Leica Barnack users?

[atelier7]

hi, just wondering how many people here use old leica barnack cameras?

I've got a IIIC and summitar that I use on occasion, it's both a rewarding and frustrating tool.

Rewarding because it is small but solidly built and the summitar has a nice bokeh adding a old world look to the photos.

frustrating because the summitar blocks part of the viewfinder, no built in meter, bottom loading, need to prepare the film, etc. (I keep thinking of exchanging it for a voigtlander bessa but always stop at the last minute)

just wondering how others use it? or does it sit like a decorative item on the shelves?

 

[YOL925]

me me !!!

I have a IIIfRDST, a IIIG and many LTM lenses. Love them all:lovegrin:
Not only good looking, they are great pix taking machines. Thoroughly enjoy using them.

VF blocked by summitar? Soln: use a separate 50mm VF (1:1 view), or change the lens to a 5cm Elmar. Look much nicer too.

Bottom loading , need to prepare film? No problem. Just set to T, load film and give a little push on the pressure plate and film is loaded properly.

Meter, what is that? (really no need when shooting B&W film).

Here comes my baby (Leica IIIf RDST, with W_Nikkor 35mm lens in LTM, VC 28/35 Mini finder, Nkon soft-release):

I really love that W-Nikkor, way sharper than the Leitz Elmar or Summaron, IMHO.
YOL

 

[chiif]

nice viewfinder...

 

[YOL925]

...and if you really really need a meter,

... might as well get the real thing! (as shown, original Leica Meter with booster, still working after 50 years )

 

[atelier7]

wow, that's a really nice looking camera. my IIIc doesn't look anywhere as complicated!

external vf seems to be quite expensive, thought not as expensive as buying another lens like the CV line-up or an old elmar.

maybe i'll save up for the CV 25 which comes with external vf... that way i'll have a wide angle. i do find that I prefer a wider perspective to the 50mm.

any ideas where to get a CLA in spore?
I'm in australia and had mine serviced last year... cost me quite a bit!
curious as to cheaper alternatives for the future.

 

[juggler]

I also use it once in a while when I want to inflict some pain on myself.
Didn't know that photography was quite painful those days compared to now.
It is said that these are the father of modern 35mm cameras. So got to try somehow.

I used Leica IIIc + Elmar 5cm/3.5.

 

[timothychanzl]

Some of the best pictures of the century were taken using this very clumbersome camera ! Henri Cartier Besson !

 

[student]

What a beauty!

Is this a shooting camera?

 

[YOL925]

<QUOTE> Is this a shooting camera?

Yes. with its full armour, the Leica IIIf is still a formidable image making tool:

IIIf RDST with red scale Elmar 5cm, ORAKO orange RF Enhancing filter (mounted on RF window), FISON lens hood, original Leitz FIXIO Green Filter & FIBOB IR filter

YOL

 

[student]

Yes. with its full armour, the Leica IIIf is still a formidable image making tool:

I know that one can still use this camera for photography.

This camera looks so pristine that I wonder if it is/was a display/collector item, rather than one use for the streets!

My "Ms" look a lot worse than this beauty!

 

[YOL925]

I know that one can still use this camera for photography.

This camera looks so pristine that I wonder if it is/was a display/collector item, rather than one use for the streets!

My "Ms" look a lot worse than this beauty!

Actually, this camera is no longer in pristine condition now (somehow lt looks much nicer in the pix, must be the lighting )

When I got this IIIf some ten years ago when I was a student in the UK, it was near mint. This is the first pix that I took using it with that Elmar 5cm lens. (The photo is copied from the old 4R print found in my album, using a Canon EF-S 60 macro. The color is a bit faded now.)

Near Univ of Surrey

 

[clubgrit]

Indeed a beauty. And same like student, it is indeed amazing how it has been kept well through all these years. It just makes me stop procrastinating and send out my older Ms for CLA at DAG ...

 

[Wisp]

I know that one can still use this camera for photography.

This camera looks so pristine that I wonder if it is/was a display/collector item, rather than one use for the streets!

My "Ms" look a lot worse than this beauty!

Tell me about it...my m6 needs plastic surgery.