Germany · 4 lenses

Leica R (Leitz)

Leitz of Wetzlar built the Leica rangefinder and came to the SLR late and somewhat reluctantly. The Leicaflex of 1964 introduced the R bayonet, sold below expectations and ended in 1976, but the lenses carried on. The Leica R3 of 1976 was developed with Minolta and based on its XE, and later R bodies ran to the R9, made until 2009. Not every R lens was a Leitz design, and some came from Minolta, Schneider and Sigma. The way R lenses talk to the body changed over the years, from one cam to two and three, then R-only lenses in 1988 and ROM contacts in 1996, and listings usually name the version. Leitz became Leica in 1986, and on 5 March 2009 Leica announced the end of its R cameras and lenses.