Black paint LEICAFLEX SL
- Thread starter nobbylon
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nobbylon
Veteran
thx again all. I've officially retired now so hopefully off to Kuala Lumpur and then NZ in a couple of weeks and then Holi (festival of colour) in Mumbai from 24th March. I know it's a lot of stuff to carry but I'll be taking this SL and the 35 and 60 with me as well as a D700/24-70 combo. This year I've decided to travel a bit instead of watching old inspector morse episodes!
raid
Dad Photographer
Congratulations on getting such a wonderful camera.
FrankS
Registered User
An applaudable decision!
fbf
Well-known
Is it really blackpaint? I thought the SL and SL2 are made in black chrome?
Also the red plastic release need to be changed for long term use. Not a very good design by leica.
Also the red plastic release need to be changed for long term use. Not a very good design by leica.
nobbylon
Veteran
Yes it's really paint. Early SL's and SLmot's along with original Leicaflex were painted. To my knowledge the SL2 series were either black chrome or silver chrome. Later SL's were black chrome.
With regard to the red tab, this one looks new and to preserve originality I'll leave what's not broken alone. It's a simple job if it's required,
regards john
nobbylon
Veteran
One problem turned up today with this SL in that the back latch was not locking. For those unfamiliar it has a button on the latch which needs to be pressed before the latch will slide upwards. This one would slide up anyway risking inadvertent opening if the latch was pushed in the bag etc.
I decided to try and fix so took the back of of the camera, similar to M's and then removing the latch by unscrewing the 2 slotted screws. There are 11 parts for this latch alone and no wonder it cost so much to produce!
With a little patience I dismantled it, if you need to do this yourself then be carefull the main spring doesn't ping out! It did on me but I was lucky and found it. After cleaning the parts I worked out that the central spring which is a flat piece of steel with a slight curve was not curved enough and therefore not holding the mechanism together tight enough. A quick bend and a slow rebuild has the catch now operating correctly. Sorry for the lengthy post but thought it would help if someone else has this problem.
I decided to try and fix so took the back of of the camera, similar to M's and then removing the latch by unscrewing the 2 slotted screws. There are 11 parts for this latch alone and no wonder it cost so much to produce!
With a little patience I dismantled it, if you need to do this yourself then be carefull the main spring doesn't ping out! It did on me but I was lucky and found it. After cleaning the parts I worked out that the central spring which is a flat piece of steel with a slight curve was not curved enough and therefore not holding the mechanism together tight enough. A quick bend and a slow rebuild has the catch now operating correctly. Sorry for the lengthy post but thought it would help if someone else has this problem.
sc_rufctr
Leica nuts
Good news on the catch...
I've always loved all of the the Leica SLRs. My own R8 is still mint and works as it did out of the factory. It's an early German made one and I've never had a problem with it.
I don't know why they are so disliked. I would guess that most people who put the R8/9 down have never actually used one 🙄
Anyways... Have fun with your beauty.
I've always loved all of the the Leica SLRs. My own R8 is still mint and works as it did out of the factory. It's an early German made one and I've never had a problem with it.
I don't know why they are so disliked. I would guess that most people who put the R8/9 down have never actually used one 🙄
Anyways... Have fun with your beauty.
Wouter
Well-known
I'm buying into it. Came upon a black chrome SL2 and 50mm Summilux and just couldn't resist. I've always admired these cameras but never really owned or used one.
How's the lux R 50 being regarded?
How's the lux R 50 being regarded?
steveyork
Well-known
I now have five SL's (including one in BP). Is that what you call a 'gaggle' of cameras? Still only two hands though. Something not so right about that ratio.
Seriously, I don't understand why these are not more popular. Probably because they look so darn ugly. The viewfinder on these old cameras, if in good shape, blows away those grainy R viewfinders (except for maybe the R8/9). Louder then an M, for sure, but quieter then most other mechanical SLRs.
Big yes, but an SL is smaller then an M5, so they're not that big, and actually the original Leicaflex is about the same size of an M. Anyway, less weight and size then a Nikon F/F2.
I believe lots of people talk badly about these cameras w/o ever using them. But if they were more popular, I wouldn't own five.
Seriously, I don't understand why these are not more popular. Probably because they look so darn ugly. The viewfinder on these old cameras, if in good shape, blows away those grainy R viewfinders (except for maybe the R8/9). Louder then an M, for sure, but quieter then most other mechanical SLRs.
Big yes, but an SL is smaller then an M5, so they're not that big, and actually the original Leicaflex is about the same size of an M. Anyway, less weight and size then a Nikon F/F2.
I believe lots of people talk badly about these cameras w/o ever using them. But if they were more popular, I wouldn't own five.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I finally own one of these. I lusted after one of these for years, upon seeing Ernst Haas' imagery in his book "The Creation". One of a few photo books my local public library owned that I repeatedly took out when I was a kid.
Mr.House
Member
Now, I am owner of a Leicaflex SL, I bought it two days ago. It doesn't look nice, but when I got it on my hands and I was looking through the viewfinder I made my decision to buy it. Compare to a Leica CL the Leicaflex is quite beast. I know, it is an unequal comparison. Well, it is also bigger than a Leica RE. I will try the camera for the next days. The Leicaflex is self explaining, simple and logical.
Frank Petronio
Well-known
I regret parting with mine many years ago... dumb dumb dumb
Congrats! Finding one with a good finder is the thing.... I think DAG still has metal film take up and lens release parts if you are using it.
Congrats! Finding one with a good finder is the thing.... I think DAG still has metal film take up and lens release parts if you are using it.
nobbylon
Veteran
I have mine with me at the moment for a few days in the UK with my parents. I've got my 35 summicron on it and along with the Nikon F3 and 50 f2 make a nice old school shooting set! They are both such nice cameras to shoot with.
burancap
Veteran
Great stuff. I recently passed on a paint SL and I regret it. I have a pair of the original Leicaflex and just adore that model. Truly an M3 SLR. The only gripe I have would be the "piece of Earth" weight. Oh, and maybe the lack of an easily accessible finder/prism. At current values, they are a steal.
mllanos1111
Well-known
Is the SL2 really worth the premium over SL? I hear the meter is more sensitive but I'm not sure how much better it can get.
nobbylon
Veteran
Personally I didn't think so and sold my SL2. They do retain their value though as they are scarcer than SL's. I also prefer the curved back on the SL. Meter on the SL2 is about 2 stops more sensitive in low light.
My SL's will meter down to 1/30th at f2 with 400 film.
My SL's will meter down to 1/30th at f2 with 400 film.
mllanos1111
Well-known
Lets see what happens, I just purchased a black SL2 from Adorama that was rated a V.
It was pretty cheap so I will see what it looks like when it arrives.
I'm not holding my breath that it will be pretty at all.
If it it just too ugly to bear I will send it back.
I love the black ones but the premium over silver is crazy.
On the SL2 you can also see the aperture is that correct? Any other difference?
It was pretty cheap so I will see what it looks like when it arrives.
I'm not holding my breath that it will be pretty at all.
If it it just too ugly to bear I will send it back.
I love the black ones but the premium over silver is crazy.
On the SL2 you can also see the aperture is that correct? Any other difference?
nobbylon
Veteran
button on prism for illuminator and a split center dot screen. I think the advance was a bit of a shorter throw than the SL.
mllanos1111
Well-known
I was wondering what that button was for. Well if I love the original Leicaflex I'm sure I'm going to love the others as well.
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