analogpics
Well-known
Welp, ended up getting a Leica IIIg lol. Will let you guys know what i think when it shows up in a week or so.
Leica LTM Leica iiif/g vs canon vs nicca vs leotax etc
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Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
maartenmoerman
Established
that is only for the 7, not for the P (special rail for the shoe)
Canon P is lovely, i've got 2, and prefer them over my 7. They have a 1:1 finder, metal shutter curtains (cant burn a hole in that), coldshoe, no fiddling with loading film, and a nice size to hold.
analogpics
Well-known
Hmmm, seems like people who've used the 7 and P usually end up keeping the P. But have you tried the 7s?
maartenmoerman
Established
No, i have not, but it's essentially the same camera, except for a different lightmeter (cds vs selennium), and an added shoe.
Mackinaw
Think Different
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I have a P and a 7s. The 7s has a better viewfinder than the P. The 7 and 7s use projected framelines, like a Leica M-series. The P uses reflected framelines. Time has been kinder to the 7 and 7s, the framelines in many P's have become faint. Plus with the P you see framelines for three focal lengths all the time. With the 7 or 7s, you dial in what frameline you want to see. That being said, the P is smaller and works very well in the field. I have a black one and use it a lot. It looks cooler than the 7s.
Jim B.
Beemermark
Veteran
OOH! I got one. Think I sold the camera but the flash attachment is around here somewhere. Unused from new by the looks of it. Is this now rare and collectible?
To the OP's question buy a IIIF ST RD. Any model you mentioned will need a ~$200 CLA. I think the Leica will hold its value better.
shawn
Veteran
I've had the Leotax TV2, Nicca/Tower 45, IIIG, Canon 7, III-A Sync, III and a Ia.
The Canon 7 has the nicest finder and is a well built camera. But is quite a bit larger. Easiest to load. Unfortunately the second curtain in mine tore at the leading edge. Best shutter speed selector as it stays in place and can be changed easiest. Lever wind. And it has a meter if you care.
The IIIG is a nice all around camera. The finder is good too (with diopter adjustment) and it is just a very usable all around camera. Out of all of them I probably us this the most.
The TV2 has a bigger finder than the IIIs or Nicca and felt pretty well built. The frame counter is a bit annoying on it as it is easy to hit the dial that sets it and change it. I ended up selling mine.
The Tower 45 (basically the same size as the TV2) is a very usable camera. Finder is a bit smaller than the TV2 but not terrible and it has the diopter adjustment. The flip up rear door makes it second easiest to load. Has the traditional rotating shutter speed dial but it has the advantage of being able to be set before or after you wind the film as it has marking for both positions. Lever wind. Really nice well built camera.
Either of the IIIs have a smaller viewfinder but it is workable. They are just fun to shoot due to the age and the look as they are both black/nickel bodies.
With any of them I like to use a SBOOI on it so the built in finder isn't as important to me.
Shawn
The Canon 7 has the nicest finder and is a well built camera. But is quite a bit larger. Easiest to load. Unfortunately the second curtain in mine tore at the leading edge. Best shutter speed selector as it stays in place and can be changed easiest. Lever wind. And it has a meter if you care.
The IIIG is a nice all around camera. The finder is good too (with diopter adjustment) and it is just a very usable all around camera. Out of all of them I probably us this the most.
The TV2 has a bigger finder than the IIIs or Nicca and felt pretty well built. The frame counter is a bit annoying on it as it is easy to hit the dial that sets it and change it. I ended up selling mine.
The Tower 45 (basically the same size as the TV2) is a very usable camera. Finder is a bit smaller than the TV2 but not terrible and it has the diopter adjustment. The flip up rear door makes it second easiest to load. Has the traditional rotating shutter speed dial but it has the advantage of being able to be set before or after you wind the film as it has marking for both positions. Lever wind. Really nice well built camera.
Either of the IIIs have a smaller viewfinder but it is workable. They are just fun to shoot due to the age and the look as they are both black/nickel bodies.
With any of them I like to use a SBOOI on it so the built in finder isn't as important to me.
Shawn
hap
Well-known
I have a 7s and previously owned a P. 7s seems a little bit bigger and maybe finder not quite as good. good framelines. Meter that you can turn on and off. However using meter is not user friendly IMO. It does seem to be very accurate when compared to modern sekonic and other meters I have sitting around. I don't find it is as elegant or simple as a P. Kind of a brick but so are other Canons of same vintage.
hap
Well-known
Maybe you can't burn a hole in shutter. but many samples I've seen have very wrinkly shutter curtains and I wonder who freakin stuck their fingers in there!
Also, I had some oil leaking from a shutter curtain bearing and Youxin could not fix it.
traveler_101
American abroad
My IIIf has a new beam splitter installed by Youxin Lee and it is really easy to focus. You are working with two windows of course. I tend to keep IIIf mated to the Elmar 5cm f/3.5. Collapsible and very light lens makes a portable outfit.
What kind of lenses are you buying? Some of the excellent modern LTM Voigtlander lenses require a larger camera. For that I just bought a Canon 7. Nicely made, has a meter and also has a .80 viewfinder/rangefinder. The viewfinder patch on mine is usable as is - though have yet to run a roll through it to see if I am accurately focusing.
What kind of lenses are you buying? Some of the excellent modern LTM Voigtlander lenses require a larger camera. For that I just bought a Canon 7. Nicely made, has a meter and also has a .80 viewfinder/rangefinder. The viewfinder patch on mine is usable as is - though have yet to run a roll through it to see if I am accurately focusing.
hap
Well-known
When I had a P...reasonably satisfied. When it was pilfered I got excited about another one but they got to be excessively expensive and popular...and needing CLA's. So turned attention to 7s. Not overjoyed but OK.
I like Ko Fe and others.....LTM's ...barnacks....simple, well built as possible, with some refinements. Leica IIIc checked those boxes. HOwever, Canon copies are no slouch. Nicca fine and a little smaller than most, at least the 3. Nice to have high speed shutter so you can use your fast 50 but not deal breaker. Canon went to a shutter speed selection system that did not require winding the shutter beforehand... a nice little touch.
I like Ko Fe and others.....LTM's ...barnacks....simple, well built as possible, with some refinements. Leica IIIc checked those boxes. HOwever, Canon copies are no slouch. Nicca fine and a little smaller than most, at least the 3. Nice to have high speed shutter so you can use your fast 50 but not deal breaker. Canon went to a shutter speed selection system that did not require winding the shutter beforehand... a nice little touch.
analogpics
Well-known
Thanks for all the replies everybody 🙂 So now that i'll be getting a iiig in the mail soon, just realized i dont have a 35mm ltm. I know a lot of people pair it with the 35mm 3.5 collapsible, but am also looking at the canon 35mm f2. Eventually would like to get something other than my jupiter 8 for a 50, and eventually a 90mm as well.
Suggestions? Thanks!
Suggestions? Thanks!
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
There is no 35mm f3.5 collapsible lens. Leica made two 35mm f3.5 lenses. The earlier one is the 35mm f3.5 Elmar; it is pretty mediocre lens. Quite soft on the edges though sharp in the center. Ergonomics are horrid; setting aperture requires using a fingernail to move a tiny tab on the front of the lens, surrounding the front lens element.
The later one is the 35mm f3.5 Summaron. This one is magnificent, very sharp all the way to the edges. Because the Elmar is a collectible now, the Summaron can often be bought cheaper than the Elmar!
Leica also made an f2.8 version of the Summaron, but it is expensive, over $1000. There is also the several versions of the 35mm f2 Summicron, and they're all very expensive.
I have both of the f3.5 Leica 35mm lenses, and I also have two Canon 35mm LTM lenses. 35mm f1.8 is the older one, 35mm f2 is later. The f2 version is sharper at the edges at wider apertures; stopped down there is no difference, both are very sharp. The f1.8 version has an infinity lock, the f2 version does not. If you hate infinity locks, get the f2. Both Canon lenses sell for less than the Leica f3.5 lenses usually do and are a couple stops faster if you need the speed.
What do I recommend? If you don't need speed, get the Leica 35mm f3.5 Summaron. If you do, get the Canon 35mm f2. If you will mostly use it stopped down and cannot afford a Leica f3.5 Summaron, get the Canon f1.8; it is the lest expensive of the lenses I have written about.
analogpics
Well-known
Ahhh you're right, I thought the 3.5 Summaron was collapsible because it was so small haha. Thanks for the heads up on the Elmar though. Right now I'm kind of leaning to the Canon 35 f2 or the Leica 35mm 3.5 Summaron so we'll see which one I end up with. 🙂
analogpics
Well-known
There's also the voigtlander color skopar 35 2.5 which i have in m mount but not the ltm version
farlymac
PF McFarland
It's a good lens in either mount, optics are the same, though in LTM it can be had in single or multi coating depending on whether you prefer a vintage or modern look. Also, Nikon made lenses in LTM which are on par with anything else out there. If you look around there are several other manufacturers with 35mm offerings like Chiyoka (early Minolta), and Konishiroku (pre-Konica), though I don't have any idea how they rank with the others. Mostly collector value I think.
PF
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Here is not SC, MC version of Color Skopar. Only Nokton 35, 40.
farlymac
PF McFarland
hilltime
Well-known
I don't think you'd go wrong with the Canon 35/F2, although one of my favorites is the 3.5cm/F2.8 Topcor, using on a Leotax FV body.
Great combination and also has the worlds largest 35/50 finder, which is not extremely pocketable!
phrons
Established
Unless you want to build a system of lenses, consider fixed lens compacts.
Olympus and Canon made some exceptional ones.
Olympus and Canon made some exceptional ones.
