Leica I (A) lens rendering

Leica IA Elmar 50mm f/3.5, Tmax400 printed on Ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

4031860889_c617cc7fe8_b.jpg
 
Hi, I'll go along with the rest. Mostly to emphasise the point about a hood being needed with the uncoated lenses; although they are not that bad once cleaned and checked. It's just that the hood improves things a lot but, oddly, were not pushed much in the magazines of the time. Most dealers adverts in the 20's and 30's just suggest the camera with a choice of lenses and a case but never a hood...

My idea of the classic would be the model II with the III (or IIIa ?)'s focussing eyepiece or 'scope on the RF and the Summitar. I use the Standard from time to time but the II is the one I always come back to.

As for film, I'd add that Ilford FP4 Plus on proper paper has the edge in B&W but colour is cheaper!

Regards, David
 
Those are great images here. Not the sharpest in the world, but they have a lot of character. I can't see where scale focus would slow you down much once you got used to it. You already have to fiddle w/ the the camera to set your aperture and shutter speeds, you may as well set the distance while you're there.

I use MF folders sometimes whilst out and about, and what works for me is to take 2 initial readings w/ my meter, one in the sun and one in the shade. If I'm outside, that is going to pretty much remain constant unless the sun gets blocked by a cloud or something. When I see something I want to photograph I should already have the aperture and shutter speeds preset. Al I need to do is pull my little aux rangefinder out of my pocket, get my distance, transfer it to the lens, compose my shot w/ a finder (you will definitely want a finder on the camera) and shoot. It works a lot faster than it sounds like.

You need a hood because w/o lens coatings you get a lot of flare. If the lens is clean inside this won't be too bad, but if it's hazy in there watch out.
 
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The I (A) is a simple, very usable, and very reliable camera - it is old, but one of the first modern cameras in some sense - an amazing invention really. I have owned one. I believe that some have had the lens flange replaced with an M39 flange to use with interchangeable lenses, but this would probably reduce the collectibility unless the conversion could be easily reversed (which is probably the case).

Like most old Leica's, one of the most important considerations is that the shutter curtains be in good condition.
 
Hi,

Can't get my head round the idea of someone owning and using frequently (or on a "Daily" basis) all the first four or five versions of the Leica. I've a 1926 one and it's what you'd expect but just doesn't have interchangeable lenses or a built in and coupled range-finder. As long as you remember the lens hood an don't shoot into the sun they are just cameras...

Regards, David
 
Agreeing with David, what a great idea it was to build in a coupled rangefinder!!!...without it the Leica is fine but this innovation was a great leap forward!

Michael
 
For some reason I could never get on with the 50mm Hektor or for that matter its 73mm cousin, not sure why, maybe I was more an Elmar kind of guy at the time.

Pondering Leitz ltm 50s, it has taken me an age to get used to the Summar, probably because I only found a coated one about ten years ago.

Never had a Summitar but then I had a collapsible Summicron which did the job.

Summarit hardly gets used. I think it is a size thing...
 
Leica 1 Model A

Leica 1 Model A

I love this camera and use it most days. It is hit and miss- well, in reality, I am- but it can produce some good photographs.

I use a Fodis and a Fison with it.

PS The photo attached was taken in Lyme Regis Dorset England this month
 

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