Leica LTM Is this crazy? Trading a M for a LTM...

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
These kind of decisions are always matter of personal preference but I came to the same conclusion last year and have not looked back. The camera is very compact and a joy to use, the knob wind makes it a different experience to the more usual lever wind of the M cameras. An old trick when advancing the film after the shutter has been pressed is to push against the the advance knob with the base of your forefinger and pull your hand back using the fiction against the winder to advance the film. It can then be wound on in one stroke which works well although in the recent cold weather with cold film I have been a little more gentle with it.

Have fun The IIIg is now my main camera coupled with some Voigtlander Lenses.
 
As said above, it is a personal matter. But I prefer the LTM Leicas, and would happily trade an M4 for a IIIg. Not so sure if it had been an M3 or M2 though. 🙂
 
As others have mentioned, maybe a 1:1 bright-line finder on your IIIf might do the trick. I use a Leitz SBOOI on my IIIf and love it. I balance that with an M6. I think I would miss my M if I had a IIIf and a sold the M to get a IIIg but that's just me 🙂
 
maybe a 1:1 bright-line finder on your IIIf might do the trick
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Great idea but a IIIg with a 50mm fitted is a joy to use . In fact I use mine with a 90 elmar using the built inviewfinder as well. The IIIg can be expensive but shop around I got mine from ffordes in Inverness for about the same as a good M2
 
I have a number of LTM cameras and lenses but a few M lenses for the Hexar. I find I usually stick with a LTM Nicca 5L. No fiddling with adapters. Smaller size. More enjoyable aesthetic. What's a RF if not small?!

FWIW, you can get many M features (framelines, lever wind) on Japanese LTMs, too.
 
speaking of ltm where are all the plentiful ltm lenses? i am having a difficult time finding them. (trying to locate CV 35 PI is impossible) even FleaBay is not very fruitful. I want a nice 35 for my Bessa R but just dont see any of these old ltm lenses around. (except for $$$ leica)
 
I got rid of my IIIg and got the M4 in lieu a long time ago.
The IIIg seemed a poor Barnack experience when compared to my Leica III, IIIc and IIIf.
The IIIg was not "bare to the bones " enough, it straddled between the Barnack and M series without the charm of either.
Just my two cents on the matter.
 
I do not think it is nuts. But I find my LTM Leica to be a little "coarser" than my M cameras. Especially in things like shutter sound but thats OK. They are nice cameras in their own right and the lenses have a specific look that make nice images.
 
Well, I got a IIIg coming. It's supposed to be in very good condition.... I hope I like it. I will post a photo once it's here. And then I have to sell my M4. I wish I could keep both 🙁
 
archeophoto said:
Well, I got a IIIg coming. It's supposed to be in very good condition.... I hope I like it. I will post a photo once it's here. And then I have to sell my M4. I wish I could keep both 🙁
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dear archeophoto,

As you said, you shoot with 50mm mainly; all your lens are LTM, and you use a M4 and other non-metering camera,

I believe the IIIG is the camera design and build rightly for you.
 
Finally got my IIIg in the mail. Came with a nice 3.5/50mm Elmar.
I really like the viewfinder!
 

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Pretty camera -- I'd like to know how the IIIg is as an actual shooter versus the IIIf/IIIc cameras that I've always used. The external finders are sweet but I hate loosing them and they greatly reduce the pocketability. I like that you went with the 50/3.5 too, a good one is a great lens.
 
I just got my first IIIf and I have to say I really like the feel of it. I had no idea how pricey the IIIg was. Wow. I can see how a person might prefer a III to an M. I have an M4 here that needs the shutter speeds fixed, maybe I should try to find myself a similar deal.
 
I had it out yesterday. It's great for shooting. It's a bit taller then my IIIf, but the viewfinder makes up for it. Actually if I use a 35mm lens with it I can get away without an external viewfinder, I just use the whole viewing area of the viewfinder - not quite 35mm but close enough. So I can use a 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lens without having an external viewfinder. The parallax correction is nice to have also. I do have a VC II meter attached to it, though. With the compact 50mm Elmar and a even smaller 35mm Elmar the whole setup fits in a Tamrac fannypack on my belt. I'm in compact LTM heaven now 🙂

Frank Petronio said:
Pretty camera -- I'd like to know how the IIIg is as an actual shooter versus the IIIf/IIIc cameras that I've always used. The external finders are sweet but I hate loosing them and they greatly reduce the pocketability. I like that you went with the 50/3.5 too, a good one is a great lens.
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archeophoto said:
I had it out yesterday. It's great for shooting. It's a bit taller then my IIIf, but the viewfinder makes up for it. Actually if I use a 35mm lens with it I can get away without an external viewfinder, I just use the whole viewing area of the viewfinder - not quite 35mm but close enough. So I can use a 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lens without having an external viewfinder. The parallax correction is nice to have also. I do have a VC II meter attached to it, though. With the compact 50mm Elmar and a even smaller 35mm Elmar the whole setup fits in a Tamrac fannypack on my belt. I'm in compact LTM heaven now 🙂
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archeophoto,

Congratulations on getting your IIIG. Show us the pic from it when you shoot some.

CHeers,
 
AS I read the thread I felt that you had already made up your mind, glad to get near the bottom and have mu hunch confirmed!
The right decision; the LTM's are sublime and the sense of history and guardianship cannot be beaten.
David
 
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