Do you mean the only Leica with 100%?
Tell Me About Screw Mount Leicas
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Do you mean the only Leica with 100%?
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
I keep both my M2 and Leica II loaded with the same film, and they are cameras for different days. When I want to go out un-encumbered, I slip the Barnack with Elmar in my jeans pocket. Going out to a dedicated "shoot" with an agenda? The M2 & a couple of extra lenses and some accessories and extra film goes in a shoulder bag.
If I can only own one camera, I'm afraid it will be a Leica II.
Early on I trimmed the film leader for my Barnacks like I was instructed, but I couldn't figure out why it was necessary. Now I bulk load and cut the film straight across, with a very little practice it loads faster than anything.
If I can only own one camera, I'm afraid it will be a Leica II.
Early on I trimmed the film leader for my Barnacks like I was instructed, but I couldn't figure out why it was necessary. Now I bulk load and cut the film straight across, with a very little practice it loads faster than anything.
summar
Well-known
The first 35mm camera I learned to use, long ago, was a IIIf borrowed from my father. Later I inherited it and still use it regularly, with a 50/3.5 Elmar, 35/3.5 Summaron and 21/4 CV. It’s compact enough to fit a jacket pocket, and in all these years I’ve never had trouble loading it.
I like to use it for action, pre-focusing and using a life-size finder, keeping both eyes open.
The finder is not the expensive Leitz SBOOI; it’s marked Albada. Since the camera was bought in Holland, the finder might have been made under license from the Dutch inventor, L.E.W. van Albada. Could be a collector’s item -- who knows?
Oddly enough the IIIf is one of my favorite cameras to use indoors with flash. The 1.5x magnified rangefinder helps focusing in dim light, and the slow synch speed captures the ambient light nicely. Using a bracket, a diffuser on the flash unit and bouncing the light off the ceiling produces an effect I like
Of course above all it’s a great pleasure to use such a fine precision mechanical instrument. If you like that kind of thing.
I like to use it for action, pre-focusing and using a life-size finder, keeping both eyes open.
The finder is not the expensive Leitz SBOOI; it’s marked Albada. Since the camera was bought in Holland, the finder might have been made under license from the Dutch inventor, L.E.W. van Albada. Could be a collector’s item -- who knows?
Oddly enough the IIIf is one of my favorite cameras to use indoors with flash. The 1.5x magnified rangefinder helps focusing in dim light, and the slow synch speed captures the ambient light nicely. Using a bracket, a diffuser on the flash unit and bouncing the light off the ceiling produces an effect I like
Of course above all it’s a great pleasure to use such a fine precision mechanical instrument. If you like that kind of thing.
Steve M.
Veteran
They're nicely designed and quality built little cameras. A lot of fun to shoot with! But the knob wind put me off. Just too slow to use. There's few cameras that are as much fun to advance the film on as a double stroke M3. Snick snick. The viewfinder experience is other worldly on an M camera compared to a Barnack.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Bought my first screw mount leica in 2007. A Leica IIIa.
I own a number of them now from early Leica II to 1950s Leica IIIf
Love using them all. ...and yes I own an M3....
If you want squinty optics, try a Kodak 35 RF.
I own a number of them now from early Leica II to 1950s Leica IIIf
Love using them all. ...and yes I own an M3....
If you want squinty optics, try a Kodak 35 RF.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Yes. As far as I know the Leica II is the only camera that has a rangefinder image that is life size. All other Barnack models have magnification on the rangefinder.
Only takes a little bit of practise to line your eye up to the center of the image and then it's very easy to focus with both eyes open. I find it less fatiguing to shoot like that.
Richard G
Veteran
Great discussion. Loved my 1932 Leica II and Nickel Elmar. So compact. But the IIIf with a 1951 Elmar and SBOOI 50mm finder is something else. It is so good to use, so compact, so quiet and the lens collapsing inside completely allows it to fit in a pocket. Scale focus, and preset exposure as per other cameras, the brilliant view through the external VF, and best of all for the full field RF focussing. Late in the day it is very hard to focus the modern digital Leica rangefinder or the M6 once you're in your late 50s. The ancient advance knob? Works just fine. Bottom loading? Painful, but bearable. My IIIf was the only film 35mm camera I took on our most recent holiday.
I wish the new Summaron f5.6 was in screw mount. by Richard, on Flickr
I wish the new Summaron f5.6 was in screw mount. by Richard, on Flickr
kj_
Member
I too really enjoy my Barnack Leica. In my case a black paint Leica II.
The historical significance is certainly interesting, but for me it’s not really enough to motivate ownership.
However I’ve also found it a really fun camera to shoot. It’s certainly more primitive than any M (and most cameras out there for that matter). This requires a more considered approach, pushing you towards a different pace of shooting. It’s not necessarily slower than the M cameras (except for winding) but it depends a bit on what you shoot. It’s a very hands on affair and I personally feel quite connected to the process when shooting it.
So this enjoyable shooting experience combined with the compact size is the main appeal to me. The historical significance, design and build are added bonuses. That I can share lenses with my other M-cameras is also rather nice.
The historical significance is certainly interesting, but for me it’s not really enough to motivate ownership.
However I’ve also found it a really fun camera to shoot. It’s certainly more primitive than any M (and most cameras out there for that matter). This requires a more considered approach, pushing you towards a different pace of shooting. It’s not necessarily slower than the M cameras (except for winding) but it depends a bit on what you shoot. It’s a very hands on affair and I personally feel quite connected to the process when shooting it.
So this enjoyable shooting experience combined with the compact size is the main appeal to me. The historical significance, design and build are added bonuses. That I can share lenses with my other M-cameras is also rather nice.
retinax
Well-known
Hope this isn't hijacking the thread, but I think it fits...
How do you deal with your external viewfinders, do they stay on or come off when the camera goes into a pocket or the bag?
How do you deal with your external viewfinders, do they stay on or come off when the camera goes into a pocket or the bag?
Timmyjoe
Veteran
That's a very good question retinax. And I've not found a good solution. My IIIc is so pocketable, without the external finder, but since I like to use it with a 35mm lens, I need the finder, which then makes the camera not terribly pocketable.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
MaxElmar
Well-known
Well, "only" except for the Nikon S2, S3, S4, SP, Canon P, Voigt R3 series... and probably a few others I've missed...
Nice try, but 150% is still better. And you can't focus an original II RF. Let's consider 100% as the "minimum"...
And that guy looks cool! I could not pull off a white suit.
Nice try, but 150% is still better. And you can't focus an original II RF. Let's consider 100% as the "minimum"...
And that guy looks cool! I could not pull off a white suit.
The Leica II has a 100% rangefinder window.
That's a big thing because you can focus with both eyes open and not look anything like this at all:
AFAIK the Leica II is the only camera that had a 100% rangefinder magnification.
oldwino
Well-known
I use a small piece of electrical tape across the back of the coldshoe and finder foot. It provides a little bit of resistance. So, far, I haven’t lost a finder.
ktmrider
Well-known
Well, I am going to be in Inverness, Scotland in September and Fforbes is on my list to visit. They seem to have a fair number of screw mount cameras. Honestly, I don't know where I would come across any here in the Southwest US until then.
johannielscom later clarified the only Leica with 100%.
I don't find barnacks particularly pocketable anyway. But if size is an issue, skip the aux viewfinder. Even with wides. 🙂
retinax
Well-known
I'm curious about one day trying one, mainly as a platform for (CV) wides. I've never used an external viewfinder, I'm a bit worried it makes the whole affair fragile, prone to snagging on things when pulling it out of a bag etc. Am I overthinking that?
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Personally, I've never felt I needed to be any more careful just because it had an external vf on it than I would be otherwise. It's never seemed to be a fragile arrangement, to me at least. Slightly bigger, yes.
lxmike
M2 fan.
My SBOOI lives constantly on my IIIc stepper, the 5cm finder is a true gem and wonderful to shoot with
shawn
Veteran
I actually tend to enjoy know wind if I roll the winder across my finger. My biggest issue is my Vito III winds the opposite direction of the IIIG.
There are many Barnack clones that are lever wind. Both my Leotax and Nicca are. Canon made lever winders and there are likely others.
Shawn
shawn
Veteran
I leave the SBOOI on my Tower 45 all the time. It is a tight fit in the shoe so no chance of it falling off. I carry the camera in a Domke F5Xa and it fits fine with the finder on and it actually has the IIIG next to it with a light meter in the middle. The Tower has a Nikkor 5cm f2 and the IIIG has an Elmar 2.8 on it.
Shawn
