Barnack Leicas

Huss · Sep 2, 2021

To play a Stradivarius violin - does it require twice the amount of steps to do the same thing as a regular violin?

Comparing my Barnack to my Leica M, the Barnack has two peepholes - one to focus, one to frame. It needs the focus adjusted of the rangefinder depending on how far away the subject is. It has two dials for shutter speed selection. It is trickier to load. It's slower to use.

MattKing · Sep 2, 2021

Huss said:
To play a Stradivarius violin - does it require twice the amount of steps to do the same thing as a regular violin?

Yes:
1) become very wealthy or very lucky, and then purchase or borrow or accept a gift of the Stradivarius;
2) play the Stradivarius violin.

vs.
11) buy and play the regular violin.

reddesert · Sep 2, 2021

IMO, it would make more sense to compare a mass produced camera to a musical instrument made in the industrial era, with techniques of machine tools and mass production. Like a valve trumpet or a saxophone or an electric guitar.

If you want to keep going with the analogy, all of these are tools for the production of images or sound, regardless of their exalted status. Some tools are easier to use than others. If you hand a great musician a student-grade or beat-up instrument, they're still going to sound like themselves, but they can feel the difference in playing. (Charlie Parker sounded like Charlie Parker no matter what saxophone, sometimes borrowed, he played on.) Similarly, if you show me a picture made by a skilled photographer, I will not be able to tell you what lens or camera they used (assuming it's not a Holga), but in operation they can likely feel the difference between SLR, rangefinder, this lens or that.

Arthurwg · Sep 2, 2021

If you want to understand what a Barnack brings to the picture you have to consider the lens. Although I enjoy the feel of a Barnack camera and find it's challenges enjoyable, it's the Leica screw-mount glass that give those pictures the qualities that differentiate them from other lenses, especially modern ones. They are not perfect, and that's what makes them special. If those idiosyncrasies, sometimes called "character," don't interest you I suggest a Nikon F6 or an M6 with modern lenses.

JensH · Sep 2, 2021

mshchem said:
Maybe a better question is "Are old Deardorff view cameras .....?" The old growth virgin Central America Mahogany forests are gone. I have an untouched "survivor" V8 that I bought from a very old piano tuner.
Pre WWII, I've easily resisted the urge to "restore it" I think it's got the original bellows.
I wouldn't know one violin from another so can't understand a comparison.

... makes more sence to me.
My vote for a large Gandolfi with Universal Heliar or Protar VII.

Paul Howell · Sep 2, 2021

Arthurwg said:
If you want to understand what a Barnack brings to the picture you have to consider the lens. Although I enjoy the feel of a Barnack camera and find it's challenges enjoyable, it's the Leica screw-mount glass that give those pictures the qualities that differentiate them from other lenses, especially modern ones. They are not perfect, and that's what makes them special. If those idiosyncrasies, sometimes called "character," don't interest you I suggest a Nikon F6 or an M6 with modern lenses.

In that case you need (if you dont have one) and Argus C3, pre war uncoated lens.

Cholentpot · Sep 2, 2021

Paul Howell said:
In that case you need (if you dont have one) and Argus C3, pre war uncoated lens.

I got two of those. I counted once, It's something like 11 steps to take a photo.

Huss · Sep 2, 2021

Cholentpot said:
I got two of those. I counted once, It's something like 11 steps to take a photo.

Sounds very Stradivari to me.

Huss · Sep 2, 2021

Arthurwg said:
If you want to understand what a Barnack brings to the picture you have to consider the lens. Although I enjoy the feel of a Barnack camera and find it's challenges enjoyable, it's the Leica screw-mount glass that give those pictures the qualities that differentiate them from other lenses, especially modern ones. They are not perfect, and that's what makes them special. If those idiosyncrasies, sometimes called "character," don't interest you I suggest a Nikon F6 or an M6 with modern lenses.

Slap an LTM-M adapter onto one of those hazy old lenses and attach it to an M3.

Cholentpot · Sep 2, 2021

Huss said:
Sounds very Stradivari to me.

I'm counting right now. 1, push aside film counter lever and hold while 2 turn wind knob until film is advanced. 3 set shutter speed 4 set aperture 5 compose through viewfinder 6 look through rangefinder 7 focus lens through rangefinder 8 look back through viewfinder 9 cock shutter 10 actuate shutter to take photo.

You can remove a few steps if range, compositions and lighting remains the same. Unlike some SLRs each one of these steps is distinct and takes deliberation, otherwise your roll of film magically has 10 extra exposures because you forgot to wind on before half the shots.

Auer · Sep 2, 2021

Cholentpot said:
I'm counting right now. 1, push aside film counter lever and hold while 2 turn wind knob until film is advanced. 3 set shutter speed 4 set aperture 5 compose through viewfinder 6 look through rangefinder 7 focus lens through rangefinder 8 look back through viewfinder 9 cock shutter 10 actuate shutter to take photo.

You can remove a few steps if range, compositions and lighting remains the same. Unlike some SLRs each one of these steps is distinct and takes deliberation, otherwise your roll of film magically has 10 extra exposures because you forgot to wind on before half the shots.

The true essence of photography...

Cholentpot · Sep 2, 2021

Auer said:
The true essence of photography...

And yet I still use the C3 even after all the abuse. Some day I'll own a Barnack I'm sure, can't be too much worse than a C3.

Paul Howell · Sep 3, 2021

I have a couple of Argus cameras, C3, C44, no tele or wide's, but the standard 50 at F8 is more than decent, decent. Have not shot mine in a few years, need to load up some ISO 100 and take one for a walk.

Huss · Sep 3, 2021

Ya know poor Clive did not stick the landing on this one when we are now talking about Argus cameras!

Cholentpot · Sep 3, 2021

Huss said:
Ya know poor Clive did not stick the landing on this one when we are now talking about Argus cameras!

Because Arguseses are better than Leicas in all ways.

All the time I get asked 'It that an Argus?' I'm like 'Sorry to disappoint you, it's a Leica.'

'A what?'

rknewcomb · Sep 3, 2021

An Argus C3 in capable hands can actually do a pretty good job. But, I really dislike the shutter ping sound.
See how I'm helping get the topic off Leica.
Robert

Craig75 · Sep 3, 2021

I think it was serial numbers xxxx507 to xxxx617 that were supposed to be lubricated with God's tears.

reddesert · Sep 4, 2021

A friend gave me a copy of Tony Vaccaro's book "Entering Germany 1944-1949." He was a WW II US soldier with an amateur photographic background who took an Argus C3 along and took many photographs, first while soldiering, then as a civilian photojournalist after he was demobilized. There are some pictures from combat but much of the book is about civilian life in Germany in the immediate aftermath. Later he went on to a long career as a professional (also, I gather he did acquire a Leica, to appease the Leicaphiles). Anyway, if you have the subject and the eyes, an Argus C3 will do.
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/p...cle_107e3250-22c1-11eb-929d-07c3e7316f4b.html
https://iphf.org/inductees/tony-vaccaro/

Huss · Sep 4, 2021

Craig75 said:
I think it was serial numbers xxxx507 to xxxx617 that were supposed to be lubricated with God's tears.

Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey:

If a kid asks where rain comes from,
I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.”
And if he asks why God is crying,
another cute thing to tell him is
“Probably because of something you did.”

Craig75 · Sep 4, 2021

Huss said:
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey:

If a kid asks where rain comes from,
I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.”
And if he asks why God is crying,
another cute thing to tell him is
“Probably because of something you did.”

That's why I have to use a nikonos

Huss · Sep 4, 2021

Craig75 said:
That's why I have to use a nikonos

Cholentpot · Sep 4, 2021

rknewcomb said:
An Argus C3 in capable hands can actually do a pretty good job. But, I really dislike the shutter ping sound.
See how I'm helping get the topic off Leica.
Robert

The ping sounds like a Garand. Sounds great to me.

Barnack Leicas

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