Black-painted Barnack

[jmkelly]

While there are some great philosophical discussions going on right now about bokeh, and over the utility vs. desirability of certain fast lenses, I feel the need to indulge in pure gear for a moment.

For your consideration, my latest deliberate transmogrification of a classic camera:

Starting with a non-working IIIf RD, Youxin Ye handled the dissasssembly and re-assembly with an assist from Don Goldberg. Youxin replaced the shutter curtains and cleaned/adjusted the RF. I replaced the advance knob with a solid piece from a IIIc. Robert Jagitsch did his usual excellent job on the paint work, filling the engravings to my specs. I cut out and installed the black lizard skin cover. More pictures here.

The UC Hexanon makes a very tidy and attractive package on this body.

 

[payasam]

Pretty, but what does it do that is not, well, philosophical?

 

[jmkelly]

Mukul - it's gear, just gear. Something pretty to look at for those so inclined. Perhaps the use I make of it has philosophical implications, but I'm not the one to judge that.

 

[flip]

The UC Hexanon makes a very tidy and attractive package on this body.

I assume you have a matching black minifinder.

 

[Vickko]

Very nice. Personally, I would have wanted the top deck lettering filled-in too.

Vick

 

[robin a]

N-I-C-E !!.................Robin

 

[jmkelly]

Thanks, Robin. Phil - I'm shooting finder-less. I see the shot I want, take a step or so in, refocus, compose with point-of-interest nearer a corner of the frame, and shoot. Seems to work fine. But the Hexanon misses the R-D1, where it is truly brilliant. I have a black J-3 coming for this black Barnack.

 

[elshaneo]

Your camera is a great example where Black is Beautiful !!!

 

[roundg]

Very nice. Personally, I would have wanted the top deck lettering filled-in too.

Vick

can't agree more.

 

[jmkelly]

Very nice. Personally, I would have wanted the top deck lettering filled-in too.

can't agree more.

Yes, nothing quite screams "stealthy" as "Leica" in bright white against a black background 🙄. Actually I agree with both of you - I think Robert's black cameras with filled script look fantastic. But that's not what I wanted here - to each his own 🙂.

 

[dovevadar]

beauty beauty... Cant seem to find any of these Hex 35mm around anymore...

 

[flip]

beauty beauty... Cant seem to find any of these Hex 35mm around anymore...

You're not looking in the right places. They're being sold.

 

[adrianzg]

i think mine is pretty sexy.. 🙂

 

[Dralowid]

Can't say it is sexy but it is a useful bit of kit. Infill type on the top is in off white...all makes for a change.

Michael

 

[jmkelly]

I like the panda look, with the chrome working knobs. I asked for black on mine for that hint of brass that may show through after a couple hundred rolls.

 

[Dralowid]

On the subject of chrome knobs I had hoped to strip the chrome since I understood that there was a layer of nickel underneath and that would have given me more of the pre-war feel I was after.

However I'm told that this layer of nickel doesn't appear till later than this IIIc.

The gloss finish will, is supect wear much faster than yours which looks like a high quality powder coating...am I right?

Looking to elsewhere on this site I had also thought about doing a black Contax II...but chose to stay with Contax I which are black anyway...

Each to his own, and before anyone makes a comment, no, it doesn't make any damn difference to the pictures!!!

Michael

 

[jmkelly]

The gloss finish will, is supect wear much faster than yours which looks like a high quality powder coating...am I right?

Looking to elsewhere on this site I had also thought about doing a black Contax II...but chose to stay with Contax I which are black anyway...

Each to his own, and before anyone makes a comment, no, it doesn't make any damn difference to the pictures!!!

Michael

Robert may weigh in here with details, but no - this is not a powder-coat finish. But Robert did select his paints to be longer-wearing and to show less fingerprints than say, a Shintaro job. Not to knock Shintaro's work! - it is beautiful, but my cameras are definitely users (like my black Contax II 🙂) and I don't want to worry about that first ding.

And no - the esthetics of the camera don't make any difference to the pictures. Now, the 1937 Sonnar elements I'm sending off to Focal Point - those will make a difference (on the Contax, that is).