brothernature
Established
Hello everyone, I recently discovered the Leotax rangefinders, and, they look really cool! Just had a question about the Leotax T2L Elite and FV. Do they both work with collapsible lenses? Was thinking one of those and a Light Lens Lab 35mm summicron collapsible would be a fun combo.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Darinwc
Well-known
Yeah they are fine with collapsible lenses. No problem at all. 
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Great cameras. My Leotax F was quieter and smoother than my CLA'd Leica IIIC. Yeah, blasphemy.
brothernature
Established
Wonderful. If only there was a model with 1/1000 top shutter speed, no self timer, AND an advance lever
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Just buy an FV and a T2L, strip out the self timer from the FV and replace the body casing with that from the T2L. There are probably cheaper ways to do it though.
It has to be said I find the self timer less ugly than on the Barnacks.
I have a very abused FV I picked up cheap; IF I ever get round to doing it up I may strip out the ST.
hilltime
Well-known
I don’t get what’s wrong with a ST? The FV is IMHO, is as good as you’ll find in a late 50’s RF camera, and I also have IIIg…
aw614
Established
I've used the LLL 35mm collapsible on my Leotax F. Had no issues at all with it. Mine is a 1/1000 shutter speed with no self timer and film advance knob.
Finally getting it back along with my Leica IIIC from YYE this week after the shutter curtain ribbon snapped last year. Can't wait to compare the two now.
There is also the Nicca Type 5L that also meet your requirements of film advance lever, no self-timer and 1/1000 shutter speed.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
If by ST you mean a self-timer... they're annoying and get in the way. I've always found their position on Barnack-styled cameras to be an irritance - that's right where my right hand wants to be when I'm carrying them. I actually found myself a IIIg where the self-timer had been professionally removed at some point long ago for this reason.
As for the Leotax T2L... I love mine, but if I'm honest, I think I actually prefer winding knobs to the wind lever on the T2L. I find it jabs me a lot in the side while I'm hiking. I never miss the 1/1000 shutter speed (it's one of those things that sounds great on paper, but I rarely use it even on cameras that have it), and the overall feel of the camera in the hand is great; the covering they used is a bit more grippy than the Leica and Canon equivalents. The viewfinder is the second best Barnack viewfinder I've ever used - not quite on par with a IIIg, but definitely a step above all other screwmount Leicas (and, I'd argue, all the Canon ones).
One of the biggest positives of the T2L is the rewind lever, though. It's a small thing, but it's much better (and cleverer) than the canted rewind lever used on the M4 onwards. I wish that could be retrofitted to other Barnacks. It's a really smart design.
The only real negative I can levy on it is the shutter release. I don't know if this is just mine, but it's noticeably a bit harder to fire the shutter smoothly than on a Leica - there's a bit more travel on the button before it trips the shutter, and the dish-shaped surround means you have to use the end of your finger more than I like. It's a nice machine overall, though. I really don't understand why Leotaxes don't get more love.
brothernature
Established
What Coldkennels said, they get in the way.
So, the Leotax viewfinders only have framelines for 50mm lenses? Is that correct?
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
Part correct. Not all Leotaxes have framelines; that starts with the TV (there's a full list of models here - Leotax Rangefinder Cameras - it gets a bit confusing). Everything before that had the classic Barnack "peephole" finder. The Leotax G has framelines for 50mm and 90mm, and a totally separate viewfinder for 35mm. Good luck finding one (especially one in good shape), though.
I think the late Leotax finder (a la TV or T2L) might be usable for a 40mm if you used the whole viewfinder, but you'd probably have more luck with that if you don't wear glasses.