Leica iiig period correct 50mm lens?

[GarageBoy]

What were the 50s that originally came with the iiig ? Thanks

 

[Rob-F]

The IIIg was made from 1956 to 1960. Contemporary lenses include the collapsible Summicron; f/3.5 Elmar; f/2.8 Elmar; and the Summarit. The Summitar was a little before the IIIg, having ended in 1955; but close enough, I think.

 

[sreed2006]

I purchased a Leica IIIg from an estate sale. It had been used a few times and then put away, which is as close to a time machine transporting you back to the period as possible. The IIIg had an Elmar 50/2.8 collapsible lens on it. Both the camera body and the lens were manufactured in 1957 (according to various web sites that give date of manufacture by serial number).

 

[ferider]

Some late ones came with the SOSTA (http://www.camerawest.com/cwblog/2014/05/06/the-leica-50mm-12-summicron-sosta).

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Years and years ago the Leica magazine published lists of stolen cameras with body and lens serial numbers

In the interests of confirming the obvious (which often causes surprises) I dated a few of them.

Most bodies had their lens from the same year or the previous one, as you'd suspect.

The alternative is to hope you get a genuine one owner from new and then you can check things but often we get a a mixture when buying. And that's probably due to the wicked dealers doing them up to sell.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

What were the 50s that originally came with the iiig ? Thanks

'Normally' 2.8 Elmar or 2.0 Summicron collapsible depending on the purchaser's requirements and depth of pocket.

(I've lost the contemporary price list but from what I remember there was quite a big difference between the two)

3.5 Elmar or rigid Summicron much less common.

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks- chances of a clean Elmar are better than chances of a Summicron collapsible- right?

 

[ferider]

Thanks- chances of a clean Elmar are better than chances of a Summicron collapsible- right?

Yes. It's also a sharper lens at all f-stops (except f2 of course). You should budget around US 300 for a clean f2.8 copy. Here is my iiiG combo:

🙂

 

[Dralowid]

Thanks- chances of a clean Elmar are better than chances of a Summicron collapsible- right?

Yes and it an excellent lens too, do not view it as just a poor relation to the Summicron.

 

[xayraa33]

I remember seeing a Leica IIIg with a rare non collapsable Summicron for sale in the late 1970s that I was considering buying.

But next day, unfortunately for me, the lens was sold separately but I bought the body.
So much for procrastination.

 

[maxmadco]

 

[Chemophilic]

~$300 in 1958 is about $2500 in 2015 considering inflation? Wow.

 

[GarageBoy]

Yeah, cameras have gotten cheaper these days- yet people still complain about the cost

People complain about the costs of pro lenses - meanwhile, the same lenses were about the same prices 20 years ago

That IIIG and Elmar looks so cool
I've always wanted a screw mount Leica- and figured the last one would be nice- especially since it came out after the M3

Then again, I like the M5 design

 

[jsrockit]

Yes. It's also a sharper lens at all f-stops (except f2 of course). You should budget around US 300 for a clean f2.8 copy. Here is my iiiG combo:

🙂

Wonderful...

 

[tennis-joe]

I purchased a IIIg in the last 3-4 years with a 50-2.0 collapsible lens. When the shop relayed the price I jumped at it and paid him on the spot. The sharpness of the lens and the viewfinder with the 90mm frame lines is great. I should shoot with it more but it is like a fine watch and I hate to think of losing it or damaging it. The larger viewfinder is closest to the later M cameras. It is one of my favorite cameras.

 

[tajart]

IIIg

IIIg

when i found this late example in a local camera store and held it, i had to have it. i sent it off to DAG for a rebuild. it illustrates one of the original lens/body combinations. Elmar 50/f2.8 collapsible

[/url]LeicaIIIg by Thomas Johnston, on Flickr[/IMG]