The "Sexy" Leica - 2000 LHSA TTL .85 Black Paint

mynikonf2 said:
Now that is one HOT CAMERA!! and you know that lens really does look good on her too. :p

Tom, I'm down to my last WWII Leica glass, a "45" dated Hektor & a few misc. items, but hay, you know me, I'm looking again & it's just a matter of time before I'll pick something up again.
;)

Man!, just can't get over how good that camera looks...gonna make those grey ones jealous. :D
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Yeah, I'm sure my Grey's are all jealous....... But, currently I'm trying to get back to my roots in film in a more quicker, modern way sans light meter - hence the M6 TTL LHSA BP has arrived.....next step is to find the right ER case ;)

Tom
 
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LeicaTom said:
Here's a heads up for anyone who might want to cash in on one of these beautiful cameras.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M6-TTL-0-8...item4aad09fddd

I have no connection to the seller, the starting price is just about right, cheaper than working out a New à la carte Leica MP and the quality and finish is really amazing.

Tom
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Same camera is back with a lower starting price, UNDER $3,000 is a deal on these cameras, especially a 0.85

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320732164362

Tom
 
I just found today a Like New Minus condition #14871 "Long Nose" Factory ER case for the M6 TTL at KEH for $99 - that was a really good deal :D Yay!!!!

I'm going to keep the M4 style film advance lever now and just add a MP BP shutter button dish and a
"Black Out" film counter for the ~ FULL STEALTH LOOK ~ ;)

I might also think about adding the MP Module (anti-flare) to the 0.85 finder as well, that's all the up grades though.

Tom
 
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Just received my #14871 "Long Nose" Factory ER case from KEH ~ and as they stated the condition is Like New Minus, very satisfied.

The case is very nicely made and fits like a glove, I'm glad I was patient and shopped around to find the right case and a Leica one, not one of those cheaply made one's from Asia.

I swapped out the original Voightlander hood for a 52mm vented hood from RainbowImaging from evilbay to see over the front of the lens better.

And I added a Leitz rubber eyecup, which works nicely without the top portion of the case only drawback is that it must be removed each time I put the case back together........



I had my first shoot yesterday with the camera and also with a new model Hazel Rhea, shooting some fun lite hearted casual work, shooting with Kodak 400 C-41 B&W and one of my 1943 Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar T f1.5/ 50mm lenses stopped down to f2. :) ~ sorry for the poor quality grainy scan, but all I have now is Walgreens scans and CD's, until I can find a better solution.......

It was a dull dreary rainy day so we were held back to do anything exciting and also run around to locations, we had to shoot under a porch roof, so it was all very limited. :p

While I was shooting I noticed a total flare out/ white out of the top finder lines for 50mm when I turned the camera vertically (as in the photo) so I had to guesstimate in framing my pictures......

I know that the flaring out of the 0.85 finders has been brought up and discussed in other threads, but if anyone who has had the experience like mine and have gone ahead and
paid for a ANTI-FLARE MODULE upgrade has it helped? or is it money simply misspent? ~
I have never used a 0.85 finder M Leica before and the extra magnification is a great help with my aging eyes, but that flaring is frustrating :p

I can't wait till Hazel and I have a nice sunny day and some time to shoot color film and next time I'll use the VC Nokton f1.5/ 50mm, while I'm curious to see how that lens performs. :D
Enjoy!

Tom
 
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Can anyone who has had the MP module upgrade (anti-flare) done to a 0.85 finder, tell me if it was worth it?

Has it really improved the use of the finder in strong lighting conditions? Flaring problem gone?

Tom
 
satedesco said:
the flare is the worst in the .85. not only does the flare reducing condenser eliminate the issue, it also improves rangefinder contrast in low light.
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Ah, very good, thank you Sir for that good information, I have had some serious flaring on overcast Florida afternoons and the "low light" dim frames issue I have noticed indoors......but now that I have tried the 0.85 finder with 50mm's (my main lens of choice with the PinUp girls) I have noticed a great difference in being able to focus faster for hopefully sharper images, I don't think I would ever go back to using a 0.72 again.......

I have the BP VC Nokton f1.5/50 on the camera now, but I'm debating on weither or not I get the Canon f1.2/50 adjusted to this body and also maybe one of my "wartime" Sonnar T f1.5/50's or that Nikkor HC f2/50 I just bought, all are great shooters on film.

I can get the MP module installed by Don at DAG and also do the "stealth" parts at the same time, I've decided to keep the M4 style film advance, while I just don't see the MP/M3 advance being worth over $150 from Leica. - (staying in for a more classic BP M4 look + plus the Black Dot). :)

The BP Shutter Button Dish (New MP Part) and the "Black Out" film counter (Millennium BP Part) I think are all special order parts, that take up to 5 weeks to get to Leica NJ, so I will wait till after my rare 356 Porsche shoot in September, after I've collected the parts and then send the camera off for updates, while it would never make it back in time for the shoot still waiting on the parts etc.

Thanks

Tom
 
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raid said:
This is a beautiful camera indeed.
I have to settle for my M3 and M6.
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Well, I did kinda sacrifice an old rare Leica item to get it......my 1948 MOOLY C BP motor went into trade for this and I paid cash for the VC Nokton, but I guess I've always wanted a BP Leica, just also never thought I would go for a more modern camera then the 1980's era Classic M6, but really after looking through that finder at 0.85 and also after using the larger shutter speed dial on the top like a M8, I almost forgot to advance the film the other day when I was using it......how funny! :D

Thanks Raid!

Tom
 
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Wow Tom,

I haven't had a really strong desire for any specific camera in a long time - but this thing is a work of art. Simply beautiful. Maybe I could find someone willing to trade for my Mamiya 7ii kit!

And I already have black Nokton for it!
 
Rob-F said:
Yes she is a beauty, Tom. BTW you don't need a thumbs-up on a film Leica--or was that a joke? :rolleyes:

You haven't been selling off your IIIc K bodies to finance this, have you? :eek:
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I use a thumbs up on my M7. Not a joke at all; works very well.

Harry
 
LeicaTom said:
Ah, very good, thank you Sir for that good information, I have had some serious flaring on overcast Florida afternoons and the "low light" dim frames issue I have noticed indoors......but now that I have tried the 0.85 finder with 50mm's (my main lens of choice with the PinUp girls) I have noticed a great difference in being able to focus faster for hopefully sharper images, I don't think I would ever go back to using a 0.72 again.......

I have the BP VC Nokton f1.5/50 on the camera now, but I'm debating on weither or not I get the Canon f1.2/50 adjusted to this body and also maybe one of my "wartime" Sonnar T f1.5/50's or that Nikkor HC f2/50 I just bought, all are great shooters on film.

I can get the MP module installed by Don at DAG and also do the "stealth" parts at the same time, I've decided to keep the M4 style film advance, while I just don't see the MP/M3 advance being worth over $150 from Leica. - (staying in for a more classic BP M4 look + plus the Black Dot). :)

The BP Shutter Button Dish (New MP Part) and the "Black Out" film counter (Millennium BP Part) I think are all special order parts, that take up to 5 weeks to get to Leica NJ, so I will wait till after my rare 356 Porsche shoot in September, after I've collected the parts and then send the camera off for updates, while it would never make it back in time for the shoot still waiting on the parts etc.

Thanks

Tom
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Tom, when you say shutter button dish, are you referrring to the ring around the shutter button? If so, I don't think you'll find one in BP. I requested one for my BP ala carte M7 and they told me only black chrome. I emailed David Elwell and he confirmed that. Same for the hotshoe. But I do see those parts on ebay from seller tonaya (sp?). As for the Blacked Out film counter, I'd like to know more about that and if that part really is obtainable.

Nice M6 BTW...
 
wjlapier said:
Tom, when you say shutter button dish, are you referrring to the ring around the shutter button? If so, I don't think you'll find one in BP. I requested one for my BP ala carte M7 and they told me only black chrome. I emailed David Elwell and he confirmed that. Same for the hotshoe. But I do see those parts on ebay from seller tonaya (sp?). As for the Blacked Out film counter, I'd like to know more about that and if that part really is obtainable.

Nice M6 BTW...
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Hello Bill,

Yes, ask David Elwell about the "Black Out" film counter (Millennium BP Part) it's still on the books, I think it's like 2 or 3 parts and should cost less then $50, there is a 4 to 5 week waiting time the parts must come from Germany.

There's something involving a glued part within the counter, so Youxin told me he would not install it for me while it was too risky a job, that's why I'll let mine up to Don at DAG, I'm sure he's done a few of them already......

Ohh Bill, do you remember the price David quoted on the Black Chrome Shutter Button Ring?

Tom
 
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Yeah, I'm not much for the repaint stuff so thanks for the advice Robert.....I might go then with a Black Chrome one off a MP parts list, or just stay with the Chrome ring that's on the camera.

I'm pretty sold on the MP module for the 0.85 and the Swedish Press/Millennium BP styled "Black Out" film counter, was sold on that the moment I saw it on that 1958 Swedish Newspaper Leica M3 BP a few years ago....I always said, it I have a BP M body someday the Black counter goes into it :D

While I'm using my LHSA camera, I still want it to stay mostly all original, I think the Finder upgrade and the BP film counter aren't going to hurt the value and while I take care of it as much as I did one of the old IIIC K Grey paint shooters I usd to own, this camera will someday see patina/brassing, maybe not as fast as some pros do, but with age and more rolls it's bound to happen.
(I used a BC Wetzlar Classic M6 for like 15+ years and the only wear it had on it was the breakdown of the rear door paint and some rubs on the accessory-hot shoe, no body dents or scratches, I'm pretty good at holding cameras up with a close to Mint Minus or a EX++ condition/look even though I use them often).

I hope to shoot maybe 2 more rolls this coming weekend with that Nokton f1.5/50 and that new Nikkor HC f2/50 I just found ~ so far only one model has seen the new LHSA camera, but she though it was kool looking! :)

Enjoy!

Tom
 
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Tom,
David Elwell didn't quote me the price because my ala carte M7 came with the black chrome ring as well as black chrome hotshoe. The black frame counter is intriguing. I think my M7 might be getting one of those!
 
wjlapier said:
Tom,
David Elwell didn't quote me the price because my ala carte M7 came with the black chrome ring as well as black chrome hotshoe. The black frame counter is intriguing. I think my M7 might be getting one of those!
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Yeah, that will look really good on your M7 :)

I might just stay with the factory stock chrome ring that's on it now, I have a RFF Soft Release covering that up anyway.........

But, the 0.85/MP anti-flare module and the "Black Out" counter are going into the camera sometime after the first week of September.

Tom
 
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