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Leicas are about precision engineering and craftmanship. They require their owners to really get involved with the picture. That's why some of greatest photographers use Leica gear. This very much the history and legacy of the Leica M system. How does the R series, particularly the modern R8 measure up? The R series has the same ultra high quality glass as the M system such as Summilux and Summicron. It keeps the manual focus philosophy but adds zoom lenses. The R8 in particular is beautifully sculpted camera. The just holding the body feels great. It really feels like an Italian design. No other camera looks this good. Ergonomically, everything is right where it should be. Controls are minimal and natural. You adjust aperture thru the aperture ring on the lens and shutter speeds thru the shutter speed dial on top just as nature intended. The camera provides full program exposure automation as well with three metering modes. These days with prices of film cameras dropping, the Leica R8 has become very affordable. If you ever dreamt of owning a Leica, here is a beautiful machine to make your own without breaking the bank.Read full review
The R8 is perhaps the best value entry into the Leica R system of lenses. Leica has always made high quality cameras, but so do others, most notably Canon and Nikon. Leica won't match up with those two (and others such as Olympus, Sony, Sigma) feature for feature, because of a difference in manufacturing philosophy. The Leica will however, be as durable and robust as any of the professional models from any other maker, and at a lower price. The real reason to buy a Leica body however, is to be able to mount the Leica glass. These lenses are of the highest quality, and will deliver a photo which has qualities no one else cares to match. Leica R lenses are a high value item right now, and it is this combination which will justify buying a camera whose design is a decade old. If you have read this far, it is probably because you are trying to decide among three Leica bodies: the R8 the R9 and the R6.2. My choice has been the 8, and I own two of them. The R8 is significantly less expensive than the R9, and gives essentially the same features. Enough are available in good enough condition, that I have chosen to put my savings into extra lenses. The R6.2 is a different animal, because it is much less dependent upon its battery power. For that reason, it commands a higher price than the R8. The shape and heft of the 6.2 is also different. In my case, I find the bodies equally handy and I have no reason to prefer one over the other, and so I made the decision on price. There are going to be issues of support by Leica for the R system. In the near future (5 years of so) I doubt that this will affect any of us, but ultimately, the repair of these bodies and their lenses will become more difficult to arrange. I'm willing to take my chances, but others may not be. No one seems to expect that there will ever be an R10, and probably no more R lenses will be developed from scratch. The bottom line for me is that there is no photo like a Leica photo, and so I am willing to use the R and M systems forever. My Canons (both full sensor and smaller) simply don't produce the same results. The Nikons of my friends don't either. When that is your mindset, the R8 becomes a great value, and a camera you reach for constantly.Read full review
The incredible Leica R8 is a mechanical SLR manufactured by Leica in the early 2000s, and following a complete redesign of the Leica R lineup. This body, as many users know, was designed by Leica from the ground up, and it revolutionized SLR design. The ergonomics are superb; the camera fits naturally in the hand, no matter what lens one uses, and all the controls are easy to reach and use. The only detail some may object to is that the shutter is extraordinarily loud even for an SLR, but that's to be expected (my Nikon F5 has a very loud bang of a shutter).
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This a camera that's also a battleship. By that I mean it's solidly built, and is meant for big hands. I have big hands and love the feel. The condition is excellent. No scratches or dings. It has been well taken care of. Good value for the money.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I had spent the last few years in the digital world and found myself getting too rusty on the laws of photography and decided I needed to get back to the basics (well, as basic as a Leica R8 can be). As a former surveyor I appreciate fine optics and will normally gravitate towards items with the Zeiss or Leica label. Though at first concerned that Leica had decided to discontinue the R series, I remained drawn to the solid feel and competent design of other Leica products I owned and started my quest for a fairly priced R series camera and successfully bid on the R8 model currently sitting on my desk. Scrimping enough together to get a basic 35mm lens (I am actually getting to like this better than the standard 50mm) I have returned to the world of film photography. The R8 is so natural to use and the solid weight balances in my hand and absorbs the actions of exposure and rewinding. The information in the view finder is succinct and is quickly becoming second nature for ready comprehension. The R8 delivers what I was looking for and is more of a work of art sitting on my desk than some of the works of art in the room. I expect it will last as long as film remains available.Read full review
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