Fell in love with a Leica today.

Just start off slow. Get a working body, add a 50mm f1.8 Canon lens and go from there. The money you save getting the canon lens could be put towards a 90mm Elmar. They are a pretty good bargain.
 
My first Leica is the M3. What impressed me most was the shutter, smooth as butter and magic to the ear. Forewarned that when you Leica, you will Leica all the way; there is no turning back. My opinion is if you were to buy the IIIc (f) or any other vintage Leica model, buy a LEICA lens of the same vintage, preferably the 50mm Elmar, for the total feel.
 
The IIIc is a delightful camera. If that's what you've fallen for, just save up and get a good clean one. A period-consistent Leica Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 lens is a beautiful match to it. They're not too horrendously expensive if you buy right, but be willing to pay extra for one that has been recently serviced if you plan to use it a lot.

G
 
Hi,

If I was starting out again and knew what I know now I'd start with a model II (classic) and a Summitar or Elmar. Then go for a IIIc body. This gives a classic and usable body and a classic and usable lens and you can get the body and lens in the same year (or lens a year older) for an authentic outfit for either the II (uncoated) or the IIIc (coated). It means sharing the lens with both bodies but so what.

Worry about wide angle when you've bought the M2 or M4 or M6 body. Then there's the CL and M5 route to explore...

Have fun and be patient and they will all turn up at prices you can afford.

Regards, David
 
David's advice is excellent. I did the same when the RF bug hit me two years ago. Only difference was that I went for the first version of IIIf (the black dial) instead of the IIIc: they are very close, but I read film loading is a bit easier with the IIIf. There are some things you have to get used to:such as remembering to advance the film BEFORE you change shutter speed, living through finger cramps from rewinding, dealing with an external light meter or learning the sunny 16 system, and mastering film loading. It's taken me a year and half to develop some competence loading the camera and I would hate to have to do it standing up outside.

Lens: I agree about the Elmar 50/3.5. Small, incredibly light , collapsible and very good. I tell you -- a IIIc or IIIf with an Elmar is the most portable camera conceivable. I carry my combo everywhere.

So far I have avoided the Ms, partly because I also have a Bessa T camera (Voigtlander) that I like and want to keep using, but also by channeling my addiction away from more cameras and into acquiring lenses--old Leica or Canon and new Voigtlanders. Wait until to you get the great Voigtlander wide angles!
 
You realize that the 50mm Summarit SM will mount on an M with an adapter. Let us know the outcome. The only serious issue or drawback with those cameras is the metal viewfinder that easily scratches eyeglasses.
 
swoop said:
Leica's are hit and miss. Some people instantly fall for them and others just can't seem to grasp why they exist.
Click to expand...
I belong to the first group. 😱

Go back and ask for a price. If it's halfway reasonable, go for it!

Money is losing value when put an a bank account. The Leica will be fun!
 
I fell in love with the idea of a Leica 7 years ago, and held an M7 with 50 Summilux ASPH 3 years later. Not a day goes by without me thinking about selling all my equipment and running away with a Leica. If you're seriously thinking about picking up a model III (or whatever you decide), I say go for it, and do it right.
 
No Leica, but I have a Canon IIS2 which is an awfully nice Barnack copy. The feel of everything is very nice. Lovely to use.

But loading film into the thing might cure you of the bug. maybe, just maybe.
 
hahaha another sucker like me! Whatever you do dont start collecting all of the Leica related paraphenalia like accessory viewfinders, filters, winder attachments, etc etc etc. I have a wonderful big book on these in all their wonderful chrome, german glory and found its much cheaper to pay $100 for a large coffee table book about Leica accessories than it is to start buying them. Problem is, it hasn't
 
My entry drug was a Leica M2, which I still have and love to shoot with. But I moved on to a IIIc, which in its own way is a wonderful little shooter if you can live with the idiosyncracies (I can and do). I also acquired an M4-2 along the way, so you're on a slippery slope...

As others have said, a IIIc with a 50 Elmar is a great and compact shooting combination. The Barnack Leicas also balance well with the little CV Skopar 50/2.5, if you want a modern glass option. Either way, you'll have a quality shooter that will easily slip into a coat pocket. If you get a Barnack, budget for a CLA...
 
traveler_101 said:
remembering to advance the film BEFORE you change shutter speed
Click to expand...

On my II(D) it feels as if the dial "struggles" or "opposes" turning if the film isn't wound - could it damage gears or such inside by lifting-turning the dial with the film unwound?

I've thought about whether to get another Barnack but to me this camera is perfect. So far I've not often felt the need for 1/1000 or even sub-1/20. I like that the RF and VF windows are a bit apart because it makes it easier to look in the right one when I lift the camera to my eye, and I like that the body is very small. It's something very special using a camera which performs accurately in its 9th decade. And the sound of the shutter is really delightful.

Edit: I do agree re the Summitar. It is a very nice lens. The collapsible Summicron has been on my radar a bit but I've so far not gone for it because I like what the Summitar gives. Some say they don't like the colour-rendition of the Summitar but I find it is really quite good.

On the issue of film loading, I took the liberty of making a video not long ago about how I do it using a card. I know there are people with strong opinions about this but for me and my camera this works very well.

http://articles.philipus.com/how-i-load-a-barnack-camera/
 
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