Off lens-hunting

R

Rich Silfver

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I've done a fair bit of research in the past week and am now about ready to go get myself a lens or two for the M3 I just bought.

Heading out to drive 90 miles one-way to the 'local' mecca of used Leica equipment (local in this case unfortunately means Sacramento).

Fingers crossed I return with something that both me and the AmEx liked :)

If I end up getting something I'll post my experiences here for you guys ;)
 
Do not write off the 90mm F4 Elmar! If you do not require the extra speed it is small, light, and cheap. You can always pick up a Jupiter-9 85mm F2 very cheap for low-light conditions.

Or just go with a 90mm F2 Summicron... Which I will succumb to someday.
 
Had a great day up in Sacramento (which by the way was 95-100 degrees warm).

Pardee's Camera in Sacramento is an amazing store!
The staff there is extremely friendly and knowledgable and have amazing things in stock.

I ended up picking up a near mint rigid Summicron 50/2.0 with perfect glass and body - and also a very nice original Leica shade and original yellow 39mm filter. They threw in the filter (which is in as-new condition) for free. When I asked for an MR meter the guy checked out the ones they had (they all looked great) but said that none of them were accurate and preferred not to sell me any of them - now that's honesty!

With a lens book, some caps, some filem, etc the total came to about 600 dollars. Not bad at all.

Here's some photos of how it looks all equipped with the new-old stuff:

With the Shade and yellow filter - from the side:
 
With the filter but without the shade - from the side:
 
That is one nice setup. You will love using it. When I shot the first roll through my M3 SS in its case the shutter was so quiet that I was not convinced it was firing until I got the roll of film back. It is quieter than my Retina IIIs with its leaflet shutter.
 
sure looks purdy!
bet you can't wait to shoot some of that film.
it sounds like you got a very nice deal from some very up front and knowledgeable people.

does it get any better than this...?

joe
 
Joe, I agree it's nice when you leave a place and feel that you've been treated well AND you come out of there feeling you didn't overpay.

And you're right...can't wait to burn a few rolls... Actually the guy there was kind enough to show me how to load it 'properly' and insisted I did it myself once he had shown me. Good service indeed.

Finally went to bed after having played with the lens for an hour or so. Precious.....preeecioussss......... All miinneeee....
 
I'm very, very glad you got this lens at that price. I was going to send you to the Classified section of Photo.net, where I saw someone offering a 'cron 50/2 for $700!

Most important, I'm really happy someone solved the weird paradox of loading the Leica. At least in my case, I kind of insisted in problematizing the process (like giving the film advance a couple of pulls only to see the film leader slip off the prong). It wasn't until a Leica representative taught me how to load the camera that I finally quit dreading the process of putting film in it! I cursed the guy who called the thing "quick loading" until I saw... it really is "quick"!

Though, now that I remember, you have a M3. Does it require a special film spool?

In any case, congratulations on an excellent purchase! :)
 
BTW, my very first Summicron looked exactly like yours. It's a joy to use! The focusing ring has a nice, smooth feeling, and the aperture ring clicks in the most discrete manner...

And man, isn't that a heavy lens! :eek: I went a changed mine for one of the latest crop in silver chrome, which was a bit less heavy. The black I own now is very light, though, and there's no smoothness loss. :)
 
Francisco, yeah it requires a special take-up spool and someone recommended that I get a spare one - just in case I'd lose this one and the fact that they are becoming quite rare now. Going to a camera fair in a few hours and will see if I can't pick one up there :)

After the camera fair it's downtown to the gay pride parade for me. Makes me wish I had put a colour film in it though ;)

I was surprised at how easy it was to load the M3 but then again I "come from Hasselblad" so I guess that softened the blow quite a bit :)
 
Congrats Richard, that cron looks waaaay nice :) BTW, I can help you with your charge if you find treasssssure too heavy... I'm sure it could restore the lost glory of Gondor :D
 
Great choice! That just has to be the "right" 50 Summicron for an M3. And some say that version is the sharpest one. I've been following three of those on eBay auctions coming up in an hour or so, but I've decided I'll have to pass for now, having run out of funds! So I'm a bit envious, imagining how you'll enjoy yours. :)
 
Well took the lens out for a spin today at the Gay Pride parade and along the neighbourhood. Fun lens to use - VERY smooth controls and love the way the aperture setting clicks in place.

Encountered what seems to be an infinity lock on the lens which took about 5 seconds to figure out. Now had it been a digital I would still have been reading through appendix D-F as I scrolled down the sub-sub menu to set it correctly ;)

Aaanyway, it worked really well - snapped maybe 20-25 frames and will try to exhaust the rest of the roll real soon so that I can get it developed to see if there is ANYTHING on the film :)

It did make me realize how much I'd like to supplement the 50 with a 90. Hmmm... Tele-Elmarit, Elmarit, Elmar, Summicron.. Choices, choices.... :)

Will post some frames here from the 50 once/if I get something worthwhile back.
 
That new cam is a beauty, Richard! It was borrowing a friend's M3 that hooked me on getting a Leica. I ended up with a CL which is just right for my needs. I know you're going to get tremendous pleasure from your new purchase!

Gene
 
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