Graybeard
Longtime IIIf User
I've been shooting quite a lot recently with my Leicaflex Standard and have been reminded just how fine an instrument it is. The Leicaflex was a contemporary of the M4 and was built in the Leitz "hand made"/"hand fitted" era.
It isn't unusual to to find an asking price of US$150 for of Leicaflex body in fine condition ( in better condition than the purchaser and will outlast him/her by a considerable margin) and with a working meter. I just bought a Summicron R for $99 in quite good condition - clean glass, decent barrel cosmetics). Pretty attractive pricing for a Wetzlar jewel, IMHO. Those subject to GAS might want to see what is being offered in this corner of the forest (remember that the Leicaflex Standard will work properly with any one, two, or three cam Leica R lens).
I am quite aware of the "dated" design of the Leicaflex Standard; no TTL metering and a viewfinder that focusses only in its central region.
Most of my shooting is done with lenses in the range of 21mm to 90mm (I use a SL with longer focal lengths). The metering field on the camera corresponds to 90mm full field and is effectively a spot meter at shorter focal lengths. A Leicaflex with a 90mm Elmarit is a really sweet combination for street and portrait photography. This, obviously, is the focal length range of greatest interest to a Leica rangefinder user.
A rangefinder user may find the central focusing spot to be a minor issue, at worst. After all, a rangefinder Leica has a central focus "spot" in the rangefinder patch (and no depth of field preview that I've ever found on a Barnack Leica or an M3).
I am an eyeglass wearer and to some degree, the central focus spot is helpful; I focus until the area outside the patch (always sharp) and that inside the focus circle are equally sharp. In effect, the camera provides as reference image to help in determining when the lens is properly focussed.
DAG seems to have resilvered prisms available for the Leicaflex Standard, should you need one. He, or any other competent service technician, can easily recalibrate the meter for a silver oxide battery. I use the SR44's in mine.
Any other Leicaflex Standard users/fans in this Forum?
It isn't unusual to to find an asking price of US$150 for of Leicaflex body in fine condition ( in better condition than the purchaser and will outlast him/her by a considerable margin) and with a working meter. I just bought a Summicron R for $99 in quite good condition - clean glass, decent barrel cosmetics). Pretty attractive pricing for a Wetzlar jewel, IMHO. Those subject to GAS might want to see what is being offered in this corner of the forest (remember that the Leicaflex Standard will work properly with any one, two, or three cam Leica R lens).
I am quite aware of the "dated" design of the Leicaflex Standard; no TTL metering and a viewfinder that focusses only in its central region.
Most of my shooting is done with lenses in the range of 21mm to 90mm (I use a SL with longer focal lengths). The metering field on the camera corresponds to 90mm full field and is effectively a spot meter at shorter focal lengths. A Leicaflex with a 90mm Elmarit is a really sweet combination for street and portrait photography. This, obviously, is the focal length range of greatest interest to a Leica rangefinder user.
A rangefinder user may find the central focusing spot to be a minor issue, at worst. After all, a rangefinder Leica has a central focus "spot" in the rangefinder patch (and no depth of field preview that I've ever found on a Barnack Leica or an M3).
I am an eyeglass wearer and to some degree, the central focus spot is helpful; I focus until the area outside the patch (always sharp) and that inside the focus circle are equally sharp. In effect, the camera provides as reference image to help in determining when the lens is properly focussed.
DAG seems to have resilvered prisms available for the Leicaflex Standard, should you need one. He, or any other competent service technician, can easily recalibrate the meter for a silver oxide battery. I use the SR44's in mine.
Any other Leicaflex Standard users/fans in this Forum?
FrankS
Registered User
I used to have one. I sold it and a bunch of other cameras when I was raising money for my first BMW.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I also used to have a Leicaflex SL2. Really great camera. I was sad to let it go, though. I had to, for the light meter was not reliable in low light (if I recall correctly, below EV 4 at ISO 400, or EV 6 at ISO 800 --yes, it doesn't make sense).
Great piece of equipment otherwise. Mechanically, no issues. I have not used another mechanical camera that feels the same way.
Great piece of equipment otherwise. Mechanically, no issues. I have not used another mechanical camera that feels the same way.
I have one, picked up here at RFF. It has the original Summicron on it, but it must have been modified to 3-cam. The meter appears accurate enough, the prism does show some desilvering. I will check out DAG. It is built like a tank. I picked up an original leather case for it, looks like a giant M3. I also use Retine Reflex cameras, so the screen was no surprise with the focus limited to the center spot.
On the Retina Reflex-S, I replaced the prism myself. Used a prism from a Minolta XG-9.
On the Retina Reflex-S, I replaced the prism myself. Used a prism from a Minolta XG-9.
Bryan Lee
Expat Street Photographer
Im currently shopping for a SL2 to use with telephoto lenses. There are some real bargins on glass made in Canada. The whole Leicaflex secondhand market seems like it is inexspensive compared to rangefinders. Ive been surfing around the net and there is plenty of good info including a Leicaflex forum that is small but very informative.
LEICA REFLEX FORUM
LEICA REFLEX FORUM ARCHIVE
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
I thought you were referring to the CL. It's amazing the prices at which they go in KEH...
Compared to the M bodies, of course.
Compared to the M bodies, of course.