elmer3.5
Well-known
Hi, i wonder about the leica o series, i read the lens is a new calculated elmar based formula.
Does anyone have such camera?
Are the shutter self caping or the cap really is needed?
Most important
:
How does it handles in actual shooting
Any photos taken with it?
Thanks!
Does anyone have such camera?
Are the shutter self caping or the cap really is needed?
Most important
:How does it handles in actual shooting
Any photos taken with it?
Thanks!
Leica0Series
Well-known
I started a Flickr group devoted to photos from the camera, so there are several there to look at. There have also been quite a few threads on this site devoted to the two reproduction versions of the camera, just do a search. I like mine a lot, I just used it the other day. And, yes, you really do need the cap or something to perform the same function.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/957652@N24/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/957652@N24/
elmer3.5
Well-known
Thanks!
Thanks!
Hi, thanks for your reply, i´ll look in the Forum, but please, despite other threads around, can you tell me me your impressions about it?
What would you say are it´s best advantages and short comings?
Great group, loved the o series pool!
Bye!
Thanks!
Hi, thanks for your reply, i´ll look in the Forum, but please, despite other threads around, can you tell me me your impressions about it?
What would you say are it´s best advantages and short comings?
Great group, loved the o series pool!
Bye!
Last edited:
Leica0Series
Well-known
Well, let's see ... it's very well made, small and easy to carry.
In terms of shooting speed, that depends. To take a picture, assuming you are carrying the camera in its leather case (it has no strap lugs on the body), you have to: 1) Open the case. 2) Extend the lens. 3) Raise the gunsight and little centering knob thing (the second version of the camera has a straight-through viewfinder, but I don't have that one). 4) Advance the film. 5) Pop off the cap. 6) Hold the camera up like a digital, about 10 inches from your face. 6) Take the picture. 7) Replace the cap.
If you're walking around with the case open and the camera ready to go, the process is much faster; just advance the film, pop the cap, raise it to your face and shoot.
The reason I say you have to advance the film in this order is the only way to change the shutter speed is while you're advancing the film. You advance it until a little red dot on the film speed dial aligns with a mark on the body, then you can lift and drag the dial to get to the speed you want. You can advance the film right after you shoot, but then you can't change the shutter speed again until after the next picture is taken.
The shutter speeds are marked in slit widths, not the speeds you're used to, but I can't remember the sequence off the top of my head. I know the top one is 2 and the slowest speed is 50, and to get the equivalent speed you divide these into 1,000 (so 2 becomes 1/500th of a second, and 50 becomes 1/20th of a second). It's easy once you have run through them a couple of times. There's also a "bulb" setting.
Changing the shutter speed is the biggest pain. Sometimes you can overshoot the dot and then you can't change the shutter speed without taking another picture first. The aperture is easy, just like an old Elmar.
And that brings us to the best part of the camera, namely the lens. It's the best Leica lens I have. Of course, you have to guess focus as there is no rangefinder, but I have an external rangefinder that's calibrated to account for the 10-inch offset when holding the camera in front of my face.
On a sunny day you can set the lens to f/12, the shutter speed to 2 (or 1/500th), the focus to 7 meters and then just snap away and depth of field will do the rest.
The bottom line is it's a very unusual camera but it takes good pictures and is fun to use. But it's certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
In terms of shooting speed, that depends. To take a picture, assuming you are carrying the camera in its leather case (it has no strap lugs on the body), you have to: 1) Open the case. 2) Extend the lens. 3) Raise the gunsight and little centering knob thing (the second version of the camera has a straight-through viewfinder, but I don't have that one). 4) Advance the film. 5) Pop off the cap. 6) Hold the camera up like a digital, about 10 inches from your face. 6) Take the picture. 7) Replace the cap.
If you're walking around with the case open and the camera ready to go, the process is much faster; just advance the film, pop the cap, raise it to your face and shoot.
The reason I say you have to advance the film in this order is the only way to change the shutter speed is while you're advancing the film. You advance it until a little red dot on the film speed dial aligns with a mark on the body, then you can lift and drag the dial to get to the speed you want. You can advance the film right after you shoot, but then you can't change the shutter speed again until after the next picture is taken.
The shutter speeds are marked in slit widths, not the speeds you're used to, but I can't remember the sequence off the top of my head. I know the top one is 2 and the slowest speed is 50, and to get the equivalent speed you divide these into 1,000 (so 2 becomes 1/500th of a second, and 50 becomes 1/20th of a second). It's easy once you have run through them a couple of times. There's also a "bulb" setting.
Changing the shutter speed is the biggest pain. Sometimes you can overshoot the dot and then you can't change the shutter speed without taking another picture first. The aperture is easy, just like an old Elmar.
And that brings us to the best part of the camera, namely the lens. It's the best Leica lens I have. Of course, you have to guess focus as there is no rangefinder, but I have an external rangefinder that's calibrated to account for the 10-inch offset when holding the camera in front of my face.
On a sunny day you can set the lens to f/12, the shutter speed to 2 (or 1/500th), the focus to 7 meters and then just snap away and depth of field will do the rest.
The bottom line is it's a very unusual camera but it takes good pictures and is fun to use. But it's certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
pvdhaar
Peter
Can't exactly remember where, but I've seen pictures from someone that used an O-series to take pictures at a dance party. There's no flash contact on the O, so this guy dragged the shutter and used open flash to freeze the action. Most amazing thing was that the pictures were very, very good.. Imagine that, a relic from the twenties doing fine in 21st century..
elmer3.5
Well-known
Adventure
Adventure
Thank you so much for your great review leicaOseries!!!
That issue of the aligning slits encourages me even more to get one O!!!!
The most beautiful side of this kind of cameras is they really get you in another mood and another time.
I joined your group and really enjoy´d every photo posted!
Ilove elmar lenses, i still consider my best one as you do!
even my nickname has relation to that lens!
Pvdhaar, please try to remember where to look at those pics!
If you have other links to look for please post ´em as well ;-)
Cheers!
Adventure
Thank you so much for your great review leicaOseries!!!
That issue of the aligning slits encourages me even more to get one O!!!!
The most beautiful side of this kind of cameras is they really get you in another mood and another time.
I joined your group and really enjoy´d every photo posted!
Ilove elmar lenses, i still consider my best one as you do!
even my nickname has relation to that lens!
Pvdhaar, please try to remember where to look at those pics!
If you have other links to look for please post ´em as well ;-)
Cheers!
Luddite Frank
Well-known
" The shutter speeds are marked in slit widths, not the speeds you're used to, but I can't remember the sequence off the top of my head. I know the top one is 2 and the slowest speed is 50, and to get the equivalent speed you divide these into 1,000 (so 2 becomes 1/500th of a second, and 50 becomes 1/20th of a second). "
Oh boy; sounds like the old Graflex SLR press cameras !
Not for people in a hurry !
( I want one too ... prefer the version with the flip-up finder.)
Oh boy; sounds like the old Graflex SLR press cameras !
Not for people in a hurry !
( I want one too ... prefer the version with the flip-up finder.)
Leica0Series
Well-known
Pvdhaar, I've done that trick with the flash, too ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57365370/in/set-1242299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57366882/in/set-1242299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57366883/in/set-1242299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57365370/in/set-1242299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57366882/in/set-1242299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettdavis/57366883/in/set-1242299/
pvdhaar
Peter
That's exactly the kind of shots I meant.. Third one by the way is splendid!
Dralowid
Michael
Each time this topic appears I suggest that a Leica I is ultimately more rewarding...cheaper too...
Michael
Michael
elmer3.5
Well-known
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
I'm shooting a Leica Standard now, you guys make me feel like a modernist!
Leica0Series
Well-known
Every now and then I take the camera as my main camera on vacation (backed up by my iPhone, of course). I recently took it to Grand Cayman for a few days. Here's my favorite pic from that.
CaymanTrees by Brett Davis, on Flickr
CaymanTrees by Brett Davis, on Flickr
Leica0Series
Well-known
FrozenInTime
Well-known
I do like those colors and compositions
Pioneer
Veteran
It is worth learning to work with the camera's vintage controls to be able to enjoy that wonderful lens. Whether you are working with black and white or with color the lens does a masterful job of rendering the photograph.