Why use a Leica screw mount camera today?

[Arklatexian]

IIIf RD ST is what my father taught me on. God rest his soul, he passed it on to me. Using it is a tribute to him.
Itza cool tool.

What your father left you is, in my opinion, the best made of all the screw-mount Leicas and that includes the IIIG. You already know he left you a gem. Enjoy it in good health......Regards!

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Better is "shutter sounds accurate at all speeds".
"Excellent condition for it's age" (could be said of Tut's mummy).
"Meter seems accurate".

Hey, those are good ones. Add to the list:
1. Excellent condition (but has been listed as for parts or repair).
2. "I know nothing about cameras." Why do sellers even write an inane sentence like that?
3. Sorry, I can't wind the lever and click the button because it is sold as shown in the photographs.
4. The photographs make part of the description. Well, duuuh.....
5. Excellent condition but I don't have a battery to check if the meter does anything at all. (An am to f**king lazy or cheap to buy a button cell at the grocery store.)
6. My dad/uncle/cousin took great care of his cameras - yes, 30 years ago.
7. "See the photographs." Yes, 2 of the camera still in the case, and 7 close-ups of the nasty old case.
8. "Clean for its age." OK, and you were too lazy to take an alcohol swab and clean the schmutz and crap from the camera before you took some pictures??

Sorry guys, I'm grumpy tonight.

 

[Yes]

Just purchased a IIIf that had a very rare ( what I think is legit) pre-war Sonnar 5cm LTM lens for a very good price. Sent it off to be cleaned up and adjusted. Looking forward to using it.

 

[Arthurwg]

You've probably read all the Leica III stuff on Cameraquest then.

Yes, they're fun, compact, and while using one you need to have a certain approach or mindset: operations are slower and more deliberate.

Then there's snob appeal. As Stephen Gandy said: "idiots don't use them".

View attachment 196027

True. I've always associated screw-mount users with high IQ and a certain sophistication. You used to see more of those folks, but not so much anymore.

 

[Arthurwg]

Looking at early Cartier-Bresson prints I don't see much glow. A definite softness, and good contrast for the era, but glow is noticeable its absence. I suspect the glow was something Leica lenses picked up in the last 80 years ; )

If you want to see the "glow," try a 50mm F2 Summar. Or have a look at Robert Frank's The Americans.

 

[John Fewings]

Because it slows you down and makes you think about the basics - composition, light, depth-of-field, timing... and because it's a joy to hold and behold!

Hi everybody! I just bought my first-ever Leica: a mint-condition IIIg Now all I need is a suitable 50mm lens... unfortunately, finding a suitable collapsible lens (Elmar f2,8 - Summicron f2,0) with decent optics is a real challenge: time has taken its toll and these lens were built using very soft glass. Meaning that they're mostly scratched, fogged, or otherwise impaired. Still, I'm immensely proud of my IIIg and will hang fire until a decent lens comes my way, and can be personally inspected prior to purchase - buying such lens via Ebay doesn't seem to be such a good idea...

 

[Sirius Glass]

Because it slows you down and makes you think about the basics - composition, light, depth-of-field, timing... and because it's a joy to hold and behold!

Hi everybody! I just bought my first-ever Leica: a mint-condition IIIg Now all I need is a suitable 50mm lens... unfortunately, finding a suitable collapsible lens (Elmar f2,8 - Summicron f2,0) with decent optics is a real challenge: time has taken its toll and these lens were built using very soft glass. Meaning that they're mostly scratched, fogged, or otherwise impaired. Still, I'm immensely proud of my IIIg and will hang fire until a decent lens comes my way, and can be personally inspected prior to purchase - buying such lens via Ebay doesn't seem to be such a good idea...

Welcome to APUG Photrio​

www.keh.com has a wonderful return policy, and the grade very conservatively. Order the lens from them, pay the shipping and any tariffs and you will have what you want much sooner. I have bought many Hasselblad lenses from them.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Because it slows you down and makes you think about the basics - composition, light, depth-of-field, timing... and because it's a joy to hold and behold!

Hi everybody! I just bought my first-ever Leica: a mint-condition IIIg Now all I need is a suitable 50mm lens... unfortunately, finding a suitable collapsible lens (Elmar f2,8 - Summicron f2,0) with decent optics is a real challenge: time has taken its toll and these lens were built using very soft glass. Meaning that they're mostly scratched, fogged, or otherwise impaired. Still, I'm immensely proud of my IIIg and will hang fire until a decent lens comes my way, and can be personally inspected prior to purchase - buying such lens via Ebay doesn't seem to be such a good idea...

Fantastic, John. Good for you!! If money is no object (ha, ha!), Leica reissued their 50mm Summicron in thread mount in 1999 (but not collapsible). There are also some recent Voigtlander lenses in thread mount. Cameraquest has a good summary of your options:
https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Which Munich you are from John? Original one or Munich, ND? Do you know you could buy from ebay.de and they have real German Leica dealers and most are shipping WW?

LoL for KEH. It is twenty first century and this bunch of yahoos still couldn't post actual item for sale images. But somehow I trust Igor Camera. They have no pictures at all .

As for Leica slowing you down it is copy paste phrase from modern gear observers over internet without real knowledge in photography. If you come from iPhone/Instagram then it is true. If you deal with photography via camera as separate device then at some point you'll learn about exposure. Leica can't slow you on something you already know and don't need to think much about.
How long it takes to realize what ISO is your shutter speed and aperture is your light situation? DOF, how long it takes to look at the DOF scale?

The only time bottom loader slows me is then I have to reload it. And I'm not using them to chaise moving object. Know you limit, play within it.

As for the condition of collapsible Leitz lenses... Are you looking for shelf queen or image taker? I'm not holder of queens, but taker. My most impressive image taker was Cron typ 1 and it has some coating damage due to fungus cleaning, some small separation, yet, on BW film it was best lens I ever have. And I have tried all Crons 50 types. The only reason I sold it is because after adding of filter and hood any collapsible lens is not compact anymore.

 

[Arklatexian]

I was looking at and started reading about the Leica iiif and iiig cameras. Why would one of these screw mount cameras be favored over an M2 or M3 ? The M2, M3 and M4 look to me to be so much more user friendly.

The IIIf Red Dial was the Leica that I enjoyed using most and I now own an M2 and an M3. I much preferred the IIIf red dial to the IIIg. I think it was better made. Why did I like these cameras? I guess because they were FUN and they were every bit a Leica, qualitywise. Which makes the sharpest picture. M3 or IIIf, both with a 50mm f2 Summicron? You tell me. I have never seen any difference. I rue the day I sold the IIIf because I thought I needed the money. We are so soon old and so late smart.......Regards!

 

[Michael Kersting]

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum, but was looking for some input. I used analog Leica M and R cameras and also digital Leicas, but they are all to big for a pocket camera.

I am looking for a thread mount Leica (IIIF + 50mm Elmar) I like to stuff it as "take it everywhere" camera stuffed with a Kodak Tri-X.

My style of photographing is pretty much that I prepare myself with the settings. I constantly change the shutter speed and aperture. So I am not that P-Mode photo shooter, who needs 10000 frames.
And I carry an Lightmeter with bee when shooting analog, all of the time.

Do you think that street and portrait photography could be done with that above mentioned combination?

Thanks for your comments in advance.

Have always good and enough light.

Greets Michael

 

[awty]

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum, but was looking for some input. I used analog Leica M and R cameras and also digital Leicas, but they are all to big for a pocket camera.

I am looking for a thread mount Leica (IIIF + 50mm Elmar) I like to stuff it as "take it everywhere" camera stuffed with a Kodak Tri-X.

My style of photographing is pretty much that I prepare myself with the settings. I constantly change the shutter speed and aperture. So I am not that P-Mode photo shooter, who needs 10000 frames.
And I carry an Lightmeter with bee when shooting analog, all of the time.

Do you think that street and portrait photography could be done with that above mentioned combination?

Thanks for your comments in advance.

Have always good and enough light.

Greets Michael

Welcome Michael.
Sure will, get one they are great.
If you can guess distance get a if, they are a little lighter and compact and are great with the very bright 5cm external view finder.
Shutter is very quiet, like a girly fart ...fffft.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you use 35mm film why not?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum, but was looking for some input. I used analog Leica M and R cameras and also digital Leicas, but they are all to big for a pocket camera.

I am looking for a thread mount Leica (IIIF + 50mm Elmar) I like to stuff it as "take it everywhere" camera stuffed with a Kodak Tri-X.

My style of photographing is pretty much that I prepare myself with the settings. I constantly change the shutter speed and aperture. So I am not that P-Mode photo shooter, who needs 10000 frames.
And I carry an Lightmeter with bee when shooting analog, all of the time.

Do you think that street and portrait photography could be done with that above mentioned combination?

Thanks for your comments in advance.

Have always good and enough light.

Greets Michael

Google "HCB". Buy books with his earlier photography. It was taken with LTM and Elmar.
Or you could skip all of the history and learning and watch this:

 

[Shootar401]

I was looking at and started reading about the Leica iiif and iiig cameras. Why would one of these screw mount cameras be favored over an M2 or M3 ? The M2, M3 and M4 look to me to be so much more user friendly.

I had an M4 and M2, I sold both and got a iiic. To me it was the perfect travel camera, small easy to focus and it's what I call a "real Leica"

Bought the iiic and 50 Summitar and had money left over for a vacation

 

[BradS]

I had an M4 and M2, I sold both and got a iiic. To me it was the perfect travel camera, small easy to focus and it's what I call a "real Leica"

Bought the iiic and 50 Summitar and had money left over for a vacation

So I ended up getting a nice used iiif and a collapsible 50mm Summicron. I am surprised by how much I like it. This kit cost a lot more than any other small format body and 50mm lens I have...and so, despite how much I like the little camera, I am still not convinced that the Leica is worth the money. I'll probably keep it though - just because it is not like any other small format kit I have.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... despite how much I like the little camera, I am still not convinced that the Leica is worth the money. ...

Enjoy the camera, enjoy the fun of using something from a different era, and enjoy the photos. You'll always be able to sell it and not lose much money - or not lose money at all.

This IIIf was $300 and the lens, bought separately, also $300:



The camera had been serviced and there were no pinholes in the shutter. The lens is a bit stiffer to focus than I'd like.

 

[darkosaric]

Only thing that I don't like in my LTM Leica is the viewfinder. Planning to buy external one, and then it will be used even more (only the price of ~100€ is pretty high).
About the quality of LTM Elmar 5cm /3.5 --> when I see results, I always wonder why I do need all those summicrons and other fancy lenses that have, this is superb quality lens .