Leica IIIf

[timpppa]

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a very nice (CLA'd) condition IIIf body with Summarit 50mm/f1.5 lens. I was actually only after the lens but the seller had sold everything else from the kit. So he decided not to sell the lens only. I got them both in a great price (I think) 🙂

At first I thought that I will put the body for sale asap. But curiosity arose and I loaded a roll of film to it and went out to shoot. Oh boy it was a joy to use 😀 Low light focusing is much better than in my M3. Now it's here to stay. I've already started looking for some wide angle lens to it....

Any recommendations for a wide lens?

--
- timppa

 

[cary]

For my IIIF I have the 35mm Summaron.

 

[dogberryjr]

CV 15mm. It eliminates the whole view-focusing thing.

 

[FrankS]

Nice camera. Look here for leica srew lenses: http://www.antiquecameras.net/leicascrewlenses.html

Also consider modern CV lenses: http://www.cameraquest.com/inventor.htm

and vintage Canon RF lenses: http://www.antiquecameras.net/canonrflens.html

 

[timpppa]

CV 15mm. It eliminates the whole view-focusing thing.

I actually have the CV 15mm 🙂 It's a great lens but I'm not into that extreme wides. 21-28mm would be great to have.

 

[NeeZee]

I just got a Voigtländer Snapshot Skopar 25mm F4 for my IIIf. It looks like made for this camera (especially if you can get the chrome version). It is not rangefinder-coupled (which doesn't really matter much for this focal length IMO) but it is by far the cheapest wide angle lens you can get in screwmount (if you consider 28mm and wider). You can get one for about $250 with finder - all alternatives in LTM are much more expenisive even without a finder. Oh, and it is one of the best lenses I've ever used - distortion free and very sharp.

 

[timpppa]

Nice camera. Look here for leica srew lenses:

and vintage Canon RF lenses: http://www.antiquecameras.net/canonrflens.html

Canon 28mm/f2.8 might be a one... 😱

 

[FrankS]

Canon 28mm/f2.8 might be a one... 😱

You picked the one that's hard to get.

 

[timpppa]

You picked the one that's hard to get.

:bang:

As always... WTB Leica Summaron 28mm/f5.6? It's not as fast but if you compare it to the Canon 28?

 

[Paul Luscher]

Congrats! I have one of those, too. And I would agree (some commentators to the contrary--are you listening, Kent Rockwell?) that the IIIf has killer focusing in low light. I've used mine to shoot live music in low-light venues, and come out with nice sharp stuff--better than when I was using certain SLRs....

 

[dave lackey]

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a very nice (CLA'd) condition IIIf body with Summarit 50mm/f1.5 lens. I was actually only after the lens but the seller had sold everything else from the kit. So he decided not to sell the lens only. I got them both in a great price (I think) 🙂

At first I thought that I will put the body for sale asap. But curiosity arose and I loaded a roll of film to it and went out to shoot. Oh boy it was a joy to use 😀 Low light focusing is much better than in my M3. Now it's here to stay. I've already started looking for some wide angle lens to it....

Any recommendations for a wide lens?

--
- timppa

Hey, that looks like mine!!! Same lens, too!😛

Cannot believe how this camera falls readily to hand and feels so natural. Quite a partnership with the M3.

Got me thinking about an X1 to pair up with the III F... aesthetic heaven in a small package IMO.

 

[zauhar]

I was looking for a Summitar lens, the idea being to use on my M3. While looking at LTM stuff I saw a CLA'ed IIIf from YouXin at a good price, and could not resist.

Now I cannot leave the little thing alone, I have been carrying it every day (using the one screwmount lens I have, a Canon 50/1.4 that blocks the VF!)

It is surprisingly easy to focus in low light but does not match the M3.

Glad to see I am not the only one bitten! I look forward to getting the Summitar tomorrow.

Randy

 

[Bingley]

I've never felt compelled to use a vintage or period-appropriate lens on my IIIc or Canon IVSB2. For wide lenses, I'd give a shout out to the CV 28/3.5, which works like a dream on a barnack type camera (w/ an auxiliary vf of course). Very small, very sharp, wonderful rendering of tones in B&W.