I wanted an uncoated elmar...

[Melvin]

I wanted to experiment with an uncoated Elmar, and gave myself a budget of $125. Then I saw an auction for this:.

The bidding was at around $240. I reasoned if I spent twice what I wanted for the Elmar, I could get a nice camera too. To my surprise my bid of $256 won the auction. Anyway, here it is:

It needs an overhaul. There's a shallow dent on the bottom and the rangefinder image is faint. But all in all I think I did okay.

If any of you Barnack experts want to tell me anything about it, that would be much appreciated.

 

[rlouzan]

Looks like a Leica IId (1932 - 1948)

Codeword: LYCAN early black models/AIROO from 1934
Total Production (Black): 36.936

 

[Al Kaplan]

My guess is a I-A. It has no slow speed dial and it has the wide spaced range and viewfider eyepieces. I looks like the orignal vulcanite was replaced, probably with vinyl. If ypu unscrew that ribbed ppiece around the release button you can use a cable release with a "Leica nipple". The little lever in front of it lets you rewind the film. DO NOT TRUST THAT CASE AND STRAP! They don't get any more dried out than that one without turning to dust. The camera itself looks lightly used and pretty nice for 70+ year old camera.

 

[rlouzan]

Model II SN 86874 (made in 1932)

from Leica Pocket Book 5th Ed

 

[Solinar]

That's a nice looking II. You certainly got your money's worth. Enjoy.

 

[xayraa33]

nice camera, it has the after market shutter speed dial with the cam to activate a flash sync device that fit in the accessory shoe.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I looks like the orignal vulcanite was replaced, probably with vinyl.

It is clear mr. Kaplan doesn't know much about Leicas. The vulcanite is OK for the period. The camera looks very good. It's from 1932. It is worth to be CLA'd. Give it in the hands of a true specialist who has the parts - or who can make the parts himself - to restore the rangefinder. CRR, Luton, England can do this really good. The camera is worth the effort.
The aftermarket ring on the speed dial is very rare. I've never seen it before. I myself would remove it but keep it as a rare accessory.

Erik.

 

[John Shriver]

I'm jealous. Great deal.

If you don't have the matching flash sync contact that goes in the accessory shoe, the extra ring on the shutter speed dial is superfluous. Since the mass of the shutter speed dial affects the shutter speed, you need to decide before the upcoming CLA whether you want the extra dial on or off. I'd want it off, since the chrome clashes with all the other nickel-plated bright-work.

 

[LeicaTom]

Dammm $256 for a nice lil ALL ORIGINAL Leica II that`s a deal if I ever saw one, that`s the price of them like 20 years ago in Germany! 🙂
(hmm I guess prices on the older Black bodies are down, clean ones are normally way over $450 now) - Maybe I should look and see if I can find a clean Black III body for my 36' Xenon 🙂 (I`m crazy I don`t need anymore old Leicas!) 😉

Good Buy, all that needs is a CLA, I`d suggest Youxin Ye (near Boston) he`s got great prices and does great work, ohh and have them also remove that gaudy/tacky flash sync ring from the speed dial too!

Happy Shooting, welcome to the crazy world of vintage Leica`s 😀

Tom

 

[john neal]

Melvin,

Nice find! I have one from within a couple of hundred of that serial. It would seem they are known as the "lavatory seat" II. This is due to the radius of the RF housing below the speed knob - it's a true radius, rather than the ellipe of later bodies. The lens serial checks out as 1932 too.

I would agree with Erik that the vulcanite looks right for the period, and in good condition, mine has a big hole in the front where a flash connection was removed. it also has a definite green cast to the RF window that really helps contrast - does yours? (I have a later one from 1933 that does not).

This is my regular pocket camera and goes justa bout everywhere with me. I get great result is B&W with the Elmar and in colour with a couple of Voigtlander lenses (25mm and 35mm). I find I pick this up more often than my MP. I would recommend a CLA and regular use.

 

[Dralowid]

The ring on the shutter dial is, I think, part of an old falsh sync that uses the dial and shoe. Not a Leitz one ...can't remember the name of the most popular one.

Nice to see an 11 o'clock Elmar with a serial number...

Very nice camera and a good buy.

Michael

 

[Melvin]

Thanks for all the responses. I was wondering about the shutter dial. I will have it replaced with an original when i have it overhauled.

John Neal---the front glass on the rangefinder window is yellow, like a yellow filter.

I just ran a roll of film through it, even though most of the shutter speeds are hanging up, just to check for light leaks and holes in the curtains, and basic functioning and structural integrity. No light leaks, no pinholes. The only thing strange is that the images are off center on the film, so that the frames run across the sprocket holes a bit.

 

[jolefler]

Off Center?....

Off Center?....

Probably used a modern 35 cassette in it, eh? If you load the old FILCA cassettes, or shim a modern cassette, you'll be fine

Jo

 

[Erik van Straten]

The only thing strange is that the images are off center on the film, so that the frames run across the sprocket holes a bit.

Just glue a small felt ring on the inside of the bottom lid closing key of the bottomplate. This pushes up the filmcassette 1 or 2 millimetres. Do use a type of glue that is easely removed, no "crazy glue" or "seconds glue", for you don't want to damage the camera. Use felt, not rubber or anything else.

Erik.

 

[john neal]

-the front glass on the rangefinder window is yellow, like a yellow filter.

Melvin,

Thanks for the feedback - I have a theory that the ones made in 1932 had a colour to the RF window, while 1933 onward did not. For me, it makes the RF so much easier to use.

Don't worry about the cassette sagging a litle in the bdy - they all do that. As Erik suggests, you can support a modern cassette with a felt ring if you feel the need. One or two of us actually like the sprockets showing at the bottom of a print 😉

 

[Al Kaplan]

I've never seen that exact ring on a shutter speed dial but where was a synchronizer called a Geiss Kontakt that had one part that fit on the dial, another part in the shoe. It came in a small red bakelite contaner with the instruction sheet. I had one for my III-CK.

 

[john neal]

Al,

I still have a Geiss, but mine is a shallow cup that fits over the top of the speed knob. One day i will find the instructions somewhare on the web and give it a try.

 

[Melvin]

After being initially unimpressed, I've been using this lens, which has some scratches and haze, with Fuji Neopan 1600. I think the Elmar really sings stopped way down to F11-f16. Here are a couple samples. For some reason when I upload the images to Flickr I lose some shadow detail. Does anyone know why that is. Here you go:

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Shots look sharp and without grain... Were those Neopan1600 handheld? Scanned from negative or printed first? Any sharpening?

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

No one's mentioned the lens and the serial number is within 26,000 of the start of the known 1933 lens no's. So it could be 1932 or perhaps late 1931 as I guess we'd all be guessing the production figures for pre-1933. My oldest Elmar is 4,000 before 1933 so it's fairly safe to say 1932.

But I'm usually wrong. Has any one any better figures?

I'm jealous btw. And I'll go along with the others who've suggested a service.

I'll add that they seem to be giving the old loadable cassettes away on ebay, judging by the prices of the few that have sold. But they can't be used with the felt ring in place. Best, imo, to put felt rings on the modern cassettes as the black paint/whatever can be brittle and flake off of the camera.

Regards, David