mmbma
Member
Hi
Please post what's in your mind the most beautiful camera in the world and a little story about it . Not limited to Leica (but what else can be more beautiful??)
I'll start. I got this little gem in a Texas used camera store. It's a Leica M2 factory repaint. The owner of the store told me he got it off a retired photo journalist who had brought it to three wars, and kept it with him for more than 30 years. I had to rain on his parade by telling him that this camera was not an original "black paint" since the serial number pointed to a chrome batch. He was angry at himself for not checking the numbers since the guy was a famous photo journalist. Anyway I ended up getting the camera for a steal and I love it to death. I admire the leicas that are in prestine condition but they don't have this kind of soul. Enjoy!
Please post what's in your mind the most beautiful camera in the world and a little story about it . Not limited to Leica (but what else can be more beautiful??)
I'll start. I got this little gem in a Texas used camera store. It's a Leica M2 factory repaint. The owner of the store told me he got it off a retired photo journalist who had brought it to three wars, and kept it with him for more than 30 years. I had to rain on his parade by telling him that this camera was not an original "black paint" since the serial number pointed to a chrome batch. He was angry at himself for not checking the numbers since the guy was a famous photo journalist. Anyway I ended up getting the camera for a steal and I love it to death. I admire the leicas that are in prestine condition but they don't have this kind of soul. Enjoy!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
My rundown M4 (nicknamed 'Garry'). Bought it off a Chinese student last year and by the looks of it I suspect it was used in tropical climates all its life.
The brass has got dents; bruises and scrapes, and a lot of general wear from gripping too. Chrome, nickel, brass, it all shows. The left hand missing piece of vulcanite exactly matches ones nose shape when looking through the viewfinder. Currently the self timer came off and the curtains look like old burlap, but the pinhole in one of them does not do anything to the film (yet!) and it still works like a charm.
The brass has got dents; bruises and scrapes, and a lot of general wear from gripping too. Chrome, nickel, brass, it all shows. The left hand missing piece of vulcanite exactly matches ones nose shape when looking through the viewfinder. Currently the self timer came off and the curtains look like old burlap, but the pinhole in one of them does not do anything to the film (yet!) and it still works like a charm.
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mmbma
Member
that's really nice! I didn't know chrome versions brass like that.
Pretty camera. That strap would rip my neck to shreds tho. 
Greyscale
Veteran
I found this little gem in a thrift store (with a bunch of accessories) for $60. I think that that is as close to the mythical $50 Leica that I will ever come.
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Leica had a service in the 50's and 60's that would convert a chrome body to black. The demand for black M2's and M3's exceeded the production and if you bought a chrome body and really wanted a black paint one - the distributor would do the conversion. The black paint top-plates were un-numbered and when they did it - they would engrave the correct number on the black top and (supposedly) destroy the chrome one. I had several of these conversions done in the 60's - occasionally when a chrome body had meet with some disaster (car doors!!!) and had them repaired and converted. The "List" of black paint bodies is at best an "estimate" - not cast in stone.
The only way to get the real scoop is to go back to either the distributor or the factory and check their records.
Many of these distributors closed down, parts bins were sold off - including black paint parts - and even the engraving machines with the Leica supplied templates.
v3cron
Well-known
MDa with 21mm Super Angulon
rawhead
Established
Voigtländer Prominent II w/ Nokton 50/1.5
Beauty by Dr. RawheaD, on Flickr
Why the hell did I sell that one??
Beauty by Dr. RawheaD, on Flickr
Why the hell did I sell that one??
ferider
Veteran
Very difficult to pick from these:
Maybe this one:
My "Bauhaus Leica" (lens and body <E.P.> marked).
Never understood the worn black paint thing .... but that's just me.
They have to work flawlessly, and the RF should be within half inch accurate at close focus, that's it .... then they get use and love.
Roland.
Maybe this one:
My "Bauhaus Leica" (lens and body <E.P.> marked).
Never understood the worn black paint thing .... but that's just me.
They have to work flawlessly, and the RF should be within half inch accurate at close focus, that's it .... then they get use and love.
Roland.
mmbma
Member
Very difficult to pick from these:
Maybe this one:
My "Bauhaus Leica" (lens and body <E.P.> marked).
Never understood the worn black paint thing .... but that's just me.
They have to work flawlessly, and the RF should be within half inch accurate at close focus, that's it .... then they get use and love.
Roland.
Ture, but dare I say the P7 is gorgeous?
mmbma
Member
I found this little gem in a thrift store (with a bunch of accessories) for $60. I think that that is as close to the mythical $50 Leica that I will ever come.
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Canon IVF by Greyscale3, on Flickr
How often do you still use it? that's the question
maxwell1295
Well-known
kshapero
South Florida Man
Hard to say: Nikon F, Leica M3 or Brassed Nikon FE
Snowbuzz
Well-known
Unfortunately, I don't think I own anything even remotely close to "most beautiful" but there is beauty in simplicity: here's the modern take.
Arca-Swiss F-Metric line.
Arca-Swiss F-Metric line.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Not really familiar with this rig but it is quite handsome to me.Unfortunately, I don't think I own anything even remotely close to "most beautiful" but there is beauty in simplicity: here's the modern take.
Arca-Swiss F-Metric line.
Snowbuzz
Well-known
Ha! Thanks: my taste isn't all bad then!
seakayaker1
Well-known
sparrow6224
Well-known
Nikon F with plain prism; Leica IIIf RD ST; Leica R8; OM-2n. Olympus XA. Minolta XD-11. Nikon S/S2/SP. Contax II/IIa. Contax RTS/II/III. Canon A-1. Oh why go on, there are so many.... think of the Exactas! The Alpas! And medium format! Linhoff! It's too much.
sparrow6224
Well-known
And I got to say, the Hasselblad 500 C/M with chrome trim and the silver 80/2.8 Planar is as gorgeous as a work of nature.
Greyscale
Veteran
I have used it once so far. I need to send it for a CLA as the coupled rangefinder is disconnected, and the aperture is quite stiff. But I got some good results shooting at hyperfocal settings. The shutter curtain seems to be good and the fast speeds work fine, but the slow speeds are hinky, and there may be a light leak from the slow speed dial. But otherwise, she looks to be in fine condition. I plan on getting a lot of use out of this camera in the future.