Leica LTM Who Would`nt Love a Leica For Christmas? - Happy Holidays! - From LeicaTom

[john neal]

-- I got that I/IIIf conversion from KEH.

Damn you Vince Lupo - I was saving up for that!

It is probably a new body made up as a IIIf to replace the earlier I body. For a while after the war, Lieca offered the upgrade service to what (I think) is known as the "white-dial IIIf" - you sent back your I, II or III body and got back a nice shiny "conversion". What they were actually doing was sending out new bodies with old serial nos. The originals went in the river behind the factory .

One of the reasons for this was that they could get around the import restrictions in some countries that were still in place until the 1960s (UK included).

I hope you enjoy it - I was just about to check to see if they still had it for sale - it would have sat alongside my black I & II to replace my III, now I have to find something else to give myself this Xmas.........

 

[Vince Lupo]

Hey John, you snooze you lose baby! Besides, they had that sucker for so long I didn't think it was ever going to sell. It is, as you say, a 'white dial' IIIf, but it's a short body with what looks to be a IIIa top (so separate viewfinders), and the numer is 8989 (I promise I will post shots of it today!). It's just a shame that the corner of the vulcanite broke off, plus it looks like it was patched at some point in its life in another area. But hey, if you're still interested in finding one of these, Sandy Ritz at www.collectiblecameras.com in Arizona has one, though the serial number is much higher than this one, plus it's $ 1895.00 US. Maybe see if he can price match!

 

[john neal]

Hey John, you snooze you lose baby! Besides, they had that sucker for so long I didn't think it was ever going to sell. It is, as you say, a 'white dial' IIIf, but it's a short body with what looks to be a IIIa top (so separate viewfinders), and the numer is 8989 (I promise I will post shots of it today!). It's just a shame that the corner of the vulcanite broke off, plus it looks like it was patched at some point in its life in another area. But hey, if you're still interested in finding one of these, Sandy Ritz at www.collectiblecameras.com in Arizona has one, though the serial number is much higher than this one, plus it's $ 1895.00 US. Maybe see if he can price match!

I think it was a steal at the price they were asking - I just didn't have enough mazoola until today I need to sell a III and a IIIa to cover another planned purchase too. I doubt that Ritz will move on price - he's a bit above the market and tends to stay there!

Yes, it will be a short body made just before the war, but never assembled or issued a serial. The original 8989 (nice no. by the way) will, sadly, have gone in landfill or the river - they wouldn't even allow the staff to obliterate the serial and buy it at a discount.

After 60 years, vulcanite is bound to get a bit flaky! I know CRR do a good job of replacing with a modern equivalent - don't know if anyone your side of the pond is doing that as yet. I would spend the money and get it done for such a nice camera - I don't think thet any of the leather replacements would reinforce the value of the body as well. having said that, a nice kid or lizard would look the biz.

It would have gone really well with my II from 1932, which is in very similar condition - I'm dithering on a vulcanite replacement for that. It hasn't shed any yet, but it is loose below the lens mount and sounds hollow all the way to the rewind side of the body. It won't be long before there is a cracking sound.......

Anyhoo - enjoy it in good health.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Okay Kids (that includes you John!), here is the beast. Now aren't you glad you didn't get this camera with all that messed up vulcanite?!

Any thoughts on this camera would be most greatly welcomed!

And who's CRR, by the way, and how do I get ahold of them???

For the full effect, I've included a shot with Santa's other gift, the black/chrome 105 /6.3 Mountain Elmar....

 

[Vince Lupo]

I'll have to post all these photos in multiple attachments.....

 

[Vince Lupo]

Here's three more....

 

[Vince Lupo]

Last one.....

 

[Dralowid]

Yup, that's the one! Lovely conversion.

I have this camera's long lost brother, very similar except that the film advance knob is the late one including the film type. Just been CLA'd by CCR


The film loading instructions are on the base of the shutter assembly (like IIIF) and not on the inside of the baseplate?

Currently trying to get hold of the IIf equivalent.

CRR. Camera Repairs and Restoration in the UK. They do have a website but can only really be contacted by phone. Talk to Peter on 0044 1582 570 395. (Think this might have a different prefix from US?).
He has vulcanite.

Michael

 

[Vince Lupo]

The instructions are on the bottom of the body and not the baseplate. As well, it has a IIIf type takeup spool. BTW, I did find CRR online, and their site says that they aren't taking any new work on until January 2008 -- they sound very busy, and hence must be very good! I'll give Peter a jingle in the New Year. Although I think it will probably end up costing $ 300.00 including the shipping, I think in the long run it will be worth it to have it done right.

 

[john neal]

Vince,

You must be like a dog with two .....

The KEH photos didn't do justice to the body (or the hole in the vulcanite!). Very nice though, and definitely worth investing in a CLA and new vulcanite from Peter.

Now, I don't want you to feel too sad for me - I found a new toy to answer a slightly different want. A nice wartime IIIc that falls into LeicaTom's "half-race" definition, replete with grey vulcanite.

I'm just hoping it gets here before the holidays (FedEx permitting).

Now I'm smiling too

[edit: I just noticed that yours has Nr rather than No in front of the serial - nice touch from Wetzlar to match the older body - also a late lens mount without the 0 to indicate "standardised" construction, nul point to Wetzlar, bet the original had that]

 

[Vince Lupo]

Oh and did I forget to mention the Leica III sharkskin, the 127 f/4.5 Wollensak, the two big brown leather Leitz cases, the grey TOOUG tripod and the Imarect finder????
(though I must say that IIIc looks mighty nice!)

Now I just gotta make some more photos to justify all of this!

 

[john neal]

I had some good news & some not so good today.

FedEx tell me the parcel will arrive on Monday, and I managed to seel two Barnacks on the Bay last night , but Tony at Popflash tells me the grey covering looks like it is a replacement

Not to worry, it is still a very interesting body - Leica Tom tells me it is probably 1945 production, possibly one of the first made immediately post-war.

It will be mated with my uncoated Summar for some trial exposures. Then the lens will go off to Sherry K for a CLA and the body may go to CRR for a full wash & wax, plus new vulcanite.

I can hardly wait.........

 

[350D_user]

In my business it`s an art form in itself trying to get the photos to look "old" and like they were shot 45+ years ago - they can talk all they want about using photoshop and all the digital schnick schnock, it just DOESN`T cut the mustard like using good old vintage glass and lenses

All the money, time and technology spent/wasted on nailing lens imprefections, nailing "digital noise"... only for digital photos to now have 'film grain', 'vignettes' and to end up having some false image tone slapped on. Hmm... how about having numerous photos taken of the identical view, only to end up as one incredibly false-looking hdr image.

No thanks. Gimme an uncoated Elmar 3.5cm, a Leica Standard, and a roll of b+w anyday.

... oh, and a bottle of Rodinal.

 

[Vince Lupo]

All the money, time and technology spent/wasted on nailing lens imprefections, nailing "digital noise"... only for digital photos to now have 'film grain', 'vignettes' and to end up having some false image tone slapped on. Hmm... how about having numerous photos taken of the identical view, only to end up as one incredibly false-looking hdr image.

No thanks. Gimme an uncoated Elmar 3.5cm, a Leica Standard, and a roll of b+w anyday.

... oh, and a bottle of Rodinal.

I'm with you 100%, brother...

An example below taken with a Leica III and a 50mm f/1.5 Xenon at a cafe in Verdun (great sandwiches, BTW). Couldn't imagine being there with a D200, worryng about how much battery power I have left....

Sorry to hear about that grey recover, John. Have you ever been brave enough to ever to some really weird recover, like green leather or lizard?

 

[le vrai rdu]

I would love a Leica MP with 50 mm 1.4, feel free to ship me one

 

[john neal]

An example below taken with a Leica III and a 50mm f/1.5 Xenon at a cafe in Verdun. Couldn't imagine being there with a D200....

Sorry to hear about that grey recover, John. Have you ever been brave enough to ever to some really weird recover, like green leather or lizard?

Vince - great shot, super atmosphere and real relaxed air. Technically very good too, real sharp and good tones. Note to self: must try Rodinal.

Tom tells me that it may not be a recover, it could be that it was painted grey in the factory to cover up some poor, war-time quality vulcanite. Once I have it and get some detailed pics to Tom, we will know for sure. I have my digits crossed

 

[Vince Lupo]

Thanks John -- yeah just me and my very understanding wife enjoying these monster sandwiches and a glass of vino near the battlefields of Verdun back in October. These old lenses are just so nice, and I'm presently trying to run through a roll of film with that Mountain Elmar to see what it's like. I've been unfortunately pulled away by these Exakta's that I have, but I think Leica is now winning again.

Where did you find this grey camera of yours? It wasn't as much as my black IIIf, now was it? Let's hope the camera turns out to be better than you fear....

 

[john neal]

Where did you find this grey camera of yours? It wasn't as much as my black IIIf, now was it? Let's hope the camera turns out to be better than you fear....

I was logging into RFF the other day and saw an ad from Popflash at the bottom of the page. I couldn't believe it had lasted for a week with no interest. So, I punted off an email to Tony and it was still there! I think a little less than yours $375 - given the £ to $ exchange rate at the moment, it was quite attractive.

Had to sell a couple of bodies though - even I can't use 5 Barnacks at once!!

I will post pics when it arrives - hoping that Tom will confirm the covering as original............

Please send me some of those sandwiches soon!

 

[LeicaTom]

Okay Kids (that includes you John!), here is the beast. Now aren't you glad you didn't get this camera with all that messed up vulcanite?!

Any thoughts on this camera would be most greatly welcomed!

And who's CRR, by the way, and how do I get ahold of them???

For the full effect, I've included a shot with Santa's other gift, the black/chrome 105 /6.3 Mountain Elmar....

Yes, Vince that`s a wild bird there!!!!!!

Only 4 digit I to IIIFBD conversion I`ve ever seen and that`s a "rarrie"

Email me off the board I`ll tell you about that vulcanite repair in the states I know about......

Congrats on a nice find, looks great with that Mt. Elmat on it

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

I will post pics when it arrives - hoping that Tom will confirm the covering as original............

Yes, I can`t wait to see it

Tom

PS: People seem to forget that May 1945 to March 1946 was a pretty crazy time at Wetzlar and as much all over Germany.......with life as with cameras almost anything goes or went back then, it was a pretty chaotic time