buy, sell, hold?

[atelier7]

Hi, i'd like your advice and feedback on whether I should hold my current camera, sell it or buy something else.

i've got a leica IIIC and summitar, and a J8 lens with it.
other camera i've got is a canon a610 digicam with a reasonble degree of manual control.

I don't bring the IIIC out as much as i'd like, particularly when i'm out with my spouse or with friends just because i don't want to be "anti-social"... not saying that photographers are anti-social. just that i'm really slow with the barnack for the various reasons below:

1. no built in meter (i fumble with a handheld old sekonic meter)
2. the collapsible lens is not as convenient and doesn't save that much space anyway. no click stops means i tend to accidentally change aperture easily.
3. viewfinder is small, blocked by lens and rf patch is difficult to see.

some people have suggested in the past to use the sunny 16 rule, and hyperfocal. i'm still trying to put that into practice.

been tempted many times to sell it for a bessa r with 35mm lens.
i had one before i got this and it was heaps easier to use.
but it's just not the same solid feel you get from an old barnack.
and bessas don't retain their price like and old leica does.

so what do you suggest i do? keep plugging away with the IIIC?
i'd really like to keep the IIIC than to sell it away.
but there's little left in the camera kitty to fund another camera.
is there much difference between a J8 and summitar? perhaps I could also sell the J8 or should i just keep it as a spare lens?

is there a camera i could find for under $30 that would meet the following criteria?

I'm thinking maybe the following attributes would result in a complementary camera to the IIIC.

1. Auto-exposure
2. very compact and not as heavy as the IIIC
3. wider than 50mm

i guess i just want something that isn't all auto, but speeds things up a little.
i had a GAF memo or something before and i'm thinking something like that maybe?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

You talk about "plugging away" with your Barnack camera... You don't love it enough. Sell it.

On the other hand... what kind of friends do you have that would make fun of your having a very nice, old, reliable camera like the Leica? Have you tried them? Give them a chance! That camera would be a great conversation piece, and if they are as thoughtful as you, they won't ridicule you for using "an old camera."

As for a film companion like the one you describe... the first that comes to mind is the Canonet G-III QL17 (40mm f1.7 lens, AE, shutter priority, very small and pocketable). Only drawback: it will run you more than $30. Otherwise, join the Olympus Epic club and buy one of those P&S. They have a nice 35mm lens and don't sell for a lot, but their viewfinders are dim...

Good luck with your predicament! 🙂

 

[ferider]

I know how you feel. I started with a iiif.

(1) You can either slowly upgrade yourself via Bessa R, R[23]*, etc ....

(2) ... or just go ahead and buy yourself an M6 or similar right away.

(1) is more fun but more expensive !

The real fun starts when you consider lenses ...

Roland.

 

[ray_g]

The GAF sounds about right. Other options in that price range may (if you keep an eye out) include the Yashica GSN, Olympus RC, Konica Auto S2, Konica C35 etc.

 

[los]

canon p or v series w/ 35mm. inexpensive, great build quality. light meters, slightmeters. also, everytime i get GAS, i make large prints of the good pictures. those inspire. it ain't the camera, it's the cameraman.

 

[cjm]

Go for an XA2. Small, compact, scale focusing, 35mm (wider than 50mm), sharp lens, $40 or less.
Although it's only got a f3.5, if you can live with a flash on your "auto" camera, this would work.

I've got one to use instead of my meter less Zorki 4k when I'm not feeling like using sunny-16, or being anti-social by fiddling with my camera instead of enjoying someone's company. I know exactly what you mean.

 

[atelier7]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I've decided that as nice as the leica IIIC is, it simply isn't working out for me.

Have put it in the classifieds.

 

[atelier7]

I bought a canonet GIII from another RFFer as suggested here by francisco. will see how it goes. meanwhile, my summitar is on its way to triplefinger.

i feel somewhat bad separating the summitar and IIIC which have probably been together for 50 yrs? and come to think of it, i really liked the results of that lens. the new thread on "which lens do u regret selling" certainly isn't helping!

anyhow, i'm just rambling here... but it seems prices of barnacks have come down? no one is interested in my IIIc. maybe a flow on effect from what seems to me, a drop in prices in used CL/CLEs , Leica Ms.... quite a few ads in our classifieds lately with very reasonable prices. wonder what's driving the price down? the new CV cameras? or the M8?

anyhow, i'll take it as a sign to keep the IIIC. now i have the issue of what lens to get! thinking of an elmar 5cm (is it smaller than the summitar and will not block the VF?) or maybe a new CV wide.

What's the going price on a summaron? does it get good results?

anyone have a particular CV wide they like? the cv21 looks really tiny. though i'd have to get an external vf.

maybe i should save the $ and get a good J12?

ah... decisions decisions... it's fun to get new gear and play around with it.
just wish it wasn't so expensive! i seem to buy high and sell low. ok, maybe the lack of response to my IIIc ad suggests my price is too high.... but that's what i'm saying - i probably paid way too much.

oh well. be interested in any recommendations for a lens for the IIIc. thanks.