may not be able to be removed, so we recommend that you do not force a lens and adapter that does not fit smoothly.
R mount lenses are often wide-angle lenses, but some are designed so that the rear lens fits into the mirror box of the SLR camera. This means that although it is possible to physically attach them via a mount adapter, caution is required as the mirror may come into contact with the lens during use, which can damage the camera and lens. In particular, when an R mount lens is attached to a Canon SLR camera equipped with a 35mm full-size sensor via an EOS_R mount adapter, some lenses may display an error and prevent shooting. This is a state in which the camera’s sensor has determined that there is a high possibility of contact between the mirror and the lens.
Parts that convert R mount lenses to Nikon F mount and Sony (Minolta) α mount are also sold, but caution is required as there is a possibility of interference between the mirror and lens depending on the lens, as mentioned above.
Specification and Competitor
| Model name | R7 | R8 | R9 |
| Film size | 35mm | ← | ← |
| Finder | x 0.8 | x 0.75 | ← |
| Max shutter speed | 1/2000 | 1/8000 | ← |
| Film counter | Upper right side of the body | In the finder | Upper right side of the body In the finder |
| Battery | SR44*2 | CR2*2 | ← |
| Screen | 5 type | 6 type | ← |
| CAM | 3/R/ROM | ← | ← |
| Release date | 1992 | 1996 | 2002 |
| Size (H x W x D) | 94.8 x 138.5 x 62.2 | 101 x 158 x 62 | ← |
| Weight (Body only) | 670 | 890 | 790 |
| Product number | 29,629 | 38,551 | 8,050 |
| Color | Black | Black/Silver | Black/Gray |
Options
- 14209 [Motor Winder R8/R9] ¥76,500 (excl. tax in Japanese Yen)
- 14313 [Motor Drive R8/R9] ¥125,000 (excl. tax in Japanese Yen)
- 14250 Leica Power-Pack MW-R8 (NiCad (nickel cadmium) battery for motor winder)
Update history
- 2024.9.15
- 2023.12.05:First draft
Reference links
- RLFC’s R8 introduction page (Japanese)
- RLFC R8 Minor Changes (Japanese)
- Accessories for LEICA R8/R9 (French)
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