First Photos with Leica III and Elmar 50/3.5

R

Rich Silfver

Guest
I've been putting 3-4 rolls through this camera kit:
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and here are the first two test shots from the first roll.

Now, neither of the photos claim any artistic merits but I was personally pleasantly surprised by how well this 70+ year old camera and lens kit performed :)

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That's a very nice III you have and I like the black finish. (My III is chrome)

The two pictures you posted indicate that the old Elmar is still capable of first-class images. I'd like to see more.

Walker
 
Thanks. I forgot to mention that the film was Fuji Neopan 400 and the first of the test photos was taken with a yellow filter (same as is on the camera on the top photo).
 
I like the pics, I like the camera and the lens. 70 years on and they are still a great photographic tool. they got it right.
 
Sweet! What a fine classic camera and lens. Sometimes I think the frames from our test rolls are among our most successful. These are very nice.

Gene
 
I can fully endorse your choice of a Leica kit. I started with a similar kit 53 years ago and it still works. I've added a IIIf to my arsenal, and a few other lenses, but the starter kit is still the one to use for daily use. A picture of my camera is shown below.
 
Nick, I see you have it equipped with an OKARO, shutter release adapter and an SBOOI.
Nice kit :)
 
Nice kit and photos. I'll second the motion that the old 50 F3.5 Elmars are surprising performers even in this day and age. I had an uncoated one cleaned by DAG and love the results it gives.
 
Rich,
The OKARO and the soft release were on the camera when I found it. The Briteline finder is a real help to me since I must wear tri-focals. I also use an Imarect Finder with other lenses, but the Briteline is my favorite.
Jim N.
 
OldNick said:
Rich,
The OKARO and the soft release were on the camera when I found it. The Briteline finder is a real help to me since I must wear tri-focals. I also use an Imarect Finder with other lenses, but the Briteline is my favorite.
Jim N.
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Rich & OldNick,

I think you will find that the orange filter for the III/IIIa camera is called an ORAKO. The OKARO is a little larger and is made for the IIIF or IIIG. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

I have the IIIa with the Elmar R.S. 3.5 and I love it. I almost sold the lens recently and then came to my senses. With the VC35 and VC75, it's a great kit.

Best to you guy's with yours.

Nice photos.
 
FrankS said:
AGN, I think that may have been to me.

I wonder who came up with the Leica codes, eh?
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You're right Frank, you almost had it. Thanks for helping me with my indecision, or as you called it, my epiphany.

Yeah, the Leica codes are a study in themselves.

Art
 
FrankS said:
Include me as a Barnack camera user! (Leica IIIa)
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Frank, I believe you've had some good things to say about your IIIa in the past. No question about it; they're nice cameras.

I just won a IIIa yesterday. I hope to have it by week's end. It comes with a Summar and Summar shade, cut-out for the rangefinder. In profile it looks a little like a cow bell. The body and lens would appear to have been together from new as they both date to 1937 and the camera was supposedly purchased new in Hong Kong that year. I'm anxious to get it.

Now I need a war-time IIIc with the raised platform for the rewind lever and a IIIg to complete my collection of Leica models III. I'm afraid they'll have to wait awhile as both generally run pretty high...... especially the IIIg.

I just hope the new IIIa does as well as Rich's III.

Walker
 
Yep, at the moment, the IIIa or my CL with Elmar or FED lenses are my daily carry with everywhere cameras. They are both smaller and lighter than my M's.
 
Yes, very nice Richard.

The 3.5 Elmar looks great on an LTM Leica. A match made in heaven.
 
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