Got my Leica!

Steve Mack · Jan 26, 2010

I finally broke down and went and got my first Leica. It's a IIIc/f conversion, with a 50mm f/2 Summitar. No buyer's remorse, at all! I've wanted a Leica since, oh, the Cretaceous Period, and I got one! Yay! Now I'm off to annoy the neighbors.

With best regards to all.

Stephen

fotch · Jan 26, 2010

Congrats.

fschifano · Jan 26, 2010

Congrats is right. I've been lusting after one for a while, and really like the 35 mm rangefinder experience. Enjoy.

Rhodes · Jan 26, 2010

Congrats, my first leica was also a III (but a C)! Enjoy your new "toy"!

mhcfires · Jan 26, 2010

Congrats again! My first one was a IIIa, loved it, found a IIIf, loved it even more and I now have an M2. I don't know what I am doing with three Leica cameras, but I am having fun doing it.

Craig Swensson · Jan 26, 2010

QUOTE
I don't know what I am doing with three Leica cameras, but I am having fun doing it.

you greedy, greedy person, give one here!

2F/2F · Jan 26, 2010

Great camera/great lens. My first Leica combo exactly (except mine was not converted to a IIIf), and still perhaps my favorite for general-purpose pix. (I prefer the earlier Summar for its special look when shooting some things.)

clogz · Jan 27, 2010

Ok...admit it...you're hooked...make sure to enjoy it!

mhcfires · Jan 27, 2010

clogz said:
Ok...admit it...you're hooked...make sure to enjoy it!

It is almost an addiction. I could be retired if I didn't have this problem. I've wanted one since the early 1960's when a friend bought a new M3. I just never had enough money for one until now, and I have the M2. Can't wait til I have enough to buy a nice 35mm 'lux.

patois · Jan 27, 2010

nice. i hope you make beautiful images with it.

leicarfcam · Feb 1, 2010

Steve Mack said:
I finally broke down and went and got my first Leica. It's a IIIc/f conversion, with a 50mm f/2 Summitar. No buyer's remorse, at all! I've wanted a Leica since, oh, the Cretaceous Period, and I got one! Yay! Now I'm off to annoy the neighbors.

With best regards to all.

Stephen

Nice catch..

I picked up an interesting Leica this past weekend myself. It is a Leica III of 1934 vintage that was factory converted to IIIf BD with the addition of 1/1000th shutter speed. The original shutter brake assembly had to be replaced with the newer IIIc/IIIf shutter brake. A couple of internal parts had to be added also in order to get the 1/1000th speed..

I've seen a few of the model III conversions but the original 1/500th top speed was kept..

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Feb 1, 2010

Summitar lens is like fighting with a boxer You take ordinary pictures , this goes on and one day it knocks you down with the image quality.
Find someone and a 100 watt filament transparent , most ordinary bulb light and take his face from side with best sharp focus you can from different distance to the light.
You will find in some conditions , it gives extreme sharpness , roundness , light games , shadow games.
Dont correct the color change with photoshop.
Summitar glass is doped with thorium and back lens element selected from lead doped glass for not to allow radiation to burn expose the film.
This glass is extremelly special and hard to manufacture and unhealthy for the workers. It is the best lens material ever Leica used. If I am not wrong , after deciding not to use this glass , they start to make normal glass and summaron. Today summaron sold with 25000 dollar Leica S2 to a price 6000 dollars !

This shot made 15 years ago with konica 200 asa on fuji paper with summitar and IIf.
Look at right woman face , neck and zoom to left womans eye.
Leica is good because its viewfinder pupil is small and you can see the whole image instantly and you automatically trim the camera to a better composition , you cant to it with canon
You will discover , you feel like Capa.
And look at its mechanism , elegent velvetly silent and smooth.
I think you bought the Leicas best camera combo.
Dont use Fuji , always use Kodak.
Look at popular photography annals from 50s and learn what people did when photography still alive
Good luck ,

Mustafa Umut Sarac

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Feb 1, 2010

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l5YNpRMm2eA/S06UimxEAgI/AAAAAAAAABg/RpG-Zz1N9IY/s1600-h/DSC01481.JPG

2F/2F · Feb 1, 2010

Definitely not the best example of what a Summitar can do...:rolleyes:

"Dont use Fuji , always use Kodak."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Sirius Glass · Feb 2, 2010

2F/2F said:
Definitely not the best example of what a Summitar can do...:rolleyes:

"Dont use Fuji , always use Kodak."

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

I think it means that he is not a Kodak basher.

Steve

roresteen · Feb 2, 2010

I finally shot a roll of FP-4 through my '36 3A...waiting for it to come back. It took me 4 tries to get the film cut and loaded properly...but I'm looking forward to the colors of spring to shoot flowers and people.

leicarfcam · Feb 2, 2010

roresteen said:
It took me 4 tries to get the film cut and loaded properly...but I'm looking forward to the colors of spring to shoot flowers and people.

I find it's quicker to just cut the leader to 4 inches. Some people however prefer to leave the leader uncut and feed the film in by opening the shutter and guiding it with a finger..

mhcfires · Feb 3, 2010

leicarfcam said:
I find it's quicker to just cut the leader to 4 inches. Some people however prefer to leave the leader uncut and feed the film in by opening the shutter and guiding it with a finger..

At times I have problems loading the film. I cut the leader and put it on the take up spool and load it. Be sure that you take up the slack on the rewind knob. When you advance the film the rewind knob should turn, you know that you have loaded it correctly. I have a IIIa, IIIf and an M2. I have to pay attention when loading these cameras. Practice, practice, practice. Gotta love my Leica.

Sirius Glass · Feb 3, 2010

Steve Mack said:
I finally broke down and went and got my first Leica. It's a IIIc/f conversion, with a 50mm f/2 Summitar. No buyer's remorse, at all! I've wanted a Leica since, oh, the Cretaceous Period, and I got one! Yay! Now I'm off to annoy the neighbors.

With best regards to all.

Stephen

Well, do you like-a your Leica?

leicarfcam · Feb 3, 2010

mhcfires said:
At times I have problems loading the film. I cut the leader and put it on the take up spool and load it. Be sure that you take up the slack on the rewind knob. When you advance the film the rewind knob should turn, you know that you have loaded it correctly. I have a IIIa, IIIf and an M2. I have to pay attention when loading these cameras. Practice, practice, practice. Gotta love my Leica.

I've been shooting Leica screw mount cameras since 1958 so loading for me is quick and easy. Like you say though be sure to take up the slack so you can see if the sprocket has engaged the sprocket holes in the film.

IloveTLRs · Feb 3, 2010

My first Leica was a IIIf (the shop thought it was a IIIc.) It is my favorite camera, next to the M3. There's something about them that's magic (and it's not the name.)

Steve Mack · Feb 3, 2010

Sirius Glass: Yes, I lika my Leica! Great fun, still working on the free roll of B/W film Bill gave me with it (Ilford FP+), I'm a slow shooter; it doesn't help that I stop often to admire and fondle the camera...:rolleyes:

With best regards.

Stephen

IloveTLRs · Feb 4, 2010

I probably shouldn't feed your addiction any more, but you may want to look at the NOOKY: http://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/leicaaccessories (funny name, I know.) Specifically the NOOKY-HESUM. I use the Elmar one, and it's good for close-ups of flowers and things.

Bateleur · Feb 4, 2010

Steve Mack said:
Sirius Glass: it doesn't help that I stop often to admire and fondle the camera...:rolleyes:

Yes it is quite beautiful, and in my humble opinion the sexiest camera around. I'll get shot for saying that Happy shooting and perhaps share some of your results?

photobizzz · Feb 15, 2010

Congrats, I love my Leica M4-2, I started with a IIIa from 1936, and have also owned a IIIf RD ST, M2, M3, M6 TTL, and now a M4-2. Canon also made some great LTM bodies as well. Nothing feels quite like a Leica in your hand and using a camera from when my grandfather was a teenager is pretty cool. Try a Jupiter 8 (50/2) if you get a chance. It is a copy of the Zeiss Sonnar design and produces great images. I just picked up an early single coated copy with focusing tab for $44 shipped. Stay away from the Jupiter-3 though unless you are using it on a FSU body as most people have front/back focus issues. If you get it collimated for your body it will work fine though.

Got my Leica!

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