First time with a Barnack

What I love about the little IIIf is that it attracts little attention, and when it does, it is a happy and kind curiosity. - Charlie

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Yes the Barnacks are beautiful cameras especially the black paint ones with nice nickel knobs and I especially love the IIIf RD ST and the IIIG and all that but as users why bother? There are much better choices such as the M3 which costs about the same now and the M4 which cost about the same as a IIIG and even the Canon 7 is superior in operation and not to forget the Bessa R. I am the kind of guy who can adapt to any camera on the field. My fastest time for loading a Barnack is 35 seconds sitting down and 45 seconds standing up with the bottom plate between by teeth. I have four of them one with Tom A's Rapidwinder and yes they are cool and I feel good carrying them around but as shooters there are better choices. For starters anything other than a 50mm requires an external finder and even the 50mm can do with an external finder as well. Sorry for being so negative but to me it is about the lenses and not about the black box so I prefer to mount my Summar on the M3 or the Canon 7.
 
oh Hello Rayt
I will AGREE if its about lenses

I prefer the Selection for the 'M' body

My M2 loves the 50 lux & Cron
but i do find the Summar to be an Exceptional lens...The way it couples a Soft Glow & a Sharpness that is just Stellar
Its the only collapsible I will deal with otherwise collapsibles are too Fiddly
 
but the more I think about IT
Barnacks are Quite Special ...I really would find it difficult to part with my
painted blackt III / conversion IIIasync
Its size , compactness, retro Looks, and Fab shots it Takes...Whats Not to Love....😉
 
"Better choice" is a very subjective matter. For many people there are a many cameras "better" than M3 or Canon 7.

As everyday carrying camera, I really want small and thin package with 50mm focal length lens. IIIf RD or II with Elmar is perfect, and fits my needs "much better" than M Leica. And combined price I paid for IIIf RD and II is still lower than typical M3 you'd find.

For some people, full frame Canon DSLR is much better choice than M9. M7 is much better than M2.

For me, Barnack & Elmar is "much better" choice than my MP & Elmar-M when I commute.

"as users" is quite broad term here, don't you think? 😉


Superb shots, Helen. Looks like you are lovin that Ultron.
 
coelacanth said:
"Better choice" is a very subjective matter. For many people there are a many cameras "better" than M3 or Canon 7.

As everyday carrying camera, I really want small and thin package with 50mm focal length lens. IIIf RD or II with Elmar is perfect, and fits my needs "much better" than M Leica. And combined price I paid for IIIf RD and II is still lower than typical M3 you'd find.

For some people, full frame Canon DSLR is much better choice than M9. M7 is much better than M2.

For me, Barnack & Elmar is "much better" choice than my MP & Elmar-M when I commute.

"as users" is quite broad term here, don't you think? 😉


Superb shots, Helen. Looks like you are lovin that Ultron.
Click to expand...

Yes I get it. Very good come back but you knew what I was talking about. I didn't compare the IIIc to an M7 ok? Sometimes you get more out of a camera then purely utilitarian and the Barnacks fit that bill. An MG Midget can be more appealing than a Lexus at times. That black paint does look delicious with a nickel Summar!
 
Thank YOU Sug...
Everytime I see a Portrait I do of Eric
I think of YOU ...You once said 'Bad ass Eric' and It still makes me crack up !!!
 
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It is about the lenses and not about the black box so I prefer to mount my Summar on the M3 or the Canon 7.
Click to expand...

If it is about the lenses then I guess the shooter doesn't matter, right? From this perspective an M is only better if it's a bayonet lens and not screw mount. 😉
 
helenhill said:
well someone has to keep this Thread ALIVE....:angel:
Click to expand...

I cant help much more I only have so many pics on that 1st roll! Btw: "Spit" is a great one, Helen.

Sug, I'll go with your Barnack & Elmar 50 choice. It's still a pretty unique package. It's a handy little wide rig, too, that gives up little until you get into metered Ms. I would love a SA and CV 15mm...but, the little Elmar will always be special.

- Charlie
 
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