Help on a R8 and a 90 mm Elmarit combo

[pierre_claquin1]

I have been offered to buy an R8 in apparently excellent condition 2428xxx and

a 90mm Elmarit 2268xxx with a few scratch marks on the barrels. I have it with

me for a few days and put a roll through it today. I will have the results

tomorrow. I found that on P mode the P sign keeps blinking although I have set

the lens at 22 (which I am supposed to do, I believe). Also in the A and M

modes the figures displayed for the aperture in the view finder do not match

the figures on the aperture ring. For example although the lens goes from 2.8

to 22 I see 1.4 to 11 in the view finder. There is no problem in the T mode

and the figures match.

 

What could be the problem? A 2 cam versus a 3 cam lens? The lens came mounted

on the camera and I have no problem fitting it in and out.

 

An additional question: its is being offered at 1300 USD. Right price?

 

Quick feedback would be appreciated as I have to make a decision soon.

[doug herr]

probably not a 3-cam lens.

[stuart_richardson]

Just my thoughts, but I would say pass. Certain R8 models (mostly the early ones) were

buggy, and the behavior of this one would indicate that it is one of the bad ones. I don't

know what the blinking P sign would mean (I only really shoot AE or manual), but it does not

sound right. The numbers in the viewfinder should definitely match the lens. Can you

perhaps check it with another lens? The 2 cam lenses will mount on the R8, but they will not

work properly...that may be your problem. Cheap 90mm elmarits don't seem to be that hard

to find, nor are R8's, so I would say pass if you want to play it safe.

[pierre_claquin1]

Stuart and Douglas

 

Thank you for the prompt answer. I will return the combo on Thursday

Best

[michael_b._elmer]

Was there a manual with the camera? If not, you can probably download one somewhere on the Internet.

 

Is the simple explanation to your "problem" that you have not set the highest f-stop (is that 16 or 22 on an Elmarit 90?), so that the camera warns you in P and T mode that it may not be able to set the f-stop correctly? If that is the case, there is nothing at all wrong with the camera.

[joseph_barbano]

I think all of your issues are with the lens. It sounds as though the lens is not registering corrrectly with the R8 to indicate the proper f-stop. This happens with the R8 since the reading is not optical like on the earleir r series cameras. To see if the camera is OK, try another lens if you can.

 

R8s came out on 4 or 5 production runs. The Leica user forum may have some info on this camera as the runs varied by serial number.

 

If the R8 can be verified to be working properly using a newer lens, then I would consider it for about $900-$1000. I wouldn't buy it with the lens.