IIc Questions.

I

iMacfan

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Hi,

I managed to acquire a IIc a while back, and am very impressed with the quality of something so old. I would, however, like to use it. Does anyone know how to load it properly, easily, and without the metal guide which I've heard they used to come with? Also, I've got a Jupiter 12 which I've had for a while, but also haven't got round to using as it doesn't fit my Bessas. Will it fit the camera for sure? Obviously, I can't just put it on B and see for myself.

Thanks,

David
 
David, The Jupiter 12 lens ( in Ltm ) will fit your IIc , no problem, Ive used an example of the J 12 on a IIIc for many years, it is a superb lens. You do not need a template to cut the film leader to the proper shape , an approximation will do.
 
Have to say, the screw mount Leica's are easy (if a little fiddly) to laod IF and only IF you cut the extended leader in the film first. You don't need a template, just pull the film out a bit and trim the leader to 4" long with a steady curve up. There are plenty of sites that tell you how to do this, I think camera quest has the instructions? The critical bit is to make sure that the film that goes across the film gate when you load is only half height, and that there's a smooth curve up to full height that doesn't end across a sprocket hole. All this is easier to demo that explain; hope I've made it (kinda) clear.
Personally, I've found that once you do this it's easy - until you do it's an exercise in frustration.

No knowledge on J12 lenses, sorry.

tim
 
There is no need for the cutting template or guide, it is a simple matter to just cut the leader freehand using a pair of scissors. I've been doing this since 1963.

Be careful to make the cut a smooth one without sharp corners or edges. You want to avoid any sharp "fingers" or protruding edges that can break off and wind up being wound into the the shutter curtains.

If you have difficulty loading the film, try slipping a thin cardboard business card, narrow end down, into the camera between the pressure plate and the inside of the camera body (where the film goes). Load the film, slipping it between the business card and the inside back of the camera body, get it started on the take-up roller, being sure to get the sprocket holes engaged on the sprocket roller, then slide the business card out. Tne idea is to prevent the leading edge of the film from getting caught on the downstream edge of the film gate.
 
The IIC and IIF were the ultimate Leicas, even better than the III (though my IIIG was loverly). Leica's been going downhill ever since.

You do need to waste some rolls of film getting the hang of loading. Ask somebody at a dusty old camera store to show you how to do it....terribly hard to explain.

Scoop's explanations make sense to me, but that's probably because I've fooled with these cameras long enough. You need an instruction manual...Leica did a good job, back in the day.

Free Leica II and III instruction manual !

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/instructionmanuals.html

I just got a Fed 50 3.5 Russian Elmar copy. Sharp, well made, nice color reproducton...I'd buy one of these above a real Elmar any day because it's got modern coating and is actually a half-percent better designed....the Russians did have 60 more years of practice making this design than Leica had, after all!
 
The Russian Elmar copies seem to be quite competent lenses. I have experience with only the coated versions but performance of these seems equivalent to that of the 3.5 Elmar.

An interesting point is that the Russian Elmar copies probably have the most robust mechanicals of the Soviet LTM lenses. The Elmar copies use steel and brass in the lens mounts. All of the other 50mm Russian optics I've run across have had aluminum alloy mounts
 
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