My first Leica

Horatio

Horatio

Masked photographer
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Congratulations Horatio. Here's my first Leica, an M4-P that I owned in 1992. I sold it, and regret that now! So hang onto yours if you can.
John Mc
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raydm6 said:
Congratulations! Welcome.
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Thanks. The Elmar 90 is a little awkward, but it will let me practice with the CL until I decide on a wider angle lens. The Elmar's rear element is scratched (not sure how as it's deep inside the barrel), so I'm not sure what to expect from image quality.
 
Lovely camera, well done. There are plenty and cheap J-8 lenses to try until you get something else.

Welcome onboard.
 
I've never had a scratched rear element but I heard depending on its configuration and where it is located, it may not affect your final image. Good luck on that first roll. Hope you can post some images when you're ready.
 
Congratulations. The 40/2 Summicron-C or Minolta are wonderful lenses for your CL. They are also undervalued.
 
Add me to the list of congratulators or ers.

It's one of the best cameras they made and with a 40mm Summicron will be just perfect or as near to perfect as you can get.

Regards, David
 
If I'm not mistaken, that looks like the rare and desirable 3-element 90 elmar. Double bummed to hear of the scratched rear element.
 
raydm6 said:
I've never had a scratched rear element but I heard depending on its configuration and where it is located, it may not affect your final image. Good luck on that first roll. Hope you can post some images when you're ready.
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I've had a chance to take a closer look today at work, and what I thought was scratches is probably just a little fungus. The elements look much better after cleaning them with a swab.

One potential problem I just noticed is the frame counter: it won't reset lower than 24. I manipulated the release tab (as described in an old thread) but 24 is as low as it will go. Will I damage anything if I advance the film past 38 on the counter? I'll probably remove the top plate and check the counter springs, just as soon as I get the nerve!
 
helenhill said:
Yum, Lovely, enjoy
succumb to your new Addiction..,
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Yeah, I have the feeling these lowly CLs are the "gateway drug" for a Leica habit!:D

I was originally considering a Barnack body, but I wanted a larger viewfinder, with a combined rangefinder. So far the CL seems ideal in that regard. I need to get comfortable with the brightlines for composition, as I'm used to SLRs.
 
rfaspen said:
If I'm not mistaken, that looks like the rare and desirable 3-element 90 elmar. Double bummed to hear of the scratched rear element.
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Not sure if it's the 3-element or not, but that would be nice. I got it from KEH (rated UGLY) for $90. It has a nice feel to it and the aperture ring has definite click stops when rotated. There are even half-step positions.

I think the "scratches" were just a weird refraction. I'm not seeing the same thing today. However, there may be a small patch of fungus.

I want to check the OOF properties. Could make a nice portrait lens.
 
A 90 Elmar should be an exquisite portrait lens, although at that age, it's down to the individual lens itself.

My niece, looking rather more otherwordly than she normally does - taken with a LTM 90 Elmar

tashold-1-of-1.jpg
 
You won't damage anything if you keep advancing film when the counter is max'ed out, so no worries there. That is annoying though, for sure, to not know how many frames you have left. I am sure it's not a hard fix -- probably just something binding under the cover -- but getting the cover off may be hard, and require special tools. I'll let others weigh in on that.
 
KoNickon said:
You won't damage anything if you keep advancing film when the counter is max'ed out, so no worries there. That is annoying though, for sure, to not know how many frames you have left. I am sure it's not a hard fix -- probably just something binding under the cover -- but getting the cover off may be hard, and require special tools. I'll let others weigh in on that.
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Thanks. That's a relief.
 
rfaspen said:
If I'm not mistaken, that looks like the rare and desirable 3-element 90 elmar. Double bummed to hear of the scratched rear element.
Click to expand...

According to the serial number it is a 3-element version, made in 1962. Three years younger than me.
 
With that 40mm Nokton it's a great kit. 90mm for portraits makes the whole thing sweet.

Congratulations!
 
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