Leica II

[cliveh]

Is this the most perfect camera design ever made? In terms of weight, size, simplicity and tactile handling, I would say it is. What do others think?

 

[Cholentpot]

No strap lugs.

 

[darkosaric]

I have IIIf, similar to Leica II --> and yes.
I do prefer my M3 for shooting, but in size, weight and tactile handling - LTM Leica wins everything.

 

[Dali]

The Leica II is my favorite among all LTM cameras.

 

[Jim Jones]

I miss my IIIf. The M4 that replaced it has advantages. It is a more versatile tool, but it isn't my first love.

 

[David Lindquist]

I miss my IIIf. The M4 that replaced it has advantages. It is a more versatile tool, but it isn't my first love.

Me too. I had a IIIF I bought at a pawn shop on East Grayson Street in San Antonio, circa 1968, when I was at Fort Sam Houston. It was a red dial with self-timer. And it gets worse, it had a collapsible Summicron. Well I didn't use it much and sold it through Shutterbug Ads many years ago. Lovely piece of fine mechanics.

David

 

[cliveh]

I thought this guy was quite good -

 

[Ko.Fe.]

No strap lugs.

Interesting! It just as good as Zorki then. To use it the case is needed and all of the ravings about it’s small size are not relevant as soon as camera is taken from the storage shelf.
Is here any Barnack which has no falling out plastic from RF/VF and with lugs?

 

[BAC1967]

You can get a wrist strap that threads into the tripod socket.

 

[jtk]

My absolute fave rave was a 11f...not cluttered with unnecessary knobs like IIIf is. I had a coupld of 111G but 11f with optical finder was more productive for me (maybe I'd have liked a 1f). The only subsequent camera that rings similar bells is the now discontinued Samsung NX1000.

 

[Cholentpot]

Interesting! It just as good as Zorki then. To use it the case is needed and all of the ravings about it’s small size are not relevant as soon as camera is taken from the storage shelf.
Is here any Barnack which has no falling out plastic from RF/VF and with lugs?

Yep. Because of this you should throw out your II or send it to me. I'd throw it out for you.

You can get a wrist strap that threads into the tripod socket.

Pointless and trash. Just get rid of the thing. I'll take it and use as a door stop.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yep. Because of this you should throw out your II or send it to me. I'd throw it out for you.



Pointless and trash. Just get rid of the thing. I'll take it and use as a door stop.

Friday started earlier for you. Cheers.
I never owned two. I have Zorki. Looking for Barnack with lugs and separate vf, RF because it seem once they put them together, plastic was in use in the back.
It fails now due to age and let lens out. Those lenses are not available anymore.
So; it renders these camera as trashed.
Happy Friday!

 

[cliveh]

If you take a Leica II out of it's case and just hold it in your hand, it is such a perfect size and design. Surely Oskar Barnacks ultimate design of a perfect camera.

 

[Cholentpot]

Friday started earlier for you. Cheers.
I never owned two. I have Zorki. Looking for Barnack with lugs and separate vf, RF because it seem once they put them together, plastic was in use in the back.
It fails now due to age and let lens out. Those lenses are not available anymore.
So; it renders these camera as trashed.
Happy Friday!

Friday never ends

 

[cliveh]

My Leica II does have strap lugs and is from 1934. Today I received it back from an engineer after a full service and clean and it looks like new. The lens has no serial number. Does anybody know if this sometimes happened? It is defiantly a Leica lens.

 

[Pioneer]

Friday started earlier for you. Cheers.
I never owned two. I have Zorki. Looking for Barnack with lugs and separate vf, RF because it seem once they put them together, plastic was in use in the back.
It fails now due to age and let lens out. Those lenses are not available anymore.
So; it renders these camera as trashed.
Happy Friday!

That is interesting Ko Fe. I never heard that before. I just looked at my IIIc, which has the combined viewfinder on the back, and it appears from the wear that the part that holds that in the camera is brass, not plastic. Maybe you are referring to the viewfinder on the Zorki?

 

[awty]

Leica if verses Zorki 1, who would win, my money would be on the Leica, those die cast zorki gears are never going to last.
The if only weighs 20 grams more, has dead even frames, accurate shutter speeds and if far more quiet. I like the Zorki, but the build quality lets it down......mind you the Leica cost 10x more, so would expect to be better.... neither are very good in my hands..

 

[Ko.Fe.]

That is interesting Ko Fe. I never heard that before. I just looked at my IIIc, which has the combined viewfinder on the back, and it appears from the wear that the part that holds that in the camera is brass, not plastic. Maybe you are referring to the viewfinder on the Zorki?

Thank you for checking!
Zorki is knock off of early II, but with cast body. RF, VF are separate and metal.
I picked iiif with lost glass in VF. In f series it is plastic. I hope IIIc also has strap lugs.

 

[summicron1]

my only gripe is the viewfinder is small and indistinct on all the Barnacks -- I just bought a Nikon S2 which combines a Leica-type shutter with Contax lens design and has a really nice brightline finder.

But that's me. The Leica II is really sweet, especially with an auxiliary finder.

 

[pentaxpete]

How about my Video -- I show some actual prints taken with it !

 

[nosmok]

I am only 56 years old and even now find those tiny vf/ rf windows on the Barnack Leicas to be non-starters. I CAN use them, but doing so brings up a tinge of dread such that I don't reach for the camera as much. Plus I never warmed up to loading them. Canon P for me for my LTM jones.

 

[miha]

How about my Video -- I show some actual prints taken with it !

Nicely done pentaxpete!

 

[guangong]

I have IIIf, IIIc and IIIg. What I like about these cameras is that they are pocketable. CanonP is nice, but feels bigger, almost like an M camera. I have not found the viewfinders to be any disadvantage in use. The filter attachments for rangefinder can Add contrast , but after service by Youshin, I don’t even need them. Leitz did make a 50mm accessory finder, but that adds a bump to the cameras height.
No strap lugs? After all, the II cameras were the budget models.
The mere fact that we are talking about cameras 70+/- years old, says something about their quality.

 

[StepheKoontz]

I've been collecting and playing with many different rangefinders from this era. The nikon S2 and the sister camera the S3 really seem to work for me. I do enjoy shooting with my IIf as well.

 

[macfred]

The Leica II is my favorite among all LTM cameras.

Agreed ! Though I never saw one with strap lugs (who cares ... ).