Is that the fujifilm X-Pro? I always liked that one, one of the few "affordable" digital rangefinder-style cameras out there. Really nice design and catering to a unique audience, coming from another time.
Yes, exactly... I feel the same way.
ASA 32
Well-known
Canon EOS-1, a beautiful camera to my eye.
KismetSky
Established
Black Paint IIIg with a Leicavit (apparently this one sold for £17,500 last year).

gaheris
Established
Black Paint IIIg with a Leicavit (apparently this one sold for £17,500 last year).
The absolute perfection of the black paint seems too good to be true... but I have heard the Leica ii and iii black paint were better than the M's and would not develop bubbles.
KismetSky
Established
The absolute perfection of the black paint seems too good to be true... but I have heard the Leica ii and iii black paint were better than the M's and would not develop bubbles.
Here was the listing: https://www.dominicwinter.co.uk/Auc...ack-leica-iiig-camera/?lot=335931&au=671&sd=1
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
OK, I'll bite David. Which camera is that? Definitely sleek and minimalist....
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Cartier-Bresson also had a black paint Leica IIIg. The camera was specially made for him. It was auctioned maybe fiteen years ago for about EUR 40.000,00 if I remember well.
Erik.
Erik.

raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
OK, I'll bite David. Which camera is that? Definitely sleek and minimalist....
Purma Special
http://vintagephoto.tv/purma.shtml
Slow (1/25), Medium (1/150), and Fast (1/450), shutter speeds are selected by holding the camera as shown below

D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
Black Paint IIIg with a Leicavit (apparently this one sold for £17,500 last year).
![]()
It's interesting that serial # 909908, doesn't show as a IIIg, but as a Ig.
https://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm
https://www.google.com/search?q=lei...0j69i57j0l6.7405j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
& the paint quality seems too perfect, given the bubbling seen on M2 & M3 cameras. Looks like a dream though
Erik van Straten
Veteran
My original black paint Leica IIIc with Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5. Also, no bubbles. I have this camera over fifteen years or so.
Erik.
Erik.

KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Purma Special
http://vintagephoto.tv/purma.shtml
Slow (1/25), Medium (1/150), and Fast (1/450), shutter speeds are selected by holding the camera as shown below
![]()
How have I never heard of this camera before? A remarkable piece of industrial design. The shutter speed "setting" is unique and ingenious. I'd love to see some pictures taken with one of these!
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
How have I never heard of this camera before? A remarkable piece of industrial design. The shutter speed "setting" is unique and ingenious. I'd love to see some pictures taken with one of these!
Nice little picture taker...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/raulm/albums/72157610695325758
https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=interestingness-desc&safe_search=1&text=purma&view_all=1
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
My original black paint Leica IIIc with Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5. Also, no bubbles. I have this camera over fifteen years or so.
Erik.
![]()
That's beautiful Erik! The auction company should have hired you to do their product photographs.
& those Color-Skopar 50s are wonderful lenses.
blan01
Established
My top 3 would be: black paint Nikon SP, black paint Leica MP-3, black paint Contax I
A few honorable mentions: chrome Pentax Spotmatic, black Contax G2, Rollie 2.8F white face, chrome Nikon FM3A, Bronica RF645
A few honorable mentions: chrome Pentax Spotmatic, black Contax G2, Rollie 2.8F white face, chrome Nikon FM3A, Bronica RF645
aizan
Veteran
How have I never heard of this camera before? A remarkable piece of industrial design. The shutter speed "setting" is unique and ingenious. I'd love to see some pictures taken with one of these!
The Cooper Hewitt Design Museum even has it in their collection!
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18621835/
Forest_rain
Well-known
When I first started using digital cameras I didn't quite "get it" with the popularity of Fuji. The high cost didn't seem to justify them.
But after using film cameras I now "get it", Fujis often have the most authentic representation of the vintage functionality, and fully manual control. I'm not sure about the lens quality, but I can now appreciate why people like them so much. They seem to capture the ethos of film photography a little bit better.
I can see why they would be good for someone coming from film, but wanting to "go digital" to save money on film, development, etc., but still likes the old way of doing things.
It probably goes to show I'm a lot younger than a lot of people on here that I'm talking about when I first started using "cameras" (vs. cell phones) and that I used film cameras AFTER I started using digital cameras.
But after using film cameras I now "get it", Fujis often have the most authentic representation of the vintage functionality, and fully manual control. I'm not sure about the lens quality, but I can now appreciate why people like them so much. They seem to capture the ethos of film photography a little bit better.
I can see why they would be good for someone coming from film, but wanting to "go digital" to save money on film, development, etc., but still likes the old way of doing things.
It probably goes to show I'm a lot younger than a lot of people on here that I'm talking about when I first started using "cameras" (vs. cell phones) and that I used film cameras AFTER I started using digital cameras.
Yes, exactly... I feel the same way.
David Hughes
David Hughes
PURMA Special
PURMA Special
Thanks folks, saves me typing (badly).
It's a nice thing to hold and use but I cannot afford 127 film today and don't know what state my one's in. It's a double window, 16 on 127 film camera, btw.
The best source of information is the Focal Press Guide at Mike Butkus but please donate:-
https://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/purma_guide.pdf
The strangest thing about it is that it has three speeds that change by turning the camera around; being a square format the resulting picture is the same. Look beside the VF and you might just make out "SLOW" and "FAST" moulded sideways. They claim pro's carried them as they were very fast to use for grab shots but you have to understand it has one fixed focus lens and just the one aperture (the lens is an uncoated Beck f/6.3). I have seen pictures by an official photographer taken with one during the D-Day landings and, well, look at the book...
It has one unique feature; the lens retracts and has a spring behind it to push it out. The lens cap fits over the lens and you push them both back and screw the lens cap to the body. The shutter is then locked. I wish Leica had thought of that...
They are still cheap, there are three versions and the "PURMA Special" is the one to go after. Usually they come with a box and ERC, like raydm6's picture.
Have fun, David
PURMA Special
Thanks folks, saves me typing (badly).
It's a nice thing to hold and use but I cannot afford 127 film today and don't know what state my one's in. It's a double window, 16 on 127 film camera, btw.

The best source of information is the Focal Press Guide at Mike Butkus but please donate:-
https://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/purma_guide.pdf
The strangest thing about it is that it has three speeds that change by turning the camera around; being a square format the resulting picture is the same. Look beside the VF and you might just make out "SLOW" and "FAST" moulded sideways. They claim pro's carried them as they were very fast to use for grab shots but you have to understand it has one fixed focus lens and just the one aperture (the lens is an uncoated Beck f/6.3). I have seen pictures by an official photographer taken with one during the D-Day landings and, well, look at the book...
It has one unique feature; the lens retracts and has a spring behind it to push it out. The lens cap fits over the lens and you push them both back and screw the lens cap to the body. The shutter is then locked. I wish Leica had thought of that...
They are still cheap, there are three versions and the "PURMA Special" is the one to go after. Usually they come with a box and ERC, like raydm6's picture.
Have fun, David
Last edited:
Muggins
Junk magnet
Hey, another Purma user! Well, I was until I discovered all my 127 had reticulated in the fridge... again!
As far as I know I'm still the only person to have posted photos on Flickr taken with its predecessor, the Purma Speed...
Adrian
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I'm not the photog, just supplied the links 
Ok those black paint IIIg cameras are pretty special.
Share:
-
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.