Any Franken-Leica Owners?

[kzphoto]

Anyone out there in RFF land have any Franken-Leicas? Leica cameras with parts from other bodies? I know a few of you have MP finder upgrades, and a few prefer the m3/m2 film advance levers but are there any "true" Franken leicas?

 

[Livesteamer]

There are at least one or two members here who have had M3 and M6 bodies combined to make an M3 with a meter. It can be done but I suspect an a la carte MP would be cheaper. Joe

 

[john neal]

For a real frankenleica, you should search for the look-alike one built by Gordon Cole (may still be here on RFF).

It set me on the road of experimentation (like I needed another habit to feed !)

 

[Calzone]

I have an unusual Leica M6. When I go to B&H, Adorama or any other big store I flash my M6 and ask, "What's wrong with my Leica?"

They recognize the champain color of a Titanium M6 on the top plate, but the rest of the camera is a regular chrome M6. Upon further investigation I point out that it is a Wetzlar M6 with the engraving on the top plate, Leitz Red Dot, Made In Germany embossed on the vulcanite... and all the other Wetzlar features.

My research has revealed that I have a Wetzlar prototype that pre-dates the production of the Titanium M6 "Classic" by five years.

Chris, a salesman at B&H, gave me James Lager's phone number. Chris said that Mr. Lager would definately would be interested in seeing my camera.

I acquired this M6 during the credit crisis last year for no money off of Ebay. The dealer I bought this from is in Toronto and not far away is Midland.

This is my Franken-Leica.

Calzone

 

[raid]

I have a Zeiss 5cm 2.0 in leica mount. The mount seems to be from an Elmar. This is my Franken-Leica-Zeiss lens.

 

[johannielscom]

I shoot a 1955 M3 DS that started its life as a chrome camera, but now is black.

Some parts I dechromed and painted black myself, but as the paint started to flake (within two weeks...) I set out to buy black parts.

The advance lever, the retaining ring, the bottom plate and the complete top plate are black now. With the top plate I was particularly lucky, it's an unused and not engraved original black spare part.

The camera is covered with CameraLeathers GripTac, except for the still original back door, with glass pressure plate.

 

[kzphoto]

Love the responses -- I hadn't considered franken-lenses! Photos of any of the gear would be fascinating, especially m3/m6's!

 

[maddoc]

I used to have a Franken-Leica, a M3 with M2 VF. The seller had not realized the modification and I found it funny to have 35mm FL in a M3 body. 🙂 Later sold it to a member here at RFF.

 

[andredossantos]

I got an M4-p in bad shape from craigslist for cheap. The top plate was quite dented and I wanted it replaced. When the camera was with Youxin Ye he said he had a M4-2 top plate that would fit so I had him put it in...So now it's camouflaged 🙂

 

[Calzone]

Love the responses -- I hadn't considered franken-lenses! Photos of any of the gear would be fascinating, especially m3/m6's!

I'm an analog guy, but will be meeting up with some RFF members before Christmas. Please be patient with a guy from the old school.

Camera Porn coming.

Calzone

 

[coelacanth]

While we wait for Calzone's camera porn, I found this:

http://homepage2.nifty.com/QJSYJ/MP23.htm
(Japanese, with photos)

This guy wanted to make MP-SP (factory modification based on M3 for press people who couldn't buy the original MP, only 402 units made), so he combined his M3 and M2 into what he calls MP23. Note that the top cover is not just swapped M2 one, but M3 cover with modified film counter part.

This is way too extreme to me, but this definitely is a franken-leica. :O

My MP has modified framelines and different covering, but it's not really worthy of a Franken-Leica badge. 😛

 

[rlouzan]

A blistered Demo M6 that I once saw at B&H (used Dept.), it looked like a piece of black coral😱.

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[kzphoto]

Wow! the m2/m3 counters are way different. I wonder how long it took him to make this?

Really interesting! Glad to see some people taking on a challenge like that to get a camera that works the way they want.

While we wait for Calzone's camera porn, I found this:

http://homepage2.nifty.com/QJSYJ/MP23.htm
(Japanese, with photos)

This guy wanted to make MP-SP (factory modification based on M3 for press people who couldn't buy the original MP, only 402 units made), so he combined his M3 and M2 into what he calls MP23. Note that the top cover is not just swapped M2 one, but M3 cover with modified film counter part.

This is way too extreme to me, but this definitely is a franken-leica. :O

My MP has modified framelines and different covering, but it's not really worthy of a Franken-Leica badge. 😛

 

[coelacanth]

Wow! the m2/m3 counters are way different. I wonder how long it took him to make this?

Really interesting! Glad to see some people taking on a challenge like that to get a camera that works the way they want.

I found this detailed article how he made the MP23.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/QJSYJ/MP23-1.htm

He actually fabricated a metal disc and filled the hole on M3 top plate. Then he had a pro guy to weld/polish up the seam completely.

Only word I can say is WOW. 😱

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I used to have a Franken-Leica, a M3 with M2 VF. The seller had not realized the modification and I found it funny to have 35mm FL in a M3 body. 🙂 Later sold it to a member here at RFF.

Funny you mentioned that. I bought a M3 from a member here at RFF with a similar condition.
It's an M3 with the viewfinder from an M4-P. I figured an M4-P because of the oval shaped of the viewfinder eyepiece. Also because of the rangefinder patch color lacking a blue and gold tint from M3/M2.

 

[johannielscom]

Love the responses -- I hadn't considered franken-lenses! Photos of any of the gear would be fascinating, especially m3/m6's!

I'll see if I can include my hacked Wollensak 50/2.8 in the shot. It came from a Perfex Deluxe USA rangefinder and I fixed it into a brass Industar mount.

 

[LeicaTom]

This is an OLD THREAD that I think I should stir up a little bit about the specially built "FrankenLeica's" a few of the people at RFF have made in a past 10 years, if Bill Blackwell is reading this, I hope he chimes, in he is the M Leica Dr. Frankenstein himself..... 🙂

Bill's amazing M2-6 from a couple of years back.........great workmanship, such a pretty camera.

I've always been beating it around in my head to build a Black Paint M3/6 0.85 camera from a M6 classic with a M6J 0.85 finder and modern Anti-Flare MP optics added, then a super quality factory like Black Paint job with the Swedish News Service Leica in mind with everything including the shutter and lens release buttons painted Black, so ultra stealth vintage look, with a Black Painted f1.5/50 Summarit M?

The "infamous" Black Paint Swedish News Service/Newspaper Leica M3 from 1958
(this camera was in part the inspiration for putting the Black Film Counter in the 2000 Black Paint Leica (Millenium TTL camera)
Another lovely Black Paint Leica.

All that fun would cost me easy $5,000 I think, but I have really been bumping it around lately, as film companies discontinue films and it seems it's a race against time before shooting 35mm will be a mail order only development service which will be crazy expensive and that hard core people will have to build darkrooms up back at home, maybe it's a fun idea for the folks who have the space?

Maybe it'll be the ultimate film camera to shoot with for the rest of my life? I cannot afford a MP3 and they too are almost too nice to work with, my LHSA 0.85 BP M6 is the same way a collectors item sitting in a box.
So I've always liked the look of the classic M3 with the Budda Lugs and the Rimmed RF window, most beautiful Leica ever made, after the IIIFRDST that is...... 😉 And painted Black the M3 is just amazing looking! 😀

Well, let's see if anyone's built anything bizarre in the past few years since 2009 when this thread was first posted?

Happy Shooting!

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

Ohh here was the Factory's version of a FrankenLeica....the sold ONLY in Japan only Leica M3-J

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EX-Rare-Leica-M3J-Black-paint-Camera-Edition-made-for-Japan-w-full-packing-/160949259031?nma=true&si=2DicIbzfnBWkGEC%252BFM%252Fd%252FllfrVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Super rare when new, I think they were all sold BEFORE they were even made? And now they are like a $18k to $20k cameras, if they even ever come up for sale crazy!

But it's all that love for the BP M3 I guess? Gotta Love It! 😀

Wish Leica would offer a Retro Version of the MP based on the looks of M3 in the a la carte system and build a few thousand a year, instead of making them like ultra low production series that will NEVER even take a picture. (like this camera turned out to be) *sigh* 😛

Tom

 

[Charlie Lemay]

I have a chrome and a black re-paint M2, Each has had an M4P finder, M4 quick-load and modern sync terminal upgrade. If you like the modern .72 framelimes and don't need a meter, it is a less expensive alternative to an MP

 

[Muggins]

Does Evil Edna here count as a Frankencamera?

Currently awaiting the shekels to get the slow speeds sorted having spent a number of years unused atop a microscope... and that's just me! I'm still waiting for the definitive answer to the question of whether I need to buy a red dot first before I put black tape on it.😛

Adrian