New IIIF review

besk said:
I look at Rockwell's site as sort of a Blog. He gives me information and I consider most of it to be his opinion.
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Why yes, I'd say that's exactly right. What I can't figure out is why someone would think otherwise. Rockwell likes to write and post entries on his blog. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been doing it for years. He likes cameras, has been using them for years, and knows a thing or two about photography. So, why not use all that to spin off these little articles? People shouldn't take him as attempting to be unbiased and impartial. (Some folks, remember, think using a bunch of numbers and measuring stuff makes you impartial.)

Anyway, the themes in this review are common for Rockwell: Digital cameras go obsolete every few years and are loaded with features that get in the way of "real" photographers, and even really old and/or really simple cameras can be used to take really good pictures.

Those themes are echoed here every day.
 
Hi,

What is the link?? I'd like to read what Ken Rockwell has to write about the Leica IIIf. My first Leica was a IIf. (The IIf is similar to the IIIf except the shutter speeds range from 1/12 to 1/500.)

JustPlainBill
 
I had a red dial with self timer lllf that was extremely quiet after a Youxin CLA ... definitely as quiet as any M I've owned apart from an M7. I think it must depend on how the shutter brake is set!

Ken seems to be much more of a Leica fan these days than I remember ... obviously gets the 'kool aid' delivered now! 😀
 
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Ken's IIIf review is one of the funniest I've seen in a long time, especially his metaphor of using old Leicas as religious fundamentalism.

Also from today's entry:

"When DSLRs come out with retard automatic HDR inside them, probably later this year, I'm going to sh*t a chimpanzee."

Nicely done!
 
Thanks !! 🙂 I have just finished reading his review and yes it must be "with"(mit)out ...

Interesting review he wrote. I wasn"t aware that FP flash can be synchronized up to 1/1000s. 😎



Talex said:
I believe it means "LEICA IIIf, with out lens"
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Talex said:
Ken's IIIf review is one of the funniest I've seen in a long time, especially his metaphor of using old Leicas as religious fundamentalism.
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Hmmmm.... I wonder then, if my passion for screw-mount Leicas qualifies me as a: "Leica-pounder" ? " Leica-banger " ? " Tali-Leica "? " Leica-ban "?

😉


I really liked the muzzle-loader analogy... seems pretty accurate.

😉
 
Entertaining, as usual. Opinionated, as usual. Funny, as usual.

"Do not soil your LEICA by attempting to attach rubbish from the likes of modern-day Voigtländer. Why would you want to waste your time, insult your camera and look foolish in front of your friends? The only real reason to shoot with a LEICA IIIf is to use LEICA's superior optics, not to waste film with dinky lenses."

The guy won't review Sigma lenses for Nikons either — much too low class for him!
 
Bike Tourist said:
The guy won't review Sigma lenses for Nikons either — much too low class for him!
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Which is a real shame, since he seems to gush over CV lenses when he has them. (Specifically the 15mm M and Screw Mounts). Also Tokina (if I remember correctly) for the Nikon.

He does go in for ultrawides, which is why he ever reviewed off brand lenses in the first place. I suppose. I don't pretend to get into his head. I do follow along at home, though.
 
degruyl said:
Which is a real shame, since he seems to gush over CV lenses when he has them. (Specifically the 15mm M and Screw Mounts). Also Tokina (if I remember correctly) for the Nikon.

He does go in for ultrawides, which is why he ever reviewed off brand lenses in the first place. I suppose. I don't pretend to get into his head. I do follow along at home, though.
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I think Ken's CV bashing was tongue-in-cheek, because the overall tone of the IIIf review is written from the perspective of the Leica Cultist, who follows the "Prophet Oskar Barnack". Anything not Leitz is heretical.

In his review of the CV 15/4.5 Heliar, Ken actually loves this lens and gushes about it. I bought my CV 15 several years ago, and I agree this is a great lens.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/voigtlander/15mm.htm
 
Mr. Rockwell,


Please allow me to express a short (personal, of course) opinion...


First, let me thank you for your constant and independant site, so comprehensive and honest, and for your sense of humor: it makes us go back to you because we know we'll have fun, even if we don't find new info or articles... Some of us, reading you for years, receive your success with happiness...


Well, almost a year ago, I was surprised at your opinion on Voigtländer rangefinders: a bad opinion in general. Since then, I've tried them (I own three M ones: the R4M and two Ts, with three Voigtländer and Leica lenses) and I've found them absolutely wonderful cameras. And strong too... Originally I was deciding what to buy between an M2 and a IIIf, but finally I went for the easy loading and metering of present models... I have tried a friend's Leica M3, and for just one day an Ikon and an old Barnack too... Apart from mechanical, electronic and digital Nikons, I use medium and large format (Hasselblad and Arca Swiss) and I like precise, tough and beautiful equipment.


I guess, from your words, that you didn't feel the first screwmount Voigtländers as solid as the Leicas: that's in part true... But the developing and perfectioning of their whole line (near ten models!) has been a real success in the world of rangefinders. Personally, I enjoy my Voigtländers a lot more than the Leicas I've tried, but I've never used any M6, MP or M7, and they must be great too, for sure...


So this unusual message is just to tell you that it's not fair -being your site such an influential and in general trustable place- that the only reference to that great line of cameras is “bad”, because that's just staying totally away from the truth... I invite you to have some fun with the M models, and maybe you could find them great shooters too, and so maybe one day you could write about them and help other young photographers like me, just as you helped me with your review (great news!) of the rectilinear, filter threaded 15mm Heliar, which was the real reason I had to come to this very pleasant style of shooting rangefinders offer.


Now that you just reviewed the IIIf, I remembered again how good looking it is, and how much I would like to own one, but I know the Voigtländer Bessa T is a better camera. Better? That means different things for all of us, but I would never prefer a IIIf to a T, for any session or trip, because the T is a better shooter in more than one way...


Thanks for reading!
 
tonyj said:
...
It may be fashionable to knock this guy, although I'm not really sure why. ...
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Probably because he writes things like
Anything newer, like parallax correction or levers instead of knobs for film transport, is needless frivolity. This unnecessary fluff detracts from their religious photographic devotions, and are therefore seen as the work of the Devil. These frills must be expunged.
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and people get completely bent out of shape about it. Some people take him far too seriously. Read his 'about' page.

My M3 and IIIf are almost equally quiet. A properly lubricated III is very quiet, it's just a matter of finding one: most that I run across these days are dry as a bone 🙁
 
Damn ... all this screwmount talk suddenly reminds me of what a beautiful little camera they are. So glad I didn't sell my Leica ll ... but the viewfinder is a damned tunnel! 😛
 
Decent enough article. I use my IIIf & Summitar as my daily carry camera & am very happy with it.

William
 
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