Re: [Leica] Winder R or R4?

[Martin Howard <mvhoward@mac.com>]

Robert Meier wrote:

> What is the difference between the Winder R and the Winder R4?
>

The motor drive (MD) and motor winder (MW) for R cameras came in three 
major versions: The version for the R3 (Motor-Winder R3), the version 
for the R4 (Motor-Winder R4, Motor-Drive R4) and the version for all 
R4/R4/R6/R7 cameras (Motor-Drive R, Motor-Winder R).

The R3 version fit (I believe) only the R3 camera.  The R4 version 
actually fits the R4/R5/R6/R7 cameras (I used an MD-R4 on an R6 and 
R7).  The principle difference between the R4 and R versions of the MD 
and MW is that the R version takes a modified handgrip that has two 
electrical releases built into it: one at the top of the grip for 
horizontal shots, one at the base for verticals.  You can tell them 
apart from the three little gold contacts on the front of the 
drive/winder R, which are missing from the R4 version (other than the 
obvious logo).

However... I know for a fact that there were either Motor-Drive R4s 
sold that could take the Handgrip-R, or were modified at some later 
stage in life to do so... because I owned one.  I adamantly maintained 
that it was a Motor-Drive-R until someone pointed out to me that it 
said "Motor Drive R4" on the front.  But it did have and used (to full 
effect) the Handgrip-R.

M.

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