First post here! Last Saturday I went to a local Camera flea market (a biannual event in Stockholm since this spring). I had some money saved from selling other cameras and misc stuff at flea markets, so I thought about a M2 or M4-2. I had thought quite a bit about the screw mounts as well, but thought I needed the M.
Well... Didn't find a M, but after a while I caught a glimpse of this on a table I had hurried past. Another visitor was fondling it and I began to panic. Luckily he put it down and when I held it I knew I didn't need a M camera.
I thought I was a 35 mm-guy, but nah.
I thought it would feel more like the Zorki I I fondled a while back. Nooooo!
I thought people bought these since they were the cheapest way in to the Leica family, and got an M when they had the money. Nope!
The body was made in 1954 (assembled in Canada, I think) and the Elmar 50/2.8 was born in 1960. The body is in good condition except for a little dirt in hard to clean places on the outside. Small scratches on the bottom plate. I have no idea about service history but the curtains look good and all shutter speeds seem right. The Elmar is reasonably clean (maybe some small dust speck). There is a tiny bit of oil on the aperture blades, but just enough to make them slightly darker. I can't see any hazing.
The seller asked for $240. I didn't even haggle, just shook his hand.
Except for it being a 2.8 Elmar instead of the 3.5 it is bare bones, and I do like that. I will make friends with the focal length, even though I've usually used 35's. I do not want a extra finder, or a larger lens. Minimal but functional, isn't that what it's all about?
🙂 The fact that the 2.8 protrudes around 12 mm more than the 3.5 is enough to keep me awake at night.
This is the first camera I've really felt the need to fondle. At multiple times. I can walk around with it at home just to feel it's presence. Wierd? Is that an anorak I see?
🙂
IMG_2477 by dralowid, on Flickr
