I'm quite happy with my IIIC, 35mm Jupiter 12, 50mm Summar, coated 90mm Elmar and 135mm Hektor, VIOOH finder and Voigtlander VC1 meter. Talk about a lightweight kit.
Yes, it is and that's why I'm looking for a Leica, either type, though the IIIc really is all that's needed in a daylong carry kit, and is so much better at being carried on long walks or days, away from a car kit.
I love my SLRs, etc, but these all metal cameras from the 80's, and back, are much weightier and I, in addition to several chronic conditions to my back have developed Scoliosis, which can be a real problem for me, especial in the heat, and impacts my breathing as well as my ability to carry over moderate to long periods.
As for the Leicas I have owned, and had to part with over the years, the single stroke M3 I had, way, way back, came with a duel Summicron 50mm F2 and goggles, I really loved that camera and hated to let it go. I paid $300 for the kit and it was nearly perfect and I was able to make some great captures on it.
The IIIC I had just a few years ago, came with a 28mm Color Skopar, the silver metal one, and I had 35mm to the Jupiter 135mm lenses for it, including the two 50s, which both gave great images, and the FSU turret finder, plus the 90mm Sun, and other Fed and Industar lenses, including the collapsible Industar-22 5cm(?)
The Sun 9cm, a Japanese lens, is rated by some as the equal of better than the similar Leica in the same F-stop, which escapes me now and I do no want to go check it out in the dark room at the moment, and with the exception of the lenses of four Feds, with 5cm lenses, Three Twos and a three 'A', which I traded for a Canon F1 with speed finder and a nice FTb ql, ( I like these cameras quite a bit), with basic f1.8 lenses, I have all these other lenses, but can no for the life of me, find the 3.5cm and the two Jupiter 50mm lenses, so I feel I have the basic glass to shoot with, though a long term goal would be landing a good 28mm or so, as the Color Skopar was freaking excellent and usually was what that Leica wore as a day to day carry camera.
I also held on to the dozen or so, Leica cartridges and their metal and Bakelite cases, so I would have them on hand if ever I do have another Leica.
Im sure you know already, but the Barnacks were designed to take these cartridges, no the standard 135 version, and, as I did no generally want to see the sprockets of the 'modern' cassettes, I kept a small cone like flashlight spring with the camera, when I was no using the Leica film holders. I may just still have that as well.
