Black Leica II = tactile ?

[dee]

I had not considered it before , but have just picked up one of my beautifully , gently brassed black and nickel Leica II .

The black finish is warmer , soft , tactile unlike the sharper edges of the Leica IIIc .

Visually , of course , black and nickel is a more gentle finish , but I have just noticed how paint alters the handling ...

rush to my Minolta SRTs - same effect !

 

[Calzone]

The old black paint Barnacks are wonderfully beautiful.

Currently I own a 1938 black paint Leica II with chrome knobs with only slight brassing that needs a CLA.

Had a 1934/1935 black paint Leica III with nickel knobs that had lots of brassing, even the knobs were brassed from decades of use, but I lost this beauty in a trade with an art dealer friend. I felt like I was day trading cameras because I didn't own the Leica III long enough to even put any film through it.

I got the Leica II back from a friend who sold it back to me. I like it best because of its smaller size when compared to other LTM Leicas. Also because a Leica II lacks strap lugs it becomes more tactile because it has to be carried in the hand.

Cal

 

[-Nash-]

Oh man I used to have one! 🙁

Damn housing repairs...its off in Japan somewhere. 🙁

The more brassed it is, the more important it is to keep a hold of it.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Hey guys.
Sorry for self promotion, but I have black paint III for sale here, in case someone wants to be a little less tactile:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...-21-21-black-paint-leica-iii-and-lenses/cat/2

I like using it very much, but it has to go, due to higher than expected home repair cost. 🙁

 

[philipus]

I agree - the paint on my II is much more silky than my M4 for instance.

 

[Dez]

They are beautiful cameras indeed, but I am almost afraid to use mine for fear of scuffing the paint.

This one is from the first production batch of model II's, in 1932. One thing very strange is that there is no nickel plating on the barrel of the lens, and no sign that there ever was any, as there is no sign of plating in areas where there would be no wear. I have never been able to figure that out.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Davidhel]

My II & III are both well beyond any collectible state!


Melbourne CBD - The equipment by David Helmore, on Flickr

 

[Dralowid]

IMG_1193 by dralowid, on Flickr

Indeed, the black II is a most tactile camera and bears the scars of age and misuse well!

 

[johannielscom]

Leica II from first 1,000 in 1932. With a feet-scaled nickel, unnumbered, 11 0'clock, no-lock Elmar 50/3.5.​

I have a Argus lens hood for it that screws unto the front and has room for drop-in filters, really nice addition to the set. Also, six KASAM film cassettes that specifically fit the Leica standard and early Leica II's.

 

[philipus]

Here's my II, originally a I from '31, with a 1934 Elmar, still going strong.