alex_lendvai

I'm thinking about a 35mm film scanner but it seems my choice is

limited and I can�t decide which way to go? Scanner technology seems

to be lagging behind the rest of the digital world. When was a new

film scanner introduced?

 

I shoot mostly B&W and only 35mm with my Leica MP.

 

Here is what I have found in my budget:

 

Konica Minolta 5400II - This was my first choice but now it�s nearly

impossible to find as KM is now out of the photography business. Does

anyone think that Sony will resurrect this product? I thought about

buying used but I have also heard that these are just not made as well

as the Nikon.

 

Nikon Coolscan V - The specs seem to be lower than the others and cost

more. A recent comparison in Lecia World showed that the Coolscan V

came second to the 5400II.

 

Epson Perfection V700 (750?) Photo - I have yet to see any reviews on

this scanner. However, it is a flatbed, which is never supposed to be

as good as a dedicated film scanner. Has anyone had a chance to use

this yet? Thoughts?

 

OR...

 

Should I just send my negatives out to be professionally scanned? I

will be moving to the UK soon �does anyone have any recommendations

where to get this done?

I'm thinking about a 35mm film scanner but it seems my choice is

limited and I can�t decide which way to go? Scanner technology seems

to be lagging behind the rest of the digital world. When was a new

film scanner introduced?

 

I shoot mostly B&W and only 35mm with my Leica MP.

 

Here is what I have found in my budget:

 

Konica Minolta 5400II - This was my first choice but now it�s nearly

impossible to find as KM is now out of the photography business. Does

anyone think that Sony will resurrect this product? I thought about

buying used but I have also heard that these are just not made as well

as the Nikon.

 

Nikon Coolscan V - The specs seem to be lower than the others and cost

more. A recent comparison in Lecia World showed that the Coolscan V

came second to the 5400II.

 

Epson Perfection V700 (750?) Photo - I have yet to see any reviews on

this scanner. However, it is a flatbed, which is never supposed to be

as good as a dedicated film scanner. Has anyone had a chance to use

this yet? Thoughts?

 

OR...

 

Should I just send my negatives out to be professionally scanned? I

will be moving to the UK soon �does anyone have any recommendations

where to get this done?

 

Thanks!

Alex

I happened to get a Luigi "Leica Time" leather case thrown into a deal when I bought my MP. I did'nt think I would use it but I have to say I just love it! The leather feels beautiful and has a soft 'grip' that really helps me since I have big hands. Highly recommended!

 

http://www.leicatime.com/

 

Cheers,

Alex<div></div>

All,

 

I live in Hamburg and agree with the above posts. I ended up buying my (used) MP+50'cron from ebay.co.uk at around 900 Euros cheaper then my local dealer (leica bei meister). Lenses seem to be priced competitvely but bodies are much more expensive. Right now you can buy new Leica gear cheaper in North America then in Germany!

 

Good luck.

Sorry, but I really don't want to debate digital. The only reason I mention it is becasue I would like to protect my new (still considerable) investment in new M lenses. I don't need or want another digital solution today -I already have a point-and-shoot that works fine. However, I would like to feel confident that in (maybe) 5 years time I will be able to use my M lenses on a digital body that is as good as today's M6/M7/MP with no compromises (i.e. full frame, low/no noise etc, etc...)

 

Does everyone feel that a digital M system will always be compromised?

Thanks everyone for your comments (well all except one). So the concensus is that buying an M now is still a viable option. However, I need to decide which one? Do I get an M6 or an M6TTL? (I can't afford an MP or an M7) I don't need TTL flash metering but I do like some of the other subtle changes on the M6TTL such as the larger shutter dial. In your opinion is this worth the approximate 50% increase in cost of a used body? I still need to consider future resale value. Money is an issue as I will probably keep my R4 system (at least for now) as it's worth nothing and wait until there is an affordable digital Leica R body for my R lenses.

 

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

 

I am an R user...

 

But, I am thinking of buying a late model M6 and have borrowed one

for the weekend to try it out. However, I am very reluctant as I

have never used one before and I am nervous about investing into

another film system as the world has turned digital. So does anyone

have any advice? Any tips on how I should test the M6?

 

Would YOU jump into the "M" system now? My reasoning is as follows:

 

-after years of reading about the virtues of the M system I feel

like I need to give it a try.

-prices seem to be very low now and it also seems that Leica as a

company will survive.

-If I invest in some M lenses I should be able to use them on

somekind of digital M (whenever that happens).

 

Thanks for all your help!

Hi Julie,

 

Don't let all the negative comments on this board scare you. Yes, the R4 is not the best camera Leica ever made -but who cares for the price! It's my first Leica (and first serious camera) and it enabled me to start using R "glass". That's what really matters. My R4 has the (magic) 160 XXXX serial number and I bought it about five years ago. I have never had any problems and recently it had a full CLA at Kindermann in Canada and according to them it should be good for another 20 years. All it needed was a meter adjustment and I had the shutter magnet replaced as a precaution since the labour cost was covered anyway. I can't really complain since even if tomorrow it turns into a paperweight it would have only cost me about $200(Cdn) a year over five years -CHEAP! Would I buy one again -probably not, but only because I am now a more confident photgrapher, would like some more features, and have some extra money. The same rule applies to used cars as with cameras -buy the newest you can afford and the R4 is a great starter or second body.

 

Good luck and have fune!

Photorig: Leica R4 with 50 'cron ...all my money is in audio right now :-)

 

Audiorig: Martin Logan CLSIIz, Innersound ESL300MKII power amp, Vandersteen 2wq sub, Sony XA7es SACD CDP, Placette Passive RVC, PSAudio P600 Power Generator, Nordost SPM Reference speaker cable, Nordost QuattroFil RCA's, Wasatech Sub cable, Virtual Dynamics Nite Power Cord for amp, Blue Circle BC62 power cords for speakers, Symposium Roller blocks, Lovan Soverign Stand.

 

It has taken me five years to fine tune the sound of this system -everything has been changed except the speakers, which I intend to be buried with.

 

-Alex

Image Point (formely York Camera)in downtown Montreal, Canada has a brand new R6.2 but they are asking $3499 CAD for it! It's been sitting on their shelf for and 1.5yrs now so I bet if you made a reasonable offer you could take it. http://www.imagepoint.ca/

Call Gerry at Kindermann! I just had my R4 reconditioned and I can't say enough good things about these guys. They spent a total of about 2hrs with me on the phone as I was unsure if I should spend (invest?) the money. I has a small problem with the metering display, changed the foam seals, new shutter magnet (not totally necessary but did it anyway because I saved the labor charge), repaired the rewind knob (bent it due to my fault)and did a comnplete clean and lube. The charge was $500Cdn including taxes and they gave a 12month warranty. Eventhough I spent about as much as the camera was worth I don't feel it was a waste on money because I can always keep the R4 as a back-up. Now I have piece of mind that it will last for anther 20years.

Newbie photog

It's that the link does not work!

Just a clarification -Gerry Smiths' accent is Scottish and not "Canadian". I just sent in my R4 to Gerry for a CLA based on the recommendations from this forum. I will let you know about my experience.

 

Good Luck,

Signed: "Crazy Canuck"

Yes-the rewind knob still works -it just wobbles when you turn it. The metering works but the display in the viewfinder shows the wrong metering. The other stuff is just regular maintainence after 20 years. I have some light leakage but new seals will fix that. They are also recommending replacing the the magnet but they say it's "not that bad". I could do the bear minimum now and still use it but that means I will just have to pay for labor twice when I finally have to fix the other things. As for going to an R8 -I would have to save up for it and be without a camera for about 3months. I would feel very bad about turning the R4 into a paperweight.

I guess I should clairify the damage I caused. The film rewind knob is bent. I can't foir the life of me figure out how this happened becasue I don't remember dropping it. Anyway, the rest of the repair bill is for repairing the metering display (the meter works but displays the wrong info in the viewfinder), General clean & lube and replace the seals. The repair shop also recommended replacing the release magnet. The shop in Kindermann in Toronto, Canada. They have a good reputation so I cam confident that the price quoted is fair. I just want to know if people think it's worth fixing an R4?

I have a late serial number R4 that is in need of repair. The cost

of the repair would be about $500 CDN (about what I paid for the

camera about a year ago). The cost is based on damage caused by me

and some of it is just wear and tear after 20years. What should I

do? I was already thinking about getting a newer R -maybe an R8.

Should I just chaulk up the original sum as the cost of entry into

the world of Leica? On the other hand if I got it fixed I would have

a 12month warranty and a fairly inexpensive "new" camera. Your

advice is appreciated.

I recently had problems with light leakage so I had the foam seals

changed on my R4 as recommended by a repair shop. However, I am

still having problems with what I believe is light leakage. Since

the problem is intermittent and the green window on the back is loose

(I can push it in a little) I suspect that is the problem. I think

it�s a poor design because sometimes I cover it with my thumb and

perhaps apply too much pressure. Does anyone else have this

problem? What is the best solution? I am sending the camera in for

repair of the film rewind lever (which somehow got bent �my fault).

I would like to be able to give the technician some idea of what the

problem might be.

 

Also,

I am wondering if I should get rid of this R4 and get an R8 because

it's newer and supposedly more reliable or keep fixing the R4 and

keep it as a back up for when I eventually get a R8/9/10. Thoughts?

 

Would anyone out there be willing to send me a .pdf file of an R4

manual? It seems I can get manuals for almost any other camera for

free expect Leica R�s. What�s up with that?

 

Thanks!

Don't aks me how but I managed to warp the film rewind knob on my

R4. Where can I find a NOS replacement part? Any sources or good

repair shops in Canada (Montreal or Toronto)? I prefer not to have to

ship it across the border. Is this going to cost me more than the

camera is worth? Is this a repair I can do myself?

 

Thanks!