I wanted an uncoated elmar...

[Luddite Frank]

Melvin,

Great buy !!!! Congratulations !

FWIW, I have a Leica F (black II), s/n 77xxx, also with the "11 o'clock" Elmar, s/n 99,xxx.
I bought mine in October 2007 from one of the established antique camera dealers, paying about three times what you won yours for.

Mine shows slightly more wear than your example, and does not like being taken-out in cold weather (shutter gums-up). It takes wonderful pictures, and is at the top of my CLA list, probably going to Sherry Krauter.

As for any color in the RF / VF windows, neither my F or two G Leicas have any tint to the windows; I slipped a small disc of amber theatrical gel into the bezel of the front RF window of hte F for additional contrast.

Heed the warning about not trusting old straps; the good thing about the early Barnack cases, is that the strap loops all the way under the case, as opposed to being rivetted-on; so if you find some suitable leather or nylon strapping, you can easily make-up a new strap.

Good luck with yours - enjoy using it !

Luddite Frank

 

[Roger Hicks]

Jammy so-and-so! AND you take pictures with it!

The first Leica I ever used, in about 1969, was a II conversion (from a Standard), #23010, and it didn't have a yellow filter in the RF. I don't think this was ever standard. When after two or three weeks my girlfriend wanted it back (she'd bought it for £20 on my advice), I had to buy my own first Leica, a IIIa, for £30.

Congratulations on your good luck, and on the pics too.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Nikon Bob]

That was a very good find and you may want to have that Elmar properly CLA'd in the future. I think that would make it more useful at wider stops at least a good CLA on mine improved it greatly. Nice work on the photos too.

Bob

 

[Melvin]

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

Yes, they are handheld, at 1/200, f11-f16. I scanned them on a flatbed from 5x7 RC prints made with a diffusion head enlarger. No sharpening.

 

[Melvin]

Thanks all. I had the camera and lens serviced. I also bought a couple of the brass cassettes and I've been reloading the Fuji into them, since it's not sold in long rolls.

 

[Ronald M]

Any HINT of haze destroys the way any Leica lens renders tones. Sharpness is not effected at that point. Get a CLA. Even new from the factory, the shadow detail is lower than with a modern coated lens and over exposed highlights will not separate.
I have a uncoated one and Red Scale coated version, the last ones, and it is amazing how coating improves the image.

You will be impressed at how it holds sharpness at small stops. All the 50 3.5 elmars do it way better than a modern lens.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Congrats, Melvin... Great shots too!

 

[Luddite Frank]

"Jammy so-and-so! AND you take pictures with it!"

Ah, I love it when someone speaks "Wodehouse" ! !

😀

 

[mrmonde]

I also have a lld, Serial# 79679, is this quite an early batch #, attached is a Nickel Summar Serial# 237287, is this the right vintage.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica I, Elmar 35mm f/3.5 uncoated, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Focus was by estimation.

Erik.

 

[ray*j*gun]

The last dozen times i have bid on anything on evilbay i was out bid in literally the last second by automatic bid software after holding the lead bid for as long as an hour. I have all but given up on auctions....glad to see someone has better luck!!

 

[Erik van Straten]

Leica I, Elmar 50mm f/3.5, Tmax400 printed om Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[issa918]

Uncoated Elmar from 1929, on my Leica 1A

 

[Bill58]

Great find/ buy! I'd clean up the covering w/ a couple of applications of a mild solution of liquid dish washing detergent and water and a soft toothbrush, rinse well w/ clear water and same brush, let dry thoroughly, then apply some glycerin (buy from a pharmacy) and wipe off excess after 24 hours. Repeat glycerin treatment annually.