Oldest RF on RFF?

[hugivza]

I recently acquired a FED which I eventually identified as a 1d, circa 1940 and I wondered what is the oldest camera in regular use on the forum. I have just taken it out this past weekend and am awaiting the results with interest - it has been CLA'd at least once! I know there must be a few vintage Leicas and Contax around. Since there are 90 year old Japanese rugby enthusiasts who are still playing the game, who is game to confess to having the oldest piece of precision machinery dedicated to the noble art of light painting?

 

[dexdog]

I know that there are lots of older RFs in use than this example, but FWIW, I use a 1932 Contax 1a from time to time.

dexdog

 

[simonankor]

I beat you, just... My FED is a 1939 model! 😀

 

[CZeni]

Leica IIIa, 1937 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

excuse me, what am i missing here?? FED before end of WW2? i thought they were leica copies from after the war.
Anybody to help me out?

PS my oldest rf's are from the fifties, so no contest for me...

 

[Kin Lau]

My Leica IIIa is from 1939 and i use it regularly.

 

[wlewisiii]

My oldest is quite young - 1943 Anniversary Speed Graphic.

William

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Lieca IIIa 193? - durn, I need the camera in front of me. I have several brass lenses for 8x10 which are 19th century easy.

 

[JohnL]

I used to own a Leica I built in 1931, but I traded it (and a 1936 Rollei TLR) for a Rollei SL66 in about 1970. It didn't have a rangefinder, though, so maybe it doesn't qualify.

 

[taffer]

Pherdi, in fact Soviet Leica copies started way before WW2, and shortly after the first Barnack 35mm was produced. I think there's a very interesting article online somewhere, I'll try to find it if nobody posts it here before.

I'm out of game, with only a 50s Kiev II 🙂

 

[OldNick]

I have a Leica IIIa that started life as a Leica III in 1935, later upgraded to a IIIa. I've owned this camera since 1952 and use it frequently. You can see it in my Avatar.

 

[Byuphoto]

Does a 1939 Elmar lens count ;-)

 

[Kin Lau]

I have a Leica IIIa that started life as a Leica III in 1935, later upgraded to a IIIa. I've owned this camera since 1952 and use it frequently. You can see it in my Avatar.

I wondered the same thing about mine. The serial number according to Cameraquest says it's a Leica III (but still a '39 camera), but the 1/1000 shutter means it's a IIIa, so it's probably an upgraded camera also.

 

[Pherdinand]

Does a 1939 Elmar lens count ;-)

Well...in that case i have a working compur shutter and an old tessar from a rusted away zeiss ikomat, should be from the early thirties😀

 

[OldNick]

As I understand it, in the 1930s, Leica offered factory upgrades for previously-purchased cameras, so many went back to the factory for this service. My IIIa hasn't seen a factory or service facility since I bought it in 1952, though I was told that the shutter curtain had been replaced before I bought it.

 

[Kin Lau]

Lieca IIIa 193? - durn, I need the camera in front of me. I have several brass lenses for 8x10 which are 19th century easy.

Put the brass lense on a Speed Graphics with a focal plane shutter, and you'll have an RF with the oldest lense.

 

[furcafe]

The oldest working RF I have is a 1934 Zeiss Ikon Super Nettel.

I recently acquired a FED which I eventually identified as a 1d, circa 1940 and I wondered what is the oldest camera in regular use on the forum. I have just taken it out this past weekend and am awaiting the results with interest - it has been CLA'd at least once! I know there must be a few vintage Leicas and Contax around. Since there are 90 year old Japanese rugby enthusiasts who are still playing the game, who is game to confess to having the oldest piece of precision machinery dedicated to the noble art of light painting?

 

[hugivza]

I am not sure if the adage "age before beauty" counts, but clearly age is evident amongst the membership, myself included, as well as the equipment used. Thanks guys - it's nice to know that I am in the middle of the road yet again.