nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 293
Loc: Derbyshire
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Camerapedia tells me that the R3 was part of the Leitz/Minolta co-operation and the R3 and Minolta XE are rather similar. I have been thinking of buying an R3 and I wonder:
Does the R3 use the same lens mount as the Minolta SLRs of the 1970s?
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9437
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Hopefully one of the Leica mob will be along to confirm this but from my recollection the R-mount is different to the Minolta. The Minolta Cl and CL/E range-finders used M-type mounts compatible with Leica lenses (and vice versa) but I believe the same does not apply to the SLR ranges.
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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topoxforddoc
newbie
Reged: 27/07/2007
Posts: 33
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nspur,
The R series SLR cameras were designed during the 1970s and 80s, when Leica was co-operating with Minolta (just like they are working currently with Panasonic). Although the R series cameras were designed by leica, they used some of the parts (esp electronics) from the X series minoltas. However, the lens mounts are completely different. The Minolta uses the MD mount and the Leica SLRs the R mount. They are not interchangeable. (Oh and the Leica R mount (SLRs) is different to the M mount, which is used in their rangefinder cameras)
Charlie
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nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 293
Loc: Derbyshire
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Quote:
The R series SLR cameras were designed during the 1970s and 80s, when Leica was co-operating with Minolta (just like they are working currently with Panasonic). Although the R series cameras were designed by leica, they used some of the parts (esp electronics) from the X series minoltas. However, the lens mounts are completely different. The Minolta uses the MD mount and the Leica SLRs the R mount. They are not interchangeable. (Oh and the Leica R mount (SLRs) is different to the M mount, which is used in their rangefinder cameras)
What a pity, though. I have some very nice Rokkor lenses for the MD mount. I had rather hoped the Minolta/Leitz co-operation was like the Yashica/Zeiss one which produced the Contax/Yashica mount (and in fact Yashica produced the Zeiss lenses).
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TimF
Senior Member
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 16341
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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The R3 is a very nice camera, but before splashing the cash you should be aware that they are no longer repairable if something should go wrong.
A little more detail on the lens mount. The R3 requires a 3-cam lens or later if I recall correctly. There are earlier 1- and 2-cam optics which can only be used on the Leicaflex models (unless altered - and I'm not sure if the service is still available for all lenses).
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Tim BSRIPN
You see something happening and you bang away at it. Either you get what you saw or you get something else--and whichever is better you print. - Garry Winogrand
Edited by TimF (22/08/2008 09:46)
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nspur
enthusiast
Reged: 20/07/2005
Posts: 293
Loc: Derbyshire
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Thanks Tim. Isn't it only Leica Camera AG that won't repair the R3? Others might. At the price I got charged for it I wouldn't be too desolate if it had a problem or two that I might be able to fix myself. But it hasn't arrived yet and I'm beginning to wonder if it will.
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John_K
addict
Reged: 03/09/2006
Posts: 572
Loc: North Yorks
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Another thing about the R3. If you are tempted to use the Tamron Adaptall 2 mount with the appropriate lenses, they do not apparently work with the R3 only the R4 onwards. No one has been able to explain why that should be as the 3 cam operation of the R3 and the R4 is or seems the same. But when I tried it the lens would not stop down properly on my R3 whereas did on my R4 - everytime.
Incidentally the R3 was a great camera and built like a Leica should be even if it had never been over the borders of Germany. The R4/5/6/and 7 were also loosely based on later models made by Minolta, but the bodies, mechanism and metering was suitably 'beefed' up.
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37653
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Having owned both the XE (in two different versions) and R3, I must say that all are good, but the R3 is a belter. It has a little higher specification, and is a lovely camera to use. The more basic flavours of 3 cam lenses aren't too dear, either.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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TimF
Senior Member
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 16341
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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Quote:
Thanks Tim. Isn't it only Leica Camera AG that won't repair the R3? Others might.
That I don't know. All I do know is that some dealers (at least) won't buy them in because of this. 
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Tim BSRIPN
You see something happening and you bang away at it. Either you get what you saw or you get something else--and whichever is better you print. - Garry Winogrand
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topoxforddoc
newbie
Reged: 27/07/2007
Posts: 33
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Peter Grisalfi at CRR Luton will service almost anything from Leica inc all the Leica SLRs from the Leicaflex onwards. He's a really nice guy who serviced my M2 recently and the charges were very reasonable.
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/page9.html
Charlie
PS It's easier to his site on Firefox, as opposed to Safari on my Mac
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