Leica Film Cameras

[ken_jeanette1]

<p>I have not followed the offerings close enough lately, so please excuse this question. Does Leica still make a film camera? R series or M.</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>It still makes the M7 and MP.</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>The R series was discontinued a while back, with a 10 MP digital back offered during a short period. Those with R lenses have since been left out in the cold, although many very useable fairly recent R series film cameras are available on the second hand market, and the new M digital camera with live view, which will be released in the spring, will allow use of the R lenses as well as the M optics.</p>

[HarryBaker]

<p>A related question. For how much longer will film be available?</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>Harry, I think that has already been answered by others, but I personally feel it will be around as long as people use it, which is also the response of the two camera stores in my hometown which handle film and darkroom products. We seem to have lost Fuji film availability here (unusual, as Fuji is generally positive about continuing film, but maybe it is just the local distributor at fault), but Ilford and Kodak are still very present with many products, and recent news is good from Europe where Adox seems to be continuing some Agfa type films and papers, having gobbled up some of the former Agfa production lines and technology.</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry too much about it, but we have to keep buying and using silver halide materials if we want them to be available.</p>

<p>Photography would probably be the worse for a diminished scope owing to the disappearance of traditional methodology.</p>

[gus_gus1]

<p>Ken. The last R camera Leica made was the R9 made till 2009. I do not do digital, only film. The only two slr cameras that I use are the Leica R-E and the R8. There are plenty of used R cameras and lens on the market. I got my R8 from KEH camera. Had my R-E so long I forgot where I got it from. Gus.</p>

[Two23]

<p>How long for film? For b&w I think a long, long time. Color slide, I think it will be gone within 5 years. Color print, who knows. </p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

[Rick_van_Nooij]

<p>Isn't the M7 still in production?</p>

<p> </p>

[anthony_brookes5]

I was in Cape Town recently where the manager of a photo shop said that film was no longer declining but had reached a steady level of sales primarily B&W. He said that digital camera sales were down he thinks due to phone cameras. He offered printing of a very large size which he said was doing well I assume for posters etc. I am still using film and processing it - XP2 and C41. I then scan the negs. Seems to me to be the best of both worlds but I'm probably missing something. I also use my Digilux 2

[peter_n1664876959]

<blockquote>

<p>Isn't the M7 still in production?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Yes it is, as is the MP, and a la carte continues too. You have to wait awhile sometimes, but B&H currently have both models in stock.</p>

[allan_winchester]

<p>If you want a new Leica M, they still make the M7 and M4-P.<br>

However: Don't dismiss the older (used ) Leica M cameras. The M3, M4 series (M4, M4-2 and M4-P) as well as the M5 cameras are of higher quality and reliability than the lateer M cameras (so says a very reliable source who is well known as a Leica repair specialist/guru). The earlier M6 (pre TTL) are good cameras, too.<br>

A pristine M4-P will sell for around $1400-1600 USD. While a handheld meter will be needed, the prices of a mint M4-P are much easier to swallow than the $4995 USD that new M7 and MP bodies sell for.</p>