I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up

[Godfrey]

...
(I still do have a nice Nikon F with a plain prism.)

I do too, a nice one I rescued from a friend's basement where it had been sitting for years without a lens. I had it refurbished and brought to as-new mechanical spec, have a 28/2 and 55/3.5 Micro for it. Every time I pick it up, it reminds me of the Nikon FTn Photomic that my uncle helped me buy (he bought it, I gave him all my Summer savings which didn't amount to much..) when I was in second year of High School. I use it rarely, but it's every bit the great camera I remember.

G

 

[Sonnar Brian]

OK

YE or YF?

Waiting on a Nicca Type 5 to arrive. LTM with a flip open back door.

I just bought a YE with the Canon 50/1.8. I already have the YF.

I also have an MIOJ Nicca 3 that came with a collapsible Nikkor 5cm F2.

I have a lot of Nikon F's and F2's. Some dozen each.

 

[splitimageview]

I also have an MIOJ Nicca 3 that came with a collapsible Nikkor 5cm F2.

I have an MIOJ Nicca as well, my dad bought one in Japan in about 1950. Most family photos for the next 30 years were shot with this camera, with a 35/3.5, 50/2 collapsible, and 135/4. I've since assembled a duplicate of his kit including the MIOJ variframe finder.

 

[xayraa33]

OK

YE or YF?

Waiting on a Nicca Type 5 to arrive. LTM with a flip open back door.

Nice camera, not too common either.

 

[farlymac]

I fell long before I ever got into Leica's. I made up several kits of different manufacturers until I got back into the Nikons which were my favorite. But once I started to accumulate some FSU gear, it got me to thinking that maybe I should step-up my game and invest in some Leica gear instead of pretending with my Zorki's and FEDs. At first it was a CL because there were only two lenses one needed with it. But then I got a nice deal on a slightly dented M4-P and kitted that out. Okay so far, nothing extravagant, no Summicron, Summilux or Noct lenses. And I had some LTM bodies from other manufacturers to keep me happy on that front (Canon, Nicca, Yashica). But when I found I could get a IIIf made the same year I was born I just had to go for it. Still, the most extravagant purchases for that kit were a set of finders for the different focal lengths as I don't care for the big, heavy turret style finders. So, I'm good. Now I need to dispose of all the excess gear I'm not using anymore. That should be fun.

PF

 

[stephen_lumsden]

So... I've had a beautiful Leica IIIf (just CLAed by YYE) and an uncoated 50mm f/3.5 Elmar forever. And I said "That's all the Leica I will ever need."

But I always had a jones for an M body. I saw this just-CLAed M2 on eBay and bought it. And I said "That's all the Leica I will ever need."

But bodies need lenses, so I bought the three whose framelines are native to the M2. And I said "That's all the Leica I will ever need."

Then I saw the camera of my youthful dreams. A near perfect black M5. It was the camera I had wanted since they first came out in 1971, except now I could (sort of) afford this used one. And I said "That's all the Leica I will ever need."

As I sit here, I am looking at M4s and M6s that I absolutely do not need. But if I buy one or both, I'm really sure that it will be all the Leica I will ever need.


Haaaaalp, I've fallen and I can't get up ...

I have a couple of contax iis and am eyeing up a Kiev iii with the thought of it's all I will ever need. Good job I picked a cheaper system. I do think about getting a Leica iii one day, but reading stuff like this, may be it's best to stay away 🙂

 

[bcostin]

Then I saw the camera of my youthful dreams. A near perfect black M5. It was the camera I had wanted since they first came out in 1971, except now I could (sort of) afford this used one. And I said "That's all the Leica I will ever need."

I really, really don't need an M5...but when I was a kid my uncle had a chrome two-lug M5, and I've always wanted one like it.