Im about to buy a Leica-maybe

[pesphoto]

So Im on the KEH site right now, all I have to do is press the submit order button on a Leica IIIA (BGN). Anyone else buy a BGN camera from them? Should I expect it to work ok? Nothing in their description says that there are any problems with it. Should I press the button? I sold a pic for a book cover so this would be my reward to myself.

 

[robin a]

When in DOUBT.......CLICK

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Better yet: get a Leica-surely! Those Leica-maybes are too controversial 😉

click on it. click it! You know you want to 🙂

 

[pesphoto]

Did it! Done! Leica IIIA on the way. 2 day shipping.

 

[Rafael]

Congratulations! I'm sure you will love it. Post something in the "Look what came in the mail" thread when it arrives.

 

[pesphoto]

Congratulations! I'm sure you will love it. Post something in the "Look what came in the mail" thread when it arrives.

Thanks, will do. Wish I had done it a couple days ago so I'd have it for this weekend. Oh well. Ive waited this long.....

 

[John Shriver]

The rangefinder will probably be a bit dim. The chrome will be brassed. But you will have great value, and any operational problems can be cleared up when you spring for a Clean/Lube/Adjust.

 

[colyn]

Thanks, will do. Wish I had done it a couple days ago so I'd have it for this weekend. Oh well. Ive waited this long.....

I placed an order with KEH awhile back on a Friday morning and had it sent overnight Saturday. Had it in hand before noon Saturday but then it cost more than what you paid.

The IIIa is a fine camera which you will enjoy.

 

[pesphoto]

The rangefinder will probably be a bit dim. The chrome will be brassed. But you will have great value, and any operational problems can be cleared up when you spring for a Clean/Lube/Adjust.

Yeah, im not expecting perfection. I can always get an external VF if I need to. A little brassing is kinda cool actually. Might do a CLA if it needs it.
But...it's a Leica.

 

[pesphoto]

I placed an order with KEH awhile back on a Friday morning and had it sent overnight Saturday. Had it in hand before noon Saturday but then it cost more than what you paid.

The IIIa is a fine camera which you will enjoy.

Kinda kicking ,myself for not doing overnight. Patience, right?

 

[colyn]

I just had a run-in with temporary insanity and almost bought a Minolta 35 Model F from KEH.
Managed to regain control just before hitting submit......that was close....

 

[pesphoto]

I just had a run-in with temporary insanity and almost bought a Minolta 35 Model F from KEH.
Managed to regain control just before hitting submit......that was close....

I know I know....

 

[colyn]

I know I know....

Don't know what I would need a camera with a frame size of 24x34mm for. I'd have to make a neg carrier for my enlarger in order to make prints from it.

 

[pesphoto]

Don't know what I would need a camera with a frame size of 24x34mm for. I'd have to make a neg carrier for my enlarger in order to make prints from it.

Ive made cardborad carriers before. Anything is possible my friend.

 

[pesphoto]

hmm...getting my bonus at work next week. Any suggestions for my first lens? Think I'd prefer to start with a 50mm.

 

[edodo]

Bought myself a IIIa 8 month ago. It is a great camera you can't regret it. The seller told me it was on a shelf shop since 1950, no severe brassing so far, exquisite for a 1936 camera! But I performed a slow governer cleaning myself, and it was risky. I also changed the vulcanite since it was damn smelly 🙂. For a lens advice, I think a voigtlander 50mm f2.5 is perfect for those little barnacks. Or you can go all vintage and try an elmar! Those SBOOI finder are nice too!

My IIIa

 

[FrankS]

As Charles has said, a 50mm external finder is a great accessory for this camera. I have a CV one.

As for 50mm lenses, the CV50f2.5 is nice, a Canon f1.8 chrome or black, an Elmar f3.5 is the smallest, and a J8 works well too. A screw mount Summitar or Summicron are also great choices.

For 35mm, you should get a CV35f2.5, a J12, or a Summaron f3.5.

Have fun, enjoy!

 

[FrankS]

Don't know what I would need a camera with a frame size of 24x34mm for. I'd have to make a neg carrier for my enlarger in order to make prints from it.

A negative carrier that is a little bigger than the frame size (along length of film) is not a problem. I use a 6x7 neg carrier to print 6x6 frames all the time, and that's a difference of 10mm. The 2mm difference in your hypothetical case is even more insignificant.

 

[Rafael]

I recently picked up a Nikkor 50/2 for $75. It's a great little lens! If you want something a little faster (and bigger, and more expensive) I also highly recommend the Canon 50/1.4.

Have a look at Raid's test. He has just compared 15 50s.

 

[edodo]

Just to show how good the new VC 50mm 2.5 look on Barnaks: