Dilemma

A

Ash

Selflessly Self-involved
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Oh no... I thought I was done for now!!


Clarence has a CL for sale, with non-working meter. I have a IIIc with a dim but usable rangefinder.

The CL costs less than I could sell the IIIc for (I'd hope).

The CRR rangefinder overhaul + service of the IIIc costs more than I'll afford in the foreseeable future.

I have a Leica Standard which I like to use on occasion, but rarely if ever pick up the IIIc. I pick up the Contax usuallly.



Do I try and sell the IIIc and get the CL??? Is it a wise choice??
 
the M mount on the CL is more versatile - opening up a broader range of lens options.

But beyond that - I don't see a huge benefit to going with the CL. Especially since the meter would need work anyway.
 
I think cameraquest has an essay on the CL and something about the repairability of that meter. Some cameras have unrepairable meters because the cells are no longer easily available.
 
CRR has written on his site that the meter can be repaired or replaced. Either way I work meterless the majority of the time. I have a hand-held Leningrad that does me fine.

The wider range of lenses was something I thought would be nice.


Anyone interested in a IIIc?? It cost me £180, I'm looking to get around that mark back on it.
Can provide images etc... somewhere is the original receipt from ffordes.com at £200 from Brian (who I bought the camera off last year)
 
Ash I thought your dilema was your new avatar :) I noticed too that Clarence had his CL for sael (pretty good price too), the CL is OK but it does feel rather small sometimes. I think you should stick with your IIIc and maybe get some new glass (or save for a nice trip abroad)
 
DMG, I'm not sure about my avatar either :D :D

As for lenses I have a Canon 50/1,8 and a Summicron 50/2 so I'm not keen on any new glass right now. I'd like a camera I can use right now, but the IIIc just sits there really :(
 
Ash, you could get a good Bessa R from Ffordes, with a year's guarentee for the likely proceeds from your III. Whilst it may go against RFF tradition, I don't see any point in replacing one imperfect camera with another. If practical photography is the goal, a single instrument one can fully trust is worth a shelf-load of "collectables".

Cheers, Ian
 
Ash it's a good self portrait (better than mine in my avatar). If that's the case get rid of the IIIc and get the CL (seeing as it's pretty cheap)
 
Hey Ian, that was one of the points I needed to weigh up. Problem is I don't really like the Bessa's... I do, but I don't. I can't explain it. I like the CT-1, but I don't use it much cos it's plastic.

DMG, thanks ;)
 
I say go for it - just because if you don't I probably will while my M2 and R2a are off for repairs.
 
Ash said:
Hey Ian, that was one of the points I needed to weigh up. Problem is I don't really like the Bessa's... I do, but I don't. I can't explain it. I like the CT-1, but I don't use it much cos it's plastic.

DMG, thanks ;)
Click to expand...

I know exactly how you feel Ash - I feel the same way about the Bessa. My Crr'd Leica has changed my whole approach to photography, because I know it works, and works superbly. But - if there is no realistic chance of a service in the near future, there's probably not much cash for additional lenses for the CL either, in which case it looks less tempting, IMHO. There are alternatives: A trustworthy Lynx 14 or similar would give you a splendid lens, good viewfinder, parallax correction and maybe £130 to spare. Maybe I've just bought too many broken cameras..... :)

Cheers, Ian
 
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Heh, Ian your advice is sound. I've tried and tried to raise the cash for the CRRifying
but fate has it that the money disappears before I can get enough to send the camera.

The IIIc is a beauty and I'd hate myself to sell it, but then if the CL suits me better, then I'll be more inclined to use it.

The overhaul won't be any time soon thanks to Swindon's ridiculous employment situation. Loads of jobs, no vacancies !!
 
if you think you will use the cl more often, of course it is a wise plan.
If you won't...it's just another GAS attack :D
 
Ya know, Ash, Oleg Khalyavin CLA'a Barnack Leica's at a REALLY good price and does a damn good job. I sent him my IIf and he replaced the shutter curtains, the beamsplitter mirror (which is why your RF is dim), and did a CLA for $74. That included shipping.
 
I'm not keen on understating the value of the IIIc so that it isn't stolen en-route. That's the only reason I don't want to send to Oleg
 
You know Ash. Here's my story. I have a Contax T2. It's my favorite camera of all time. I haven't shot a roll in it in probably 3-4 years, but I will NEVER get rid of it. I know the moment I do I will regret it. It's just my favorite camera and I love always knowing in the back of my mind that I have it!

If that's how you feel about the IIIc then I wouldn't sell.

On the other hand I have sold about 3-4 autofocus canon cameras. Three digitals and a film. I sold all of them at various times to upgrade and I have no problem at all now about those sales. I didn't love the cameras, they were just tools I used and when someting better came along I jumped.

Now that I have the M6. I have a feeling it will be just like the Contax. I don't think I will ever sell it.

It's up to you. If you think you might regret it, then don't sell. If it's just a tool and you don't care anything more about it, then move on to the next one.
 
Hi Chris,

I know that once I come into more money, I could easily buy another IIIc or a IIIf - even a IIIg. It's really about money and what is best right now. I do love the look and feel of the IIIc, but the Standard is just as nice, and really is 'the camera I'd never sell'.

As soon as the Contax II hit my fingers, it took precedence anyway. I don't think I'll regret the IIIc sale in the long run. I'm sure if I could buy a LC, and have it fixed in the future, it will be worth trading back for a barnack if I don't get on with it. Or even a stepping stone towards an M.
 
Well in that case since you seem to have thought it through, I'd go with the CL. I've never used one myself, but the ability to use M lenses would be nice. Even if you don't plan on buying any leica in the immediate future there are some of the CV lenses and so forth. And the newer, brighter combined viewfinder/rangefinder etc...
 
Well... I need to sell the IIIc first, unless I can sort something with Clarence first :)

On that note, he ought to get online before somone sends him more pm's wanting it before me!
 
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