The Leica R8 is a manual focus 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by the German firm of Leica as part of their R series of cameras. Development began in 1990:[1] the camera was introduced at the 1996 Photokina trade show,[2] and was succeeded by the similar Leica R9 in 2002.[2].
The R8 can be fitted with the Digital Modul R (DMR) digital back (discontinued in 2007[1]) and used as a digital camera; from 2005 to 2007, the R8 and R9 were the only 35 mm SLRs to take a user-installable digital back. The R8 was the first R series camera to have no association with Minolta, and was a completely Leica design; it was stylistically a clean break from the past as well.
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Industrial designer Manfred Meinzer was chiefly responsible for the R8 design, along with a team of designers largely new to Leica or drawn from outside; the previous Leica design department had been largely dismantled.[3]
A key design goal was to evoke the Leica M and its smooth top-plate;[1] instead of a raised pentaprism as in previous R series cameras, the R8 has sloped "shoulders" that blend almost seamlessly into the pentaprism housing. The shape is strongly asymmetrical, especially in plan view, with a bulged right handgrip and smaller, tapered left-hand side.
Another goal was to improve the ergonomics and to place controls so they could be easily reached and operated without removing the eye from the viewfinder.[1] Although the R8 is capable of fully automated exposure and (with the addition of the integrally-styled motor drive or winder) automated film transport, a major design goal was that the camera be easy to operate in fully manual mode, since many Leica customers prefer this. In this it differs strongly from other modern SLR designs, which are designed primarily for automatic operation. The top control wheels are sunken into the top plate, with knurled edges protruding at the front where they can easily be turned by hand.
The R8 is substantially larger and heavier than previous R series cameras, being about a third heavier at 890 g than the R7. This is partly explained by being built to take and balance the heavier zoom lenses in the Leica R lens range.
The styling of the R8 proved controversial. Some photographers consider it ugly, and dub it the "Hunchback of Solms"[4] (Solms is the German town where Leica is headquartered). The size and bulk of the camera attracted a lot of criticism.
The R8 was without doubt the most complex camera Leica had ever constructed (prior to the M8). It contained extensive electronics, despite its manual operation bias, and in addition was built in a very modular fashion to integrate seamlessly with motor drive units and new backs such as the Digital Modul R.
The shutter used is a Copal vertically running metal-leaf unit[1] capable of speeds between 1/8000 and 32 seconds steplessly in automatic modes, or to 16 seconds in half-stop steps in manual mode, as well as Bulb. The flash X-sync speed is 1/250 sec.
The shutter release is in the center of the shutter-speed dial, and is threaded for a cable release. The optional Motor-Drive gives additional front and vertical-grip releases.
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:
and five exposure modes:
The single light receptor is multi segment and switching of both metering mode and exposure mode is electronic. Flash pre exposure measurement is provided allowing the camera's meter to measure manually controlled flash such as studio flash. This is in addition to automatic TTL flash measurement during exposure with suitable automatic flash units. Exposure compensation is available in all exposure modes.
Program mode can be biased towards longer or shorter shutter speeds by using the shutter speed dial. Also in program mode automatic flash exposure is 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 and with suitable flash units can be up to the camera's highest speed of 1/8000s.
Leica sell a number of dedicated accessories for the R8 and R9. In addition to the Digital Modul R, these comprise the following:[5]
| Camera type | 35 mm single-lens reflex |
|---|---|
| Lens mount | Leica R bayonet with additional electrical contacts ("ROM contacts"). |
| Operating modes | Manual, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Program, and Flash. |
| Metering methods | Selective (7mm central area), 6-element matrix, center-weighted, and flash TTL center-weighted |
| Exposure lock | By light press on shutter release |
| Exposure compensation | Plus or minus three stops in half-stop increments, using lever on left side of the eyepiece |
| Film speed range | Automatic DX coding ISO 25 through 5000; manual ISO 6 through 12,800 |
| Metering range | 0.007–125,000 cd/m³ (EV −4 through EV 20) |
| Electrical power | 6 volts (2 × CR2 lithium battery) |
| Flash synchronisation | Hotshoe center contact or external synch socket; first or second curtain sync, as well as strobe (multiple flashes)View |
| Flash X-sync | 1/250 second or slower |
| TTL flash metering compatibility | Leica dedicated units and Metz units with Metz SCA 3501 adapter |
| Viewfinder coverage | 93% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.75× with 50 mm lens |
| Self timer | 2 sec or 12 sec |
| Mirror pre-release | Selectable via switch; first shutter release press activates mirror, second activates shutter |
| Frame counter | In viewfinder and on rear cover LCD |
| Multiple exposures | Unlimited, with multiple exposure switch on body |
| Construction | Cast zinc top plate, aluminum frame, synthetic base, rubber bottom |
| Dimensions | Width: 158 mm; Height: 101 mm; Depth: 62 mm |
| Weight | 890 g |
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Leica_R8 Leica R8] at Wikimedia Commons
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