Leica LTM LTM Pitfalls

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
crawdiddy said:
OK, please explain. I know the Summarit isn't the most coveted Leica lens. I recently bought one at a camera show. The build quality is very nice, although it's not terribly sharp. I'm just beginning to get results. Not blown away, but not disappointed either.

Is it because few of these antique lenses turn out to actually be minty?
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In the case of the Summarit I bought, "minty" must have been an euphemism for quite hazy. The part I somewhat regret, is that I had a bayonet mount Summarit that I sold that was in great shape except for a single hairline scratch on the front glass. At the time I had sold my only working M camera. I then bought my current "minty" hazy LTM Summarit. It actually has worked out since I was able to clean most of the haze and it produces the kind of pictures I was hoping for.
 
1) carefully remove lens
2) while paying close attention to not dropping lens, let camera body slip from fingers
3) make juggling, sprawling, NHL goalie quality "save" before camera hits the floor
4) realize you have just put your thumb through the shutter

don't ask how I know.
 
Attempting to focus while looking through the wrong window ("Where did that patch go?")

Similarly difficult, attempting to focus while looking through the accesorry VF




p.s. "Minty" usually means the elements are coated in Altoids dust (at least that's what I've gathered from ebay photos).
 
" No one has set the shutter speed before winding? "

Of course we haven't, what do you think we are? Stupid!

Oh, and how's about polishing a black camera with a little Brasso to bring the shine back...yes, that is brass under there...

Buying any lens you intend to use without seeing it first...

Michael
 
reagan said:
and i've dropped the take-up spool so many times, my wife says, "why don't you just go ahead and start out in the floor to do that." 😎
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LOL!!

Hi Reagan, hope you're staying for a while this time 🙂

Letsee... I now have two LTM's, a Zorki, and a IIIc.

If it were not for RFF and internet in general, I'd be doing all the wrong things listed in this thread and more.

Good thread! 🙂
 
Excellent thread. Because I started using my IIIa around 40 years ago, and use it very little nowadays, I'd forgotten most of these.

No doubt I shall rediscover some of them, now John has kindly fixed the camera...

Cheers,

R.
 
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MikeL said:
No one has set the shutter speed before winding?
Click to expand...

ya mean, we're not supposed to do that? 😱

... hey, yo keith & will. it's good to be back around after a year+ furlough. things look differant w/ nice improvements! hope to update my blogs and gallery soon. thanx for the welcome!
 
Forgot to mention how I once tried to save money by borrowing an ABLON film trimming template and made an exact copy of it in cardboard.

I was pretty chuffed until I came to use if for the first time and cut the film and template in half!
 
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