Leica Eye Candy

[Ray Morgenweck]

Design=Art. The Leica in all its variations shares one common theme. They are Beautiful! Let’s see Yours!

 

[BradS]

Leica iiif with 5cm f/3.5 Elmar ca. 1951

Nikon strap

 

[pentaxpete]

1934 Model II with 1936 50mm f2 Summar, 1965 M2 + 1957 90mm f4 Elmar, 1986 M6 + 1989 50mm f2 Summicron

 

[BAC1967]

Leica IIIf Red Dial, Self Timer with A Summaron 3.5cm lens and a VIOOH universal viewfinder. Based on the serial number, 651065, this camera started life as a IIf. It must have been sent in to Leica to be converted to a IIIf RD ST.

Leica IIIf with Summaron Lens by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

Leica Null Series Version 1. Made in 2000 this and the second version made in 2004 are the “Newest” Barnacks. This camera is entrancing to use!

 

[tezzasmall]

Sorry to say to all of you Leica lovers, but I really don't particularly like those early versions, with strange sticky out lens ...

If I should pick any of them, the M6 is much more my cup of tea, as in Pete's / post #3.

BUT, even if I had won last nights mega lottery jackpot (not even a penny! ) I can't see me buying into these overpriced cameras = even at half the price.

Tin hat put on!

Terry S

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Sorry to say to all of you Leica lovers, but I really don't particularly like those early versions, with strange sticky out lens ...

If I should pick any of them, the M6 is much more my cup of tea, as in Pete's / post #3.

BUT, even if I had won last nights mega lottery jackpot (not even a penny! ) I can't see me buying into these overpriced cameras = even at half the price.

Tin hat put on!

Terry S

It just posted in wrong sub-forum.


I'm not sure how many SLRians knows what ELC means.

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

Here’s my 1A, Mike Eckman has been using this for an upcoming review. Serial #22xxx it had a CLA before I got it and is smooth as silk. Mike says it makes Great photos. This is the close focus model and the lens sticks out further, but so as not to ruffle prior poster the lens is retracted The focus goes to 18”, which initially might seem tough to use with a non rangefinder camera (or SLR) but rule is elbow to fingertip away from the subject and Shoot!

 

[benjiboy]

In 66 years of photograhy I have never owned a Leica, or wanted one.

 

[guangong]

Except for Ia, which is coveted by collectors, the selling price for IIIa, IIIc and IIIf cameras is quite reasonable. Of course minty cameras fall into collector’s province. What I like about screw mount Leicas is their compact pocketability...a whole outfit:camera, 50, 35 , 90mm lenses and finder(s) can fit into two jacket pockets and be hardly noticeable.
My own three IIIa cameras, one from 1936, are still smooth working accurate cameras. This speaks of quality engineering and materials.
Of course, to use one or not is a question of taste and preference.

 

[awty]

iiib & if

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Here is my father's Leica IIIC, which he bought at the post exchange on Guam in 1949. Don Goldberg (DAG Camera) overhauled it in 2017, and I have used it semi-regularly ever since. Here is a picture with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens that I bought earlier this year. Nice lens!!

 

[mshchem]

I have a beautiful M6ttl 0.85 chrome with a new 6 bit chrome Summicron. And a Model F Leica III (1933-38,39) with a 50mm f2 Summaron. Here's a homage, not bad for playing around. But I still like laying down light on Tri-X better.

 

[mshchem]

I have a beautiful M6ttl 0.85 chrome with a new 6 bit chrome Summicron. And a Model F Leica III (1933-38,39) with a 50mm f2 Summaron. Here's a homage, not bad for playing around. But I still like laying down light on Tri-X better.

The homage

 

[narsuitus]

Leica M6 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

The M6 was my second Leica. My first was a Leica M1 that I primarily used on a microscope. I sold the M1 and the microscope when I needed funds.

 

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
Sorry but I've just gotta ask, what is that Leica in the first post of this thread. Holy crap it is sure pretty. I love the simplicity look of the early Leicas.
Thanks,
Robert

 

[BSP]

My 1961 Leica M2 with a way too big 50mm lens mounted

 

[Colin Corneau]

In 66 years of photograhy I have never owned a Leica, or wanted one.

Well, thanks for chiming in, then.

 

[mshchem]

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

Hi,
Sorry but I've just gotta ask, what is that Leica in the first post of this thread. Holy crap it is sure pretty. I love the simplicity look of the early Leicas.
Thanks,
Robert

. Though exact details are still sketchy, it is understood from about 1970 for some years Leitz Academy Graduates built UR Replicas, presumably as a “final exam”. These cameras were sold by Leica dealers, and collectors bought them. Though basically true to Barnacks 1913 Original, these replicas were not designed internally to advance film, the lenses were for show only and the shutter and drums unable to expose. •••••. The fun started a few years back when Dr. George Furst (Korean expat) reached out to a Very Talented Technician, Mr. Kim in Seoul to undertake a conversion of the Replica UR to complete Leica Camera Function. This entailed a full rework internally plus the installation of the proper Leitz 42mm Summar. After Many Many Hours, Mr. Kim perfected his method and besides two for George, done a conversion for me. That camera is Not the one in the post though. It took sooooo darn long I bought a second UR and set about doing the conversion myself. So I spent the hundreds of hours to get it right, but already having the one with a Summar coming from Korea (slow boat) I decided to find Barnacks First Lens, which was a Zeiss Jena KinoTessar f 3.5 5 cm. Yes very rare but I did manage to find one dated to 1911. So that’s on the camera now, the FOFER rangefinder is a later Model A era piece, and I attached a 50mm Finder from an E standard. Finally, an early clip on yellow filter, and a skinny strap. The photo above is George with two working UR Leicas at Oskar Barnacks Grave.

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

My Other UR, built by Mr. Kim, which rested on Barnacks Gravestone.

 

[Colin Corneau]

What a story! Thanks for sharing that...fascinating reading.

View attachment 235917 . Though exact details are still sketchy, it is understood from about 1970 for some years Leitz Academy Graduates built UR Replicas, presumably as a “final exam”. These cameras were sold by Leica dealers, and collectors bought them. Though basically true to Barnacks 1913 Original, these replicas were not designed internally to advance film, the lenses were for show only and the shutter and drums unable to expose. •••••. The fun started a few years back when Dr. George Furst (Korean expat) reached out to a Very Talented Technician, Mr. Kim in Seoul to undertake a conversion of the Replica UR to complete Leica Camera Function. This entailed a full rework internally plus the installation of the proper Leitz 42mm Summar. After Many Many Hours, Mr. Kim perfected his method and besides two for George, done a conversion for me. That camera is Not the one in the post though. It took sooooo darn long I bought a second UR and set about doing the conversion myself. So I spent the hundreds of hours to get it right, but already having the one with a Summar coming from Korea (slow boat) I decided to find Barnacks First Lens, which was a Zeiss Jena KinoTessar f 3.5 5 cm. Yes very rare but I did manage to find one dated to 1911. So that’s on the camera now, the FOFER rangefinder is a later Model A era piece, and I attached a 50mm Finder from an E standard. Finally, an early clip on yellow filter, and a skinny strap. The photo above is George with two working UR Leicas at Oskar Barnacks Grave.

 

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
Thanks for that story and telling me about the camera in the first photo above.
The very early black cameras are just so beautiful ! I've heard it said that beautiful is a state where nothing can be added or subtracted without it becoming less.
And to realize that a person designed and built these is just really something.
Now, i will say that an M2 or a black M4 are something beautiful as well...
Robert

 

[Huss]

They don't get prettier than this. My Mint ++++ condition (judged to ebay Japanese sellers standards) R8



And here it is next to the camera that inspired its design, the equally stunning Zenit 212K:

 

[Ray Morgenweck]

Going back a bit, from 1937, the evolved model 1 is now known as the Standsrd, or the Model E. A very long lived production and possibly the best Leica for everything other than “normal” use. There’s no rangefinder, but here we put on the 35mm Summaron, highly suggested sunshade and VIDOM Finder.. The finder is even an afterthought as the FOV is so vast. Shoot fast film at F11 or F16 and DOF is so deep no need to focus. Put on the visoflex, screw on a lens and you’ve got the first SLR and a Fantastic tele or macro rig. Model E’s, especially black ones, are a good Leica to own and watch grow in value.