Leica Stories

[tedwhite]

Hey, Tony Oresteen:

What a coincidence! Igot MY first SS M3 at Oak Park Camera, but it was in 1986. I was visiting my kids (divorced, wife moved from Arizona to Oak Park) and the kids and I went for a walk and stopped in to OPC for some film. What an amazing store at the time. Huge selection of used stuff. I fell in love with the camera, made a down payment. It looked new and the price was something like $700.

I returned to Arizona, saved my money, sent him a check for the balance plus shipping, and it arrived in four days.

In truth, I don't remember much about it as it had been so long ago. The first roll was awful as I didn't know how to use it. The second was better, etc.

Ted

 

[dannynono]

My sad Leica story involves an unknown model (probably a III c or d?) given to my grandfather during WWII. The story told to me was that he'd been working on a project for GE and they had a couple German-Americans smuggled back into Germany so that they could grab some tech secrets. When the guys came back, they brought along the unknown Leica for my grandfather.

My dad remembered using the camera as a teen and my grandmother rembered seeing the camera in the basement storage after my grandfather's passing. Unfortunately though, when my grandmother's health deteriorated, her neighbor began stopping by to help her out around the house - she was apparently helping herself to some of the belongings as well. By the time I found out about the camera it was long gone.

The happy story is still being written, I picked up a M6 (thanks Maddoc) shortly before my baby girl was born this past spring. A lot of her photos have been captured through that camera, maybe it'll be her camera of choice when/if she wants it.

 

[aoresteen]

aoresteen, Can you buy film at the PX, as I hear it is the biggest in Iraq?
Great story also.

Cheers
Mark
Quito, EC

Mark,

I went by the Taji PX yesterday. All the 35mm C41 was gone! All they had were 'one-shot' disposeable cameras by Kodak. They must have pulled all the film off the shelves.

 

[aoresteen]

Hey, Tony Oresteen:

What a coincidence! Igot MY first SS M3 at Oak Park Camera, but it was in 1986. I was visiting my kids (divorced, wife moved from Arizona to Oak Park) and the kids and I went for a walk and stopped in to OPC for some film. What an amazing store at the time. Huge selection of used stuff. I fell in love with the camera, made a down payment. It looked new and the price was something like $700.

I returned to Arizona, saved my money, sent him a check for the balance plus shipping, and it arrived in four days.

In truth, I don't remember much about it as it had been so long ago. The first roll was awful as I didn't know how to use it. The second was better, etc.

Ted

Ted,

I bought a battered Beseler 5x7 MOT enlarger with a cold light head that they had lying in the corner for $125. I rebuilt it and still use it today. They also had a bunch of 5x7 stuff (SFH, tanks, SS hangers) they they almost paid me to haul away for them in 1992. I haven't been there since. Great store thought!

 

[Ian Biggar]

Stories

Stories

I came back to Scotland from Canada on holiday once and an uncle who knew I was a photographer showed me a camera he'd had for years - given to him by soneone who owed him money. It was a Leica M3 serial #700 007 with 50 and 135 lenses. I could not afford it at the time and I went through hoops trying to work out ways to get enough to buy it from him. Can't remember now how much it was but could not swing a deal. I've always remembered that seriL number.
Ah - the one that got away!
Later - much later - I bought an M2 with 50 DR, meter and case for $250 Canadian
that I loved.

I also new a Nikon rep. pretty well and just after he'd got married and took out a mortgage he was visiting one of his clients in a small town in Saskatchewan somewhere on a Friday and in the window on consignment was a metal case with 2 (!) Nikon SP's both with motor drives and all the lenses they made to go with them. He thought he'd better check with his wife before he did anything that might end in a divorce and went home to do so. She said he ought to buy them so he called the store owner on Monday to find out that the owner had picked them up on the Saturday as they had not sold and he was moving!!
Never did find out where they went.
They got divorced anyway a long time after that! There must be a moral there somewhere!
Ian

 

[misterb]

Story II

Story II

Saw The Clash in the ealry 80's when they played at the old Kerrisdale Arena in Vancouver, B.C. I brought with me the M3 fitted with a 50 Summicron and the M4 with a 28 Elmarit, both loaded with Ektachrome of some sort. Being "vertically challenged" , I had to make my way towards the front of the stage to be able to get any shots at all, but the crowd was already surging forwards and so tight that I couldn't even raise my arms to get a camera to eye level. When I finally got to the front with much wedging between people and pushing as hard as I could and I could finally get my cameras up to my face, I found myself staring into the body cavity of a lensless M4! The Elmarit had been knocked off the camera (luckily without damaging the mount) and no doubt, that lens was being kicked about and stomped on by the feet of several hundred pogo-ing Clash fans! At the end of the concert, I scoured the floor of the arena and found only the battered lenshood. Although not quite a "war zone", Vancouver has seen its share of riots associated sporting and music events with much propery damage and serious personal injuries, but that night the fans were satisfied... The lens was soon replaced by another 28 Elmarit that was maybe less than $250 (Cdn) used. The shots? I got some great ones of Joe Strummer the lead singer and many fuzzy shots one of the most influential British punk bands of that era.

 

[Glenn2]

Have been photograping for over fifty years, forty of them with Leica. Switched from Canon SLRs to M3 around 1968 mainly to get away from SLR bulk. I wanted to do some travelling and a Leica felt right.... By 1969 I'd found my holy grail of M's in the form of a chrome M4. A friendly camera salesman knew just the kind of medicine the truly addicted needed. Then lenses had to be found... Had a 50mm, soon joined by a 90mm Tele Elmarit (the short fat kind), and a 35mm Summilux. This was getting serious, my quest was now for some wide glass.... I'd used a 19mm on the Canons and was looking for the nearest Leica equivalent... A 21mm Super Angulon soon joined the flock. Then came the spare body.... You can't change backs like on a Blad, better get another M4 body for colour or slow B&W.....$$$ Ouch!

Still have the Leica lens brochure from the late sixties that I jotted prices on;
M4.... $621 case... $30 meter... $63 35mm Summicron... $202.50 and $268.50 with goggles. 35mm Summilux ... $190, 90mm Tele Elmarit.... $204,
21mm Super Angulon.... $363 (think that included finder)

Now what to do will all this fun stuff? Have always enjoyed travel photography and shooting with the Canons in Australia had just whet my appetite. Sometimes it's best to just jump in at the deep end, so booked a ticket to India and Nepal. November 5, 1970 my flight landed in Delhi and a lifetime of wanderings with a Leica began. Photos from the first trip resulted in a one man show at the Glenbow Gallery in Calgary, fueling my enthusiasm.

The next year my travel kit was lighter with the spare M4 left behind. This time it was the high diving board in the deep end. That old movie, Around the World in 80 Days kept popping into my head.... Soon an around the world ticket was purchased and the great game began. My path lead to Morocco, then Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and Afghanistan. An unexpectedly long stop over in India resulted when all flights were grounded due to the Indo-Pakistani war. The story of how I got out of India will have to wait for another time... My days of leave were fast running out allowing only a few days in Thailand and Hong Kong before returning to Canada.

In total I've made half a dozen trips into the Indian sub-continent, two of them part of RTW jaunts. Later travels went more and more minimalist for camera gear. I experimented with 3g and 3f bodies mounting 35mm Summaron, 50mm Elmar, and 90mm Elmar lenses. Am almost ashamed to admit it here on RFF, but on my last trip to India in 2005 a little Canon P&S was all I carried. Amazing what you can do with just 2MP. Am now planning yet another India trip that hopefully will close the circle. This time it will be with a recently CLA'd M4 and film.

Between 1978 and 2000 my job shifted gears and I became involved in oceanographic research pushing India to the back burner. My sea bag often contained a Leica, usually a beater 3f as I was worried about exposing the M4's to too much salt spray and high humidity. Ports of call ranged from the south seas to Vladivostok making for some interesting subjects to point a lens at.

Haven't set up a gallery on RFF yet and have mostly been a lurker, but if you're interested in Leica photos from these and other journeys there's a few on Photonet. It's a hodge podge ranging from vintage to recent, so please excuse the chaos.

Assorted Leica stuff....
http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=544062

Carpet weaving photo essay....
http://photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=611003

The entire gallery with images from other cameras ranging from 2MP digital to 4x5 large format is at this URL...
http://photo.net/photos/GlennS


Glenn

 

[maddoc]

Glenn2, your story is very interesting to read, thanks for sharing ! I also had a look at your galleries, really good work, some amazing photos.

 

[Tom A]

Glenn, thanks for the story and the link to your shots.
i have yet to figure out the connections with Leica's and travel! Does one get a Leica and start travelling or does one start travelling and get a Leica. What is it with this little box and compact lenses that gets one to start packing film and maybe some extra clothing and head out the door!
It is somewhat similar to reading Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie" - that first chapter will get you looking at the world around you and thinking "This is boring - I want to go somewhere else - anywhere else"
A couple of M's three or four lenses and a bag of Tri X - what else do you need!

 

[Glenn2]

Hi Tom,

I caught the travel bug during my early years and soon learned that small and compact was the way to go on the road.... On the other hand I also use cameras that are big and bulky, but only much closer to home computer and darkroom. Must confess that I've been sorely tempted by the M8, and it might be ideal for the type of travel shooting I like to do. It would also eliminate fear of airport x-ray machines fogging film. Last trip to India from Vancouver, carry on bag was x-rayed six times... Each Way!!! They x-ray entering airports then again at the boarding gate. One hour stop over in Korea.... Everyone off for another x-raying. Bags even got zapped exiting Chennai airport. Have heard that one should be concerned with anything over five zaps as this will degrade the image. The fear merchants are certainly doing a roaring trade. Perhaps I should think about buying shares in the company that makes x-ray machines? Have been giving some thought to the problem and am considering a film buying stop in Singapore and possibly using C41 processed B&W if I can find a decent local lab over there. Shot my first roll of the Ilford 400asa stuff a couple weeks ago and am seeing how it scans. I like the fact that dust spots can be removed by ICE on the Coolscan 5000.

A little story from my first India trip many years ago and the advantages of a smaller camera.

While waiting in the customs line at Delhi airport I watched the agent going through the baggage of the person in front of me. He had a huge case of Nikon gear, big lenses, extra body the whole nine yards.... "Yes sir we have to mark all the serial numbers in your passport. If it doesn't leave with you, tax will be charged". Don't think the fellow was too happy, loose something and get dinged on top of the loss.
When my turn came I smiled at the agent and opened my bag. Just a tiny little camera in there, not one of those big professional looking Nikons. He waved me right through and I was on my way without all the serial number nonsense. Was sure glad to get out of the building so I could take off my warm jacket that was covering the extra M4 and lens hanging over my left shoulder. The sweat was pouring off, any longer in line and there would have been a puddle.

Glenn

(Paraphrasing the Rubaiyat) .

Here with a Leica beneath the Bough,
A brick of Tri-X, a Book of Verse and D76
Beside me singing in the Wilderness ----
And Wilderness is Paradise enow.

Glenn, thanks for the story and the link to your shots.
i have yet to figure out the connections with Leica's and travel! Does one get a Leica and start travelling or does one start travelling and get a Leica. What is it with this little box and compact lenses that gets one to start packing film and maybe some extra clothing and head out the door!
It is somewhat similar to reading Steinbeck's "Travels with Charlie" - that first chapter will get you looking at the world around you and thinking "This is boring - I want to go somewhere else - anywhere else"
A couple of M's three or four lenses and a bag of Tri X - what else do you need!

 

[misterb]

Story I cont'd

Story I cont'd

I just picked up from the library a copy of "The Great Life Photographers" to look up the name of the photographer whose M4 I bought. He is Michael Rougier, known for his stint as a war correspondent in Korea. I checked the phone book and he's still listed at the address where I met him over 30 years ago.

 

[HSI]

Is it bad that I've had dreams in which I can tell you that a reporter was using a Leica CL, and the people she was interviewing told her to upgrade that piece of junk?

 

[varjag]

I just picked up from the library a copy of "The Great Life Photographers" to look up the name of the photographer whose M4 I bought. He is Michael Rougier, known for his stint as a war correspondent in Korea. I checked the phone book and he's still listed at the address where I met him over 30 years ago.

It is amazing, I have that book too and remember his photos. That M4 of yours has very cool history

 

[roundg]

Very interesting reading when I go through the thread. Here is my story,

My first Leica gear is a 35mm/3.5 Summaron. It came by itself. I mean I didn't buy it. At that time, I tried my luck on ebay. Someone was selling so called "three cameras and lens" with a very blurred pic taken by Video camera. I can only recognized one Minolta XD5 and one Yashica Lynx 14. I won the bid and paid about 150USD in total. It came as a big box, full of all kinds of camera gears and newspapers as cushion. Besides the two cameras, there were an Olympus OM1 with two lens, an Argus C3 , a canon AE1p with lens, several flashguns, filters and the Leica Summaron.

The free lens dragged me into the world of Leica. But I couldn't afford a Leica body. So I bought a R2 from RFF at about USD450. But just 10days after I received the R2. I saw a M5 for sale in a local forum with a starting price 450SGD. I called the seller immediately. Final deal is 550SGD (around 370USD).
M5 is a amazing camera.


Then I bought and sold just want to try different Leica. Interesting that I never fall love with any body later than M5. So see what I used to own, three M2, one M3, two M4P, one M5... and several CV bodies.

Now I keep the items in my signature and very happy with them. Just no time to shoot actually.

 

[literiter]

Right after WW2 my parents and I lived in Toronto. My parents were artists.

Dad used a camera to take photographs of things he would like to include in his paintings. (I was quite young at the time, so I don't remember the camera at all.) Mom told me he always traveled with it. He'd never leave it behind.

In 1948, our little family went to Jamaica. Dad painted while Mom and I learned to eat mangoes and look at the sea. Dad was killed right after he'd painted about 5 o6 canvases in a terrible bus accident. Some of our luggage was lost at the time as well.
The camera was never found.

Mom used to tell me about the camera. She would show me pictures he'd taken in Mexico and Cuba. "It was one of those big folding cameras, made in Germany." she said. "I think it was a Zeiss. A lovely camera." Mom died in 1984.

Time goes in both directions.

In 1992, I received a forwarded letter from a very close family friend in Toronto. This lady was quite old, her husband had died the year before and she was tidying up her life so she could move on herself.

There was some letters between my parents and her. "Would you like them?" "Also your Father had sold us this camera before you all went to Jamaica, you can have it too." Dad had sold the camera to help finance the trip. He was going to buy it back later.

It took a few months for the stuff to arrive. Just the letters and the camera.

The camera sits beside me as I write this, a tidy little black clam shell. Dad had scratched his initials next to the pressure plate with this admonishment "back to the sun, old boy".


(Its a perfectly nice Zeiss Super Ikonta C, with an uncoated Zeiss Tessar.)

 

[Tom A]

Wonderful story about the Super Ikonta, Old cameras never die - they just wait for the moment to reappear.
years ago I was doing some work for a company and one of the engineers asked me about a camera. He brought in this old Speed Graphic, complete with flash and a multi film holder. he asked me if I could figure out if it worked. I took it home and checked it out. The Graflex back said "5" on the counter so I took the film out and, as I knew that the former owner had been a press photographer, I assumed that the film was either tri X or Super XX. I souped the sheet in D 76 and though fogged, they came out fine. The first three showed an idyllic scene of children playing and kicking a beach ball around. The 4th negative showed the arm of a chair, out of focus and the feet of the photographer! I did print some 8x10's of the various negs and gave the camera back with the prints. The young engineer took the pictures home and showed thm to his grand mother. She paled visibly and said "That was the last picture grandpa took. We were having a picnic on the beach and he had a heartattack! That's you in diapers by the way". The negaitives were 30+ years old at that time. It is of course a tragic story, but it also has a message. If you are a photographer, what a way to go - doing your last shot at the last moment of your life!

 

[gregg]

In the fall of 2000 I was doing some sales work in Boston. I was also going through a divorce and wanted to get more into photography again after being a corporate slob for too long. Had my old Nikkormat ELW but had fondled a few SPs and was looking for a rangefinder fix.

Not finding a Nikon RF I liked I stumbled into Bromfield's of Boston and saw a lovely IIIc with a gorgeous Summitar. Walked out with it and a few rolls of Tri-X for just over $300.

Here is a link to the very first image I took as I walked out of Bromfield's that cold December night.

Not long after I met someone (now my wife) and as we talked found out her dad was a photographer. He had been in post-war Germany working in a photo lab/drug store and came home with a nice IIIf setup. Her dad has since passed away but his IIIf lives on as do his 1000s of slides and negs.

I bought and sold a couple of M6-TTLs after that and have now settled on an M6 classic with a few lenses. The IIIc still goes everywhere but is used less than the M6 which is my primary shooter for documentary work alongside a DSLR.

That's all I've got to say about that...

 

[palec]

Literiter and Tom, wonderful stories. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[misterb]

Story continues

Story continues

It is amazing, I have that book too and remember his photos. That M4 of yours has very cool history

That M4 has more stories to tell! My whole kit was stolen sometime in the Spring of '86 or '87. I lost the M4, a SS M3, a 28 Elmarit, 35 and 50 Summicron's, a 90 Tele-Elmarit, Leitz brightline finders for each of those focal lengths, and a Weston EuroMaster (aka Master V) meter. Rougier's camera is out there somewhere....

Luckily, my insurance coverage enabled me to pick up an M4-P and M4-2, replacement 28 and 35, and a very nice 75 Summilux, all in EX++ condition. After a few years, I was missing the 50 and found a Summicron at a local shop.

 

[Glenn2]

Tom, that's an amazing tale with the film,.. real Twilight Zone stuff. I've been going through old negatives and have been sending people shots I took of them forty years earlier. It certainly blows a few minds! I even got one back of a similar vintage, almost didn't recognise myself...<shock>

A story and the Leica invention that resulted.

Dropping a piece of camera gear is never a good idea, and when you're running for a train at night it's a disaster. Heard something metallic hit the platform and bounce a couple times. Stopped and checked the camera.... whew.. Lens hood was still there, but my 21mm finder was gone! PANIC!! Started searching on hands and knees in the dark and had just about given up when a kind gentleman said, "Is this what you're looking for"?, and handed me an intact finder.

When I got back home first thought after developing film was to insure viewfinder loss never occured again. It needed a safety catch of some sort. What I came up with was a strip of 0.005" stainless shimstock with a hole in one end and a catch at the other. Made the catch from a little piece of sterling silver soldered to the end then rounded with jewelers files. My M4's don't have hot shoes but am wondering if a suitable hole in the middle would make it work for those who need a flash contact? Perhaps Tom could be enticed to add something similar to his line of products? Call them Finder Keepers. ;-) A couple photos attached.

Glenn