The Leica R8 & R9 are manual focus 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras produced by the German firm Leica as the final models of their R series. Development of the R8 began in 1990, the camera was introduced at the 1996 Photo kina trade show, and was succeeded by the similar Leica R9 in 2002. Both can be fitted with the Digital Modul R (DMR) digital back (discontinued in 2007) and used as a digital camera making them 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.
Leica 1 cam, 2 cam, 3 cam, & R stepped cam lenses may be fitted with ROM contacts but as this entails removal of the original sloped cams they would then be incompatible with the original Leicaflex cameras. This was the first break in on-going compatibility of Leica reflex lenses.
Specifications :
Camera type : 35mm 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 the left side of the eyepiece.
Film speed range: Automatic DX coding, ISO 25 trough 5000; manual ISO 6 through 12,800.
Metering range : 0.007-125,000 cd/m ( EV-5 trough EV 20.
Flash compensation : Hot shoe center contacts or external sync 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 SCA3501 adapter.
Viewfinder coverage: 93%.
Viewfinder magnification: 0.75x with 50mm lens.
Self-timer : 2 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 display.
Multi exposure : Unlimited, with multiple exposure switch on body.
Construction : Cast zinc top plate , aluminum frame , Syntactic base, rubber bottom.
Electrical power : 6 volt ( 2x CR2 Lithium batteries)
Dimensions : 158x 101 x62mm
Weight : 890 gram.