Leica IIIc Questions

[Mark A. Fisher]

The IIIC is in the mail! I dropped a note to Youxin right after I mailed it, and again, within 10 minutes of hitting "send" he had responded!

I have taken a closer look at the Summaron lens, and it seems to be clean, no fungus, no haze, and smooth focussing movement. Its only issue is the stiff aperture ring, and I continue to work it as I read. It's getting much more free as well, so I think I'll hold off on sending it to DAG just yet.

I'm bidding on a VF for the lens right now, and am trying to find a decent 50mm at a reasonable price, but I think I'll wait til the camera returns to me and just shoot the Summaron as it is - at least for a role or two - to see how I like this whole Barnack Leica thing!

Again, thanks so much for all the info. I'm enjoying this very much!

Best,

Mark

 

[Bingley]

Regarding the 50 lens, I agree with FrankS that the CV Skopar 50/2.5 is a good choice for a Barnack Leica. It's a very sharp lens and quite compact, has excellent flare resistance, is fairly contrasty, and focuses to .7 m. The "look" you'll get from this lens is modern, and I love using mine on a IIIc. If you're looking for a lower contrast, vintage look from your 50, though, you might want to stick w/ older glass.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Careful you are at the top of a very slippery slope...

Congrat's on the swap. You'll find it a pleasant camera to use, especially when done over properly. Have a look at the little viewfinders for the Russian cameras. There's an Albada one, made in Japan that covers 35, 85 and 135m or thereabouts and is very practical if not the right period.

I'll still suggest the Leitz 50mm f/2 Summitar as a very nice and grossly under-rated screw thread lens. Early ones from the 30's are great but even better are the coated ones from the 40's onwards. And you might be lucky and pick up one of the "Summitar *" versions (sigh).

Regards, David

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

Careful you are at the top of a very slippery slope...

But the view is quite exhilarating!

Seems to be a huge selection of lenses for this little bugger, in a wide variety of styles, prices, and national origins! I don't even have the camera back yet, and I'm chomping at the bit to get the viewfinder, as well as the best 50 I can find for the least amount of money!

Slippery slope? Yep, but I'm ready for the ride!

Best,

Mark

 

[Toccata]

The russian jupiter 8 is a very inexpensive 50 if you're just looking for a 50 to experiment with. Qc varies, so buyer beware.

I've been very happy with my '48 summitar. This particular vintage is coated and has 10 blades rather then six, found in lenses made after '50. Highly recommended if you can find a good copy.

 

[Livesteamer]

Many would say the Leica screw mount cameras are best with the little collapsible 50mm f3.5 Elmar. My regular camera to carry is a 1942 IIIc with a collapsible Elmar in one pocket and a Sekonic 158 meter in another pocket. The Elmar is very good and so small. The 50mm Nikkor lenses are also quite good but bigger and heavier. Good Luck, Joe

 

[Rob-F]

I have three IIIc bodies (one is in my avatar), and have had to have all of them CLA'd after purchase. The shutter curtains had to be replaced on two of them. It is well worth it, if you want to shoot with this model. I have no regrets. But I suggest figuring the cost of the CLA into the purchase price. I use John Maddox in South Carolina; others have their favorites as well.

FWIW, I use the 50mm collapsible Summicron; the 35/2/5, 28/3.5, and 25mm Cosina/Voigtlander lenses, all with accessory finders. I photographed in France with a pair of my IIIc with the these lenses. They are small enough to fit in the pockets of my Royal Robbins vest--which does not look like a photo vest--thus managed not to attract too much attention.

 

[paulfish4570]

i enjoy a cv 50/2.5 color skopar on my IIIf ...

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

The current count for suggested lens possibilities seems to be around 11 or so:

5cm (50mm) f3.5 Collapsible Elmar
1940's or 50's Summitar, special nod to the 1948 version
Collapsible Summicron
CV Color Skopar f2.5 50mm (Several of you seem to like this one!)
CV f2.5 35mm
CV F3.5 28mm
CV 25mm
Industar 61 in 39mm mount
Industar 22 (Elmar Copy)
Jupiter 8
50mm Nikkors

Quite a Christmas list for my bride to fill!

Actually, I have always been partial to wide angle lenses, so I'll probably gravitate that direction when the body comes back; I'll audition the 35mm Summaron I already have (I'm still bidding on that viewfinder), but I'm also interested in some of the 50's you have suggested. I'm really intrigued by what you have said about the Collapsible Elmar, the CV Color Skopar, as well as the Collapsible Summicron, but I'm not ruling anything in our out just yet. Depends on my budget at the time and whether the IIIC and I play well together.

Just the process of acquiring the IIIC and the Summaron has opened up a whole new thought process for me. Those of you posting your thoughts and suggestions are quite generous to me, and I appreciate it. I'm certain I will continue to ask bone-headed questions, but it's nice to know there's someone out there willing to help me out!


Best,

Mark

 

[Livesteamer]

Go to fedka dot com and you can get a collapsible I 22 or I 50 for around $50 and see if you like the size. I have a nice I 22 and find it similar in size and results to the classic 50mm Elmar. I recently carried a IIIc and 50mm Elmar in Colorado for two weeks and did most of my photos with it. I also have a Nikkor 35mm f2.5 and Nikon zoom finder that is a wonderful pair. Enjoy. Joe

 

[Erik van Straten]

test screwmount lenses on Leica M8

Elmar 50mm f/3.5 coated @ f/3.5

 

[Erik van Straten]

Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 @ f/2.5

 

[Erik van Straten]

collapsible Summicron 50mm f/2 @ f/2 (sharpest)

 

[batterytypehah!]

Actually, I have always been partial to wide angle lenses, so I'll probably gravitate that direction when the body comes back; I'll audition the 35mm Summaron I already have (I'm still bidding on that viewfinder), but I'm also interested in some of the 50's you have suggested. I'm really intrigued by what you have said about the Collapsible Elmar, the CV Color Skopar, as well as the Collapsible Summicron, but I'm not ruling anything in our out just yet. Depends on my budget at the time and whether the IIIC and I play well together.

Did you have enough time to get acquainted with the built-in finder before you mailed it off to Youxin? It's true that a Barnack + collapsible Elmar is wonderfully compact but one trade-off is a miserably small finder, by today's standards. I find it barely usable (I wear glasses). I now leave a modified Kalimar accessory VF on mine which -- with some mental adjustment -- gives me reasonably accurate framing for both 50 and 35.

 

[Bingley]

I don't have comparison shots comparable to Erik's in b&w, but below is a photo taken last summer w/ my IIIc, a coated Elmar 50/3.5 from 1947, TMax 100 at iso 50, developed in Rodinal. Clean copies of this little lens are still out there and not too $$$.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

Livesteamer, thanks for the link to Fedka dot com. They have quite a wide variety of lenses to choose from in the inexpensive category! When the dust settles and the camera comes back to me I’ll have to make some decisions about what glass to get, but as you say it would be a good idea to perhaps pick up an I 22 or one of their other 50s just to get a feel for them without too much expense at first.

And Erik, thanks for the terrific comparison shots of those three lenses! Makes it clear what they are capable of, but also increases GAS! I see that you serve your wine with a tasty Continental Breakfast of what appear to be some other fine lenses as well! And I am most appreciative that you took the time to post images using the same 3 lenses I had mentioned in my post. Again, I’m going to have to wait for the body to return before I get too serious about buying more Leica lenses, but after looking at your examples it is quite evident that each has its own “look”. This is really a helpful comparison!

Batterytypehah!, I have the same issue with the teeny little viewfinder, so I just won a bid on a 35mm VF to go along with my 35 Summaron. But, after reading your post, I really liked the idea of getting a 50mm VF, and using it for both the 35 and 50. While I do like having greater framing precision in much of my work, a bit of mental adjustment can take care of most framing issues in a rangefinder format. That being said, my wife found a nice Leica 50 Bright Finder at KEH that I think I might get.

I don’t even have the body back, and I’m already trying to fill a bag with more gadgets! Get thee behind me, GAS!

And Bingley, that is a terrific shot! If that is the kind of image I can expect from using the Elmar for Black and White, that will put it in the final list of what lenses to buy! I mentioned earlier in this thread that I shoot primarily black and white, and this is more evidence of the apparent versatility of the IIIc/Elmar 3.5 combination, whether in B/W or Color!

My thanks to you all, and I hope to put a kit together very soon so I can go out and play!

BTW, last week where I live it was 104 degrees – too damned hot to shoot anything out of doors! This morning it was an incredible 66 degrees! I think the heat wave has finally passed us! So I’m really eager to get out there and take this camera on a test run!

Best,

Mark

 

[easyrider]

Congrats!

Congrats!

Congrats on joining the Leica Barnack club. I have a IIIF and a IIIb that is pre-war and has been in the family since new.
I occasionally bring the IIIf to RFF meets and very occasionally use it with a 50mm Summitar. The other camera has a 50MM Elmar.

You are obviously a savvy guy since you don't mention any problems with the bottom loading. They are great as hobby cameras.

Enjoy!

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

Thanks Easyrider! I'm still very much a novice when it comes to Leica, but I'm having a great time so far!

And Youxin has worked his magic!

Already!

I just sent the thing to him Monday morning, and I got an email last night telling me that he has it done and it's in the mail, back to me!

Incredible! I had expected that, once he got it, it might take 2 weeks to complete, and another 3 or 4 days to get it back to me. But he not only did the CLA, but also replaced the shutter curtains, since the old ones were hard and had pinholes, put in a new beam splitter, replaced a faulty shutter catch lever, and replaced the original take-up spool with a newer version, to make loading easier. (Easyrider, maybe he saw your comment about the bottom-loading process!) All that for $225! Including shipping! I am delighted!

I had also asked his advice about lenses for this body as well as which "M" body I might need to consider, if I continue my Leica Frenzy. I then got another email from him, offering his advice both in email form and by phone, if ever I get to that point! All in all, I think I've just become a member of the Youxin Ye Fan Club!

Oh, and his lens suggestions for the IIIC echo what you have already spoken of - the Elmar 50/3.5 and/or the Summitar.

Well, it's off to the post office to send my payment to Youxin - (oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, he didn't even ask for payment before he sent it back to me! He just shipped it and said I could drop the check in the mail, or send it via Paypal!) - and then wait (im)patiently by the mail box for the camera to return!

Tune in next week, when our intrepid Leica Novice attempts to bottom-load his IIIC for the first time!

Thanks again for everything. This is still a huge amount of fun!

Mark

 

[burancap]

Mark,

Your enthusiasm is very refreshing! The Barnacks are a real joy.

I will add my vote for the 50/3.5 Elmar.

Are you familiar with cutting your film leaders?

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

Thanks Burancap!

I have cut film leaders for other applications - primarily loading 35mm film in a 120 Holga - but didn't consider that it might be necessary for the IIIC. Thanks for the tip! With the excellent tips, suggestions, and encouragement that RFF'ers provide, it's pretty easy to become enthusiastic about this! I tend to go a bit nuts about new things anyhow, and my wife has to take me to the back yard and hose me down! But she's not here right now, so my mood is quite "ramped up", as they say in the bidness world!

Mark