Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Or, for those of us who prefer cats over people, the late Mr. B.Why, Oskar! Of course!!
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hap
Well-known
My black paint II with chrome knobs does not have a VF mod. However, I have a III which is nice. As much as I like the II, at my age the III is better.I have one! A black paint one with chrome furniture, a post war modification.
The IIIc and IIIF have magnification operation via a lever underneath the rewind knob.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
That's not "magnification". That's for focusing the rangefinder - it's a diopter adjustment.The IIIc and IIIF have magnification operation via a lever underneath the rewind knob.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
There are II's with 1:1 focusing, usually post war re-mades.My black paint II with chrome knobs does not have a VF mod. However, I have a III which is nice. As much as I like the II, at my age the III is better.
The IIIc and IIIF have magnification operation via a lever underneath the rewind knob.
Dralowid
Michael
So...would it be correct to say that any camera that has diopter adjustment also has rangefinder magnification and any camera without diopter adjustment (like an unmodified II) doesn't have rangefinder magnification?
Erik van Straten
Veteran
No, they don't. The lever underneath the rewind knob does not change the magnification, it only focuses the rangefinder for the human eye that is looking through it. The magnification of the rangefinder on the III, IIIc, IIIf and IIIg is always 1.5x.The IIIc and IIIF have magnification operation via a lever underneath the rewind knob.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, because they are more rare. Film Leicas nowadays are collector items.Interesting finding from old price lists - chrome Leicas costs more then black models. And now black ones usually going for higher prices.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Just this afternoon looked at two black Leica IIs in two different shops. One had no diopter adjustment and when compared with a IIIc had less magnification. The other had a diopter adjustment and although I didn’t have a comparison it seemed 1.5x. The latter was a 78XXX so 1932 but it did not have the “O” on the mount and it did not have the back “window” so I think it had been back to the factory.So...would it be correct to say that any camera that has diopter adjustment also has rangefinder magnification and any camera without diopter adjustment (like an unmodified II) doesn't have rangefinder magnification?
Shac
Well-known
For what it's worth, I just looked at my II which has the rangefinder diopter lever and also my IIIc. To my yeye the image size in the viewfinders seemed about the same (i.e. no obvious differences), as did the rangefinder images. My II S/N is 829XX and has the "O" on the the mount.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
I think that this confirms what I saw. If you have the diopter it is 1.5x. The view through the non-diopter II was very different to the IIIc. The lack of the “O” may just mean the factory changed the mount. I will be able to say more as I bought it!For what it's worth, I just looked at my II which has the rangefinder diopter lever and also my IIIc. To my yeye the image size in the viewfinders seemed about the same (i.e. no obvious differences), as did the rangefinder images. My II S/N is 829XX and has the "O" on the the mount.
Attachments
Erik van Straten
Veteran
The first can be a post-war conversion from a Leica l into a Leica ll or from a Leica ll into a Leica ll "new style". Was the engraving on top old style or new style? Often the early II's had a yellow filter built into the rangefinder. Why nobody knows. I would choose (for a user) the second one.Just this afternoon looked at two black Leica IIs in two different shops. One had no diopter adjustment and when compared with a IIIc had less magnification. The other had a diopter adjustment and although I didn’t have a comparison it seemed 1.5x. The latter was a 78XXX so 1932 but it did not have the “O” on the mount and it did not have the back “window” so I think it had been back to the factory.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
hap
Well-known
I am corrected. Thank youNo, they don't. The lever underneath the rewind knob does not change the magnification, it only focuses the rangefinder for the human eye that is looking through it. The magnification of the rangefinder on the III, IIIc, IIIf and IIIg is always 1.5x.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
renguney
Member
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
gelatin silver print (heliar 50mm f2) leica m2
Amsterdam, 2024
...seems like a pretty loose definition of "Barnack" on a couple of these posts.M6 TTL 0.58 with Zeiss Biogon 35mm. HP5
renguney
Member
I'm so sorry I just saw the last post and shared it, it was my first post. I tried to delete it but I dont know how to....seems like a pretty loose definition of "Barnack" on a couple of these posts.
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
LOL. Don't sweat it too much. I applaud the impulse to share work of which you are proud. You'll get it right next time and we will look forward to seeing more from you. Excelsior!I'm so sorry I just saw the last post and shared it, it was my first post. I tried to delete it but I dont know how to.
renguney
Member
This is a ''Barnack'' picture. Taken with a black dial IIIF and a Voigtlander Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 lens
I don't remember the film stock really, but probably Fomapan 100.
Taken in Antalya, Turkey.
It's the only camera I use majorly, seenable in my profile picture. My everyday shooter IIIF for the last 3 years. My first film camera, and I adore it.

I don't remember the film stock really, but probably Fomapan 100.
Taken in Antalya, Turkey.
It's the only camera I use majorly, seenable in my profile picture. My everyday shooter IIIF for the last 3 years. My first film camera, and I adore it.

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