Platinum RF
Well-known
My SL2 need CLA (slow speed off, 1/2000 over exposure), however, my Nikon F2 never need any CLA.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Hmm. My Nikon F top speeds are a little slow ...
All cameras occasionally need service, depending upon use and the conditions they're kept in. Some more than others, that's all.
G
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Well. This thread cost me a little bit. But I think, no, I know this is the last equipment I'm buying for a good while to come.
Both Leicaflex SLs have been received. Both are in excellent cosmetic condition, the black one a bit nicer than the chrome one. Both are fully functional: no prism silvering loss, meters working and accurate, shutters sound good, no corrosion. Superb heft and feel to these cameras! I loved them from afar in 1971, now I'm happy to say they just feel right.
I acquired four lenses, and a fifth on the way. A 1965 Summicron 50 (single cam) that's in great shape optically and mechanically, but the focusing mount is a little stiff. (I'll warm it up with a light bulb and work it a bit, I think it's just got some lubricant that needs to be exercised). A 1971 Summilux 50 (perfect but for the engraving paint ... I'll need to get a little white lacquer and refill the engravings), a 1982 Summicron 90 (perfect!), and a 1986 Elmarit 135mm. The Elmarit 180/2.8 is on the way to me now.
I'm soo jazzed with this stuff. I can use these lenses on my GXR (or in the future, M) with an R to M adapter. The SLs themselves will see a lot of use.
Very very happy.
Now I truly have neither need nor desire for more gear, not for another year or two, modulo the minor accessory here and there. Things will be sold to prune down the distractions. Life is good, and getting better.
G
Both Leicaflex SLs have been received. Both are in excellent cosmetic condition, the black one a bit nicer than the chrome one. Both are fully functional: no prism silvering loss, meters working and accurate, shutters sound good, no corrosion. Superb heft and feel to these cameras! I loved them from afar in 1971, now I'm happy to say they just feel right.
I acquired four lenses, and a fifth on the way. A 1965 Summicron 50 (single cam) that's in great shape optically and mechanically, but the focusing mount is a little stiff. (I'll warm it up with a light bulb and work it a bit, I think it's just got some lubricant that needs to be exercised). A 1971 Summilux 50 (perfect but for the engraving paint ... I'll need to get a little white lacquer and refill the engravings), a 1982 Summicron 90 (perfect!), and a 1986 Elmarit 135mm. The Elmarit 180/2.8 is on the way to me now.
I'm soo jazzed with this stuff. I can use these lenses on my GXR (or in the future, M) with an R to M adapter. The SLs themselves will see a lot of use.
Very very happy.
Now I truly have neither need nor desire for more gear, not for another year or two, modulo the minor accessory here and there. Things will be sold to prune down the distractions. Life is good, and getting better.
G
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Nice! I've managed to acquire 4 of the SLs and an SL2 over the years myself. Very enjoyable cameras, and the lenses are great. But as you mentioned, what is it with the engraving paint they used? I don't think the M lenses had this problem.
Lawrence Sheperd
Well-known
Gotta' love these GAS-inducing threads! Just went to the 'bay and searched on SLs; each one with several active "watchers!" Couldn't be any of us......could it?
gbealnz
Well-known
Good on ya Godfrey, you'll love it/them.
I have two as well, but am selling the chrome one.
And I agree, the lenses can serve double duty, on the NEX in my case, as well as on the SL's.
Gary
I have two as well, but am selling the chrome one.
And I agree, the lenses can serve double duty, on the NEX in my case, as well as on the SL's.
Gary
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
Gotta' love these GAS-inducing threads! Just went to the 'bay and searched on SLs; each one with several active "watchers!" Couldn't be any of us......could it?
I've got a Black Paint SL2 on my watch list right now :angel:
Vickko
Veteran
arrrgghh.
Got my two SL's, one jammed one good.
The jammed one fixed up really well and quickly.
The good one died - the brass bushing at the sprocket spool came loose and jammed up the camera. Unfortunately it takes a lot of disassembly to get to it, and one thing lead to another and I can't put all the pieces back together again, yet.
sigh
So I paid for one good and one parts camera, but not the ones I expected.
I think the camera repair gods got a good laugh.
Got my two SL's, one jammed one good.
The jammed one fixed up really well and quickly.
The good one died - the brass bushing at the sprocket spool came loose and jammed up the camera. Unfortunately it takes a lot of disassembly to get to it, and one thing lead to another and I can't put all the pieces back together again, yet.
sigh
So I paid for one good and one parts camera, but not the ones I expected.
I think the camera repair gods got a good laugh.
Vickko
Veteran
And my god these must have been a bitch to assemble at the factory
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
I probably shouldn't advertise in these threads, but I have a very nice black chrome Leicaflex SL2 with Summicron R in the Classifieds at the moment.
Cheers,
Dez
Cheers,
Dez
Vickko
Veteran
I just completely reassembled my Leicaflex SL and it works. What a trip.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Epilogue - Leicaflex SL acquisition
Epilogue - Leicaflex SL acquisition
The San Jose Pride Festival was today. I decided to use it to test one of the Leicaflex SL bodies. Pulled out the chrome one and fitted the Summicron-R 90. Loaded it up with XP2 Super.
Oh my. And I do mean Oh my! My first shooting experience with an SL for real. What an awesome piece of equipment! The feel is amazing, it is carved from a solid block of metal. Easy to hold, controls perfectly placed, the viewfinder is shockingly good. Heavy, beautifully balanced.
The real shock came when I rewound the film. I've never felt a film rewind before that could so perfectly be described as "buttery smooth." All those precisely made and fitted rollers in the back and pressure plate area, the precision of the rewind shaft ... Whew, I'm stunned.
The lens is heavy, solid, and the focusing helicoid is very fine and smooth. If what I saw in the viewfinder is any indication, the lens lives up to its Leica reputation ... and price. The meter seemed right on the money.
I'll have the film processed in a day or two.
Having acquired my fantasy camera of forty years ago, I find it is actually significantly better than I imagined. That's a delight and a rare thing.
G
Epilogue - Leicaflex SL acquisition
The San Jose Pride Festival was today. I decided to use it to test one of the Leicaflex SL bodies. Pulled out the chrome one and fitted the Summicron-R 90. Loaded it up with XP2 Super.
Oh my. And I do mean Oh my! My first shooting experience with an SL for real. What an awesome piece of equipment! The feel is amazing, it is carved from a solid block of metal. Easy to hold, controls perfectly placed, the viewfinder is shockingly good. Heavy, beautifully balanced.
The real shock came when I rewound the film. I've never felt a film rewind before that could so perfectly be described as "buttery smooth." All those precisely made and fitted rollers in the back and pressure plate area, the precision of the rewind shaft ... Whew, I'm stunned.
The lens is heavy, solid, and the focusing helicoid is very fine and smooth. If what I saw in the viewfinder is any indication, the lens lives up to its Leica reputation ... and price. The meter seemed right on the money.
I'll have the film processed in a day or two.
Having acquired my fantasy camera of forty years ago, I find it is actually significantly better than I imagined. That's a delight and a rare thing.
G
m.galimathias
Member
[Resurrecting the thread]
Owning and using a couple of analog and digital M bodies, I find myself looking into a number of SLR classics recently.
Playing around with a F2 classic and F2AS, I've become attached to Nikon, however, I find that I miss the finesse of my Leicas when it comes to the feel and experience the Nikons provide.
Could buying one of the (relatively underpriced) Leicaflex SL bodies be the cure for that? I've briefly owned a used R4 10 years ago and enjoyed using it.
My fear is that the Leicaflexes will appear unnecessarily clunky, loud and heavy when compared to more contemporary models - or the M.
I am not planning to own a park of lenses and bodies - just one classic body plus a good 50mm lens ... ;-)
Owning and using a couple of analog and digital M bodies, I find myself looking into a number of SLR classics recently.
Playing around with a F2 classic and F2AS, I've become attached to Nikon, however, I find that I miss the finesse of my Leicas when it comes to the feel and experience the Nikons provide.
Could buying one of the (relatively underpriced) Leicaflex SL bodies be the cure for that? I've briefly owned a used R4 10 years ago and enjoyed using it.
My fear is that the Leicaflexes will appear unnecessarily clunky, loud and heavy when compared to more contemporary models - or the M.
I am not planning to own a park of lenses and bodies - just one classic body plus a good 50mm lens ... ;-)
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
The early ones like the SL are reasonably priced vs the SL 2
Just buy one with a 50mm Summicron and enjoy it as it is...like driving a 57 Chevy Belair...it is not a modern 2021 car and it is not sleek like a 356 Porsche but it still is a nicely made SLR and top of the pops in its time.
Once you get tired of it and want to move on to your next hobby item or acquisition you will not lose money on selling it if it is kept in good shape.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I own a Nikon F3P and love F2's.
Owning a black SL2-MOT kept me from buying a F2 again. No more F2 GAS.
Backstory on mine is that I bought it at Adorama. It was a shelf queen, but the prism was desilvering and the meter was dead. These issues were likely why it was not used for decades. BTW I bought it cheap.
Then I found for $200.00 at Adorama a donor camera that had a perfect prism and a working meter. I sent both bodies to Sherry and had her build me one camera from the two.
You should know that the door camera looked like it survived man a street fight. dented top plate and reliced. The lens mount was so worn it needed replacement.
Sherry also modded the camera so a modern battery is used.
I have a 50 Luv "E60." What a great lens. Another lens I want is the 100/2.8 Macro.
Cal
Owning a black SL2-MOT kept me from buying a F2 again. No more F2 GAS.
Backstory on mine is that I bought it at Adorama. It was a shelf queen, but the prism was desilvering and the meter was dead. These issues were likely why it was not used for decades. BTW I bought it cheap.
Then I found for $200.00 at Adorama a donor camera that had a perfect prism and a working meter. I sent both bodies to Sherry and had her build me one camera from the two.
You should know that the door camera looked like it survived man a street fight. dented top plate and reliced. The lens mount was so worn it needed replacement.
Sherry also modded the camera so a modern battery is used.
I have a 50 Luv "E60." What a great lens. Another lens I want is the 100/2.8 Macro.
Cal
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Almost the identical situation with me. Just replace the "F3" with "FE2" and we're "brothers from another mother"
I don't have any Leica R lenses, that makes it all much easier. Right?
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I have two Leicaflex SL’s which I’ve enjoyed using - the big bright uncluttered viewfinder is one of its best features. The shape of the camera and the haptics of the controls also make the camera enjoyable to use.
One thing to watch for is prism de-silvering - seen as brown spots in the finder.
Also, it’s been stated that the red lens release is fragile - one of my SL’s has it, the other one has a replacement silver metal release.
One thing to watch for is prism de-silvering - seen as brown spots in the finder.
Also, it’s been stated that the red lens release is fragile - one of my SL’s has it, the other one has a replacement silver metal release.
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Oh, Cal, I don’t know about that. I’m down to a Leicaflex SL, an SL2, two R8s, and a SoverWonged NikonF2AS, having sold my F6 in favor of the F2AS.
They are all different, and all equally good, with the differences on the spec sheets not having any consequence for me. The F2 feels every bit as wonderful as the Leicaflexes, which is saying a lot, and in no way a compromise relative to either the SL or SL2 (both of which are also different from each other, mostly due to the different stock viewfinders, but equally good which is why some prefer the SL to the SL2 regardless of any other differences.)
The metering on the F2AS is notably better than on either SL, though the SLs are more than adequate. The F2AS meter is better than the R8 meter, for that matter, though that’s a bit closer.
hap
Well-known
I feel your pain. I have the Nikons minus the F2. But, I have an SL2 and contemplating it's sale. Not because it is bad, it's not. Just have a herd and something has to go. Short list.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Woof! Very old thread indeed.
Hmm... digs around in cabinet ...Yes, I still have a Nikon F plain prism (1962 vintage, needed a complete overhaul) plus Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5 and Nikkor 28/2. Yes, I still have a Leicaflex SL (only the black one), plus an R6.2, and 15, 19, 28, 50, 60, 90, 135, and 180 lenses for it. Yes, still have Leica M4-2 and lenses from 10mm to 135mm for it.
I have a roll of TX135-36 that I loaded into my Minox 35GT-E somewhere late in 2019. I'm on frame 19 so far. That's all the 35mm I've shot since I loaded that camera, and was the first load of 35mm I'd put into a camera for a year prior to that.
Seems when I want to shoot film nowadays, I usually want to shoot medium format or Polaroid. But I still love the Leicaflex SL ... It's just a beautiful camera to hold and use.
Perhaps I should load up a roll and shoot it...
G
Hmm... digs around in cabinet ...Yes, I still have a Nikon F plain prism (1962 vintage, needed a complete overhaul) plus Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5 and Nikkor 28/2. Yes, I still have a Leicaflex SL (only the black one), plus an R6.2, and 15, 19, 28, 50, 60, 90, 135, and 180 lenses for it. Yes, still have Leica M4-2 and lenses from 10mm to 135mm for it.
I have a roll of TX135-36 that I loaded into my Minox 35GT-E somewhere late in 2019. I'm on frame 19 so far. That's all the 35mm I've shot since I loaded that camera, and was the first load of 35mm I'd put into a camera for a year prior to that.
Seems when I want to shoot film nowadays, I usually want to shoot medium format or Polaroid. But I still love the Leicaflex SL ... It's just a beautiful camera to hold and use.
Perhaps I should load up a roll and shoot it...
G