Anyone here prefer the Leica II?

[George Mann]

I am drawn to it more than the others. Anyone here prefer it over the later models.

Do you use external finders? If so, which ones?

 

[bgetty]

Yep, it's one of my go-tos for daytime shooting with 400 ISO film (no need for slow shutter speeds). I've had the IIIc and IIIf and didn't really like fiddling with the slow speed dial. The II feels less ornamented and more straightforward.

I use mine with a LTM Color-Skopar 35mm with the Leitz finder (SBLOO?) and 50mm Industar-22 3.5mm/Canon 50 mm 1.4 LTM with the SBOOI.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I am drawn to it more than the others. Anyone here prefer it over the later models.

Do you use external finders? If so, which ones?

George I used a '35 iii black, 21/28/35/50 external finders. The finders are clear with nice edges...make composing a dream.

the Voigtlander 35 finders are very nice & smaller than the SBL00

unnamed by , on Flickr

IMG_6778 by , on Flickr

unnamed by , on Flickr

The 28/35 is lovely in theory (tiny) but hard to use w/ glasses effectively
9EB8DA3E-FF97-4451-AAAA-D2029B5BA40C by , on Flickr

I even use external finders on my M especially for fast work

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I have a couple of early Leica II cameras, but my preference does go to the III series, the wartime IIIc specifically with the redesigned viewfinder/rangefinder layout.

 

[Erik van Straten]

My preference goes to the Leica III black/nickel. It has the enlarged rangefinder image and somehow the camera feels more solid. It has strap lugs , but I prefer to walk around with it in an eveready case without nose. It is black, so less obtrusive. I feel that the finder is more precise too, but I always prefer using Barnacks with a SBOOI.


Erik.

 

[George Mann]

I am looking to buy a coated Elmar for it. What is a fair price for one in decent shape?

 

[Richard G]

What I like a lot about my little II is no strap lugs. Makes it very easy to fit in a pocket having no strap. Mine has an 11 o'clock Nickel Elmar.

 

[Ambro51]

What I hated about my II was no strap lugs. The day of the hulking leather cowhide full case is Over. Nothing screams vintage like a thin leather strap! To me, all LTMs with the built in rangefinder are pretty much the same “camera”. I do see value climbs of tge II vs later models, especially black. I like the VIDOM finder, bought a hazy one for a song and cleaned it. Beautiful piece of engineering and a great visual accompaniment to a II.

 

[Ambro51]

And what I hate about spell check it cannot figure out “tge” is supposed to be “the”. Ugh, the things that pi’s you off age 65! 🙂

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I am drawn to it more than the others. Anyone here prefer it over the later models.

Do you use external finders? If so, which ones?

Hello George, welcome to the forum. I’ve enjoyed your contributions over at Photrio.
Not having a ii, I cannot comment on that as my earliest is a iiib, having just let my iiia go.

 

[Livesteamer]

I am 63 and my eyes prefer the II finder. Having said that, my most used camera is a wartime IIIc because it is perhaps more robust and has been very reliable. Another factor is that my II is a very lovely, early black camera and I don't want to put much wear on it. I would like to get a good user chrome II someday. Joe

 

[Dralowid]

The early II has a tinted rangefinder that helps but it is 1:1.

The III has an enlarged rangefinder but no tint.

I'm biased, I have been using the same III since 1965.