Barnack Leicas - why do people like them?

[raydm6]

Leica IIIf RDST w/5cm Summicron and SBOOI by rdc154, on Flickr

Leica IIIf RDST w/5cm Summicron, SBOOI, and Leicavit by rdc154, on Flickr

Leica IIIf RDST w/5cm Summicron, SBOOI and Leicavit by rdc154, on Flickr

 

[Erik van Straten]

I prefer the III, altough recently I aquired a IIIa. I was surprised that the IIIa is even quieter than an M2! I know that Michael has a - very rare - IIIa in black. Michael, is that camera also quieter than an M2?

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

Hello Erik,

I haven't got any Ms anymore but the IIIa you mention is easily the quietist of the ltm cameras I still have and certainly quieter than the M6 that I used to have, I can barely hear it. What is more the 1-20 timer is almost inaudible. The sound is deadened somehow.

I remember discussing this with the man who used to work on my cameras who was a master of low shutter tension. He couldn't offer a plausible explanation. It had previously belonged to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and came to us in poor condition.

Film is currently in the III, black/nickel of course, the one I have had since 1965.

Michael

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thank you, Michael!

Erik.

 

[cassel]

Hello Erik,

I haven't got any Ms anymore but the IIIa you mention is easily the quietist of the ltm cameras I still have and certainly quieter than the M6 that I used to have, I can barely hear it. What is more the 1-20 timer is almost inaudible. The sound is deadened somehow.

I remember discussing this with the man who used to work on my cameras who was a master of low shutter tension. He couldn't offer a plausible explanation. It had previously belonged to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and came to us in poor condition.

Film is currently in the III, black/nickel of course, the one I have had since 1965.

Michael

The black IIIa debate is interesting. Its seem a small block of serial numbers was set aside for them but they were not actually made. The black IIIa cameras out in the wild are conversions - either vintage factory converted or more modern jobs. At least this is what people have said/written down over the years.

I owned a black III with a 1/1000 shutter speed dial and a serial number from a Standard (if I remember correctly). No added sync - I think it was a factory conversion from Standard to III - not sure the dial was correct - seems like 500 and 1000 were both 500. It was stolen about 10 years ago... traumatic and terrible event - lots of stuff in our home was damaged and lots was stolen.

I like to imagine/hope/dream/wonder that it was a "real" IIIa in black - maybe I should look up the serial number again?

 

[johannielscom]

The Leica II has a 1:1 magnification rangefinder. You can focus it with both eyes open which makes it remarkably accurate!

It is my favorite Barnack, and the only Leica ever produced that can be focussed with both eyes open.

 

[Dralowid]

The black IIIa debate is interesting. Its seem a small block of serial numbers was set aside for them but they were not actually made. The black IIIa cameras out in the wild are conversions - either vintage factory converted or more modern jobs. At least this is what people have said/written down over the years.

Yes, you may have got that from me. The camera in question is indeed a prewar conversion of a camera in the 20,000 range.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Michael, one last question about that camera: do the long speeds have click-stops?

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

Erik,

It has click stops. I note that the only one I have that doesn't have click stops is a postwar IIIa syn. Is there a pattern in this?

For a long time the existence of a nickel shutter dial with 1/1000 on it puzzled me but then I realised that the Reporter had such a thing so there must have been a parts bin full of them.

However...I am told that if you strip the chrome off certain items of a certain age you will find a layer of nickel beneath. I haven't tried.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Dralowid: "For a long time the existence of a nickel shutter dial with 1/1000 on it puzzled me but then I realised that the Reporter had such a thing so there must have been a parts bin full of them."

I will look inside the screw mount of the speed dial of my IIIa to see if there is any nickel ...

I did and yes there is!

Maybe more chrome parts of the camera have an undercoat of nickel. I've read something like that too but that is many years ago.

Erik.

 

[teddy]

When I go bike riding or a hike - I take a Barnack. They are small and light. And the spirit of "Oscar Barnack" will inspire you to be a better photographer as you hold one.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

They are not just feel better to any made in Japan, they feel more solid, much less complicated than M.
And stupid hipsta crowd is avoiding them, so prices are for users, not kardashian like.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The earlier models, I, II, III and IIIa/IIIb are extremely solid and last forever. The IIIc, IIIf and IIIg are less tough. My favorite is the III in black/nickel.

Erik.

gelatin silver print (heliar classic 50mm f1.5) leica mp

 

[raid]

I have a IIIf and a Standard Leica. Both are very interesting cameras to me. If I had been a B&W film user, I would have stayed with such cameras. They are small and they work well.

 

[Dralowid]

Dralowid:

Maybe more chrome parts of the camera have an undercoat of nickel. I've read something like that too but that is many years ago.

Erik.

Yes but we found that this is not always the case on Post War IIIc s. I think prewar is a safe assumption.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Post war IIIc's are horrible. No ball bearings and an abysmal finish. From no. 400 000.

Erik.

 

[raid]

Are all IIIf models horrible too? I switched from a IIIc to a IIIf thinking that I was getting a better model.

 

[Erik van Straten]

No, the IIIf is much better, as far as I know. The IIIc was produced just after the war, but in huge numbers. The IIIf is in fact a IIIc but with flash synch. Much improved overall. The "red scale" (scale of synch numbers) IIIf (lighter shutter construction and different shutter speed sequence) was improved over the "black dial" IIIf.

Erik.

 

[raid]

I also have a Canon and a Tower 35 RF camera. Both look very nice.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have two Nikons S2. From time to time I use them. It is nice to use them when I want to use something else than my Leicas.

Erik.