mkvrnn
Established
I like the Barnack Leicas, by which I mean anything pre-M series.
I like them for their styling and their simplicity, and I've accumulated a small collection of them including various II and III models.
But with the clear exception of my iiig, I've always considered them to be impossible to actually use because of their ridiculously small viewfinder and rangefinder windows. The effort of loading the film though the bottom plate just doesn't justify the user experience which for me is ruined by the lack of a decent viewfinder.
But my latest acquisition has made me reconsider, and perhaps the iiig isn't the only one I would actually want to use. A lovely If model came up at a reasonable price and I bought it. A camera without a built-in viewfinder had always seemed like a stupid idea, but the If is a really lovely and very useable camera, thanks to its shoe-mounted finder. The viewfinder image is big and clear, and has nice framelines, making it far easier to use than anything up to the IIIf. The case has enough room to close with the viewfinder on position, which means that it can be left permanently in place. And there's even room inside the top of the case to store the rangefinder. Admittedly the shoe-mounted rangefinder is as squinty as any other early Leica finder, but I'm happy do dispense with it and estimate the focussing distance. After all, I managed easily enough before I could afford reflex and rangefinder cameras, and rarely had an out of focus shot.
So maybe the best of the Barnacks is the simple I series.......
I like them for their styling and their simplicity, and I've accumulated a small collection of them including various II and III models.
But with the clear exception of my iiig, I've always considered them to be impossible to actually use because of their ridiculously small viewfinder and rangefinder windows. The effort of loading the film though the bottom plate just doesn't justify the user experience which for me is ruined by the lack of a decent viewfinder.
But my latest acquisition has made me reconsider, and perhaps the iiig isn't the only one I would actually want to use. A lovely If model came up at a reasonable price and I bought it. A camera without a built-in viewfinder had always seemed like a stupid idea, but the If is a really lovely and very useable camera, thanks to its shoe-mounted finder. The viewfinder image is big and clear, and has nice framelines, making it far easier to use than anything up to the IIIf. The case has enough room to close with the viewfinder on position, which means that it can be left permanently in place. And there's even room inside the top of the case to store the rangefinder. Admittedly the shoe-mounted rangefinder is as squinty as any other early Leica finder, but I'm happy do dispense with it and estimate the focussing distance. After all, I managed easily enough before I could afford reflex and rangefinder cameras, and rarely had an out of focus shot.
So maybe the best of the Barnacks is the simple I series.......
Attachments
FrankS
Registered User
The best camera is the one you have with you, with fresh film and/or battery, whichever applies.
presspass
filmshooter
After more than 30 years without a Barnack, I found a IIIa with 50 Summar in nice condition. Clearly it couldn't survive alone, so I got another one, a 35 Elmar and a 90 Elmar. Pain to load? You bet. Nice to shoot? Very much so. The rangefinder takes getting used to, but the diopter makes it more than useable if it's clean. The finder will work with a 50, but I would rather use a shoe-mount finder - right now its a Voightlander. Same for the 35, and the 90 is handled by a Tewe, all of which I had before I came back to the one true Leica. The elegance of the design is great and the camera requires considerable shooter involvement. BTW, a lot of the time, 50 and shorter lenses can be pre-focused, obviating the need for the rangefinder. A I series takes that simplicity for granted, but I wouldn't want to shoot one with a 90 or 135.
Bingley
Veteran
I happily shoot with my IIIc. Yes, it takes a little longer to load, but I'm used to that now. I always use an auxiliary vf so the small camera vf doesn't bother me. It's a mechanical jewel while being very robust. It fits easily into a coat pocket. I think it's a great shooter in use if you can live with its quirks.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Question: 'The best Leica Barnack?'
Answer: 'But with the clear exception of my iiig, I've always considered them to be impossible to actually use... '
Regards, David
Answer: 'But with the clear exception of my iiig, I've always considered them to be impossible to actually use... '
Regards, David
Bill Clark
Veteran
For loading, I cut more leader than needed, never less of film for loading. That could be trouble!
I have two sproket holes (four if you count both sides) out from the film cannister.
Clip the film on to the film take up reel. Then I start the canister on the left side chamber, then the take up reel on the right. If I cut too much, I just wind it on to the take up reel, then proceed to slide the film cannister and take up reel into their respective chambers.
Have the rewind advance lever on advance. Then move the wind knob a little, tighten film that's in the cannister.
Put the bottom plate back on. Advance the film, is it turning the rewind knob? Fire off a couple of frames. Ready set!
Works for me, just trying to help you!
I like all Barnacks! I've only needed to have one rebuilt by Youxin!
I have two sproket holes (four if you count both sides) out from the film cannister.
Clip the film on to the film take up reel. Then I start the canister on the left side chamber, then the take up reel on the right. If I cut too much, I just wind it on to the take up reel, then proceed to slide the film cannister and take up reel into their respective chambers.
Have the rewind advance lever on advance. Then move the wind knob a little, tighten film that's in the cannister.
Put the bottom plate back on. Advance the film, is it turning the rewind knob? Fire off a couple of frames. Ready set!
Works for me, just trying to help you!
I like all Barnacks! I've only needed to have one rebuilt by Youxin!
nikonosguy
Well-known
Black
I love my iid
I love my iid
Robert Lai
Well-known
Of the Leicas, the IIIG is THE most usable. This includes flash use.
The Canon 7s is decent, but for screw mount cameras, the Bessa R is my favorite.
The Canon 7s is decent, but for screw mount cameras, the Bessa R is my favorite.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
As long as they're technically good and have a SBOOI in their accessory-shoe all the barnacks are OK.
Erik.
Erik.
oltimer
Well-known
I agree about the use of the accessory shoe, but my favorite lens uses the SBLOO, on a IIIG.
Rico
Well-known
An external VF changes everything (even for an M). I have SBOOI and longer Leitz versions, but decided that SBLOO was too big and rectangular. The modern Zeiss offerings are even chunkier, so I picked the V/C finders for 28mm & 35mm and am very pleased with them—perfect proportions for any Barnack. As for sheer beauty, I feel the IIIb is the pinnacle of all Leica cameras, ever. 
For just getting the job done, there's always the M4 or Nikon D3X.
For just getting the job done, there's always the M4 or Nikon D3X.
Jerevan
Recycled User
The only one that I do not like for practical reasons is the II model since it does not have any diopter correction.
My own perfect "dream Leica" would be a model II shell with a IIIb top - that is, closer RF/VF configuration, no slow speeds and no lugs.
My own perfect "dream Leica" would be a model II shell with a IIIb top - that is, closer RF/VF configuration, no slow speeds and no lugs.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
I have tried to love scale focus and have failed!! In fact the last of my scale focus cameras, is an Agfa on sale rite now in the classifieds. My favorite Barnack (which is also my fav film camera) is my IIIFRDST. I admit that part of the appeal is the amazing machinery of this Barnack . I have others but I love the F to death.
Red Robin
It Is What It Is
I have a small collection of bottom-loaders that hail from the '50's. two canons ,now shef queens. a ii-frd waits for a cla. A leica iii f rd currently gets most of my attention. Strangely my Bessa-R is great in the viewfinder department. my Canons all have a place, but it's the leica iiif is the bag I enevenivally reach for . .. go figure.
02Pilot
Malcontent
I have two IIIcs and a IIIg; the cs both wear external finders (the normal rigs are W.Acall 35/3.5 and Komura brightline finder, and Summitar and Voigtländer 1:1 brightline finder), while the g only gets one if I'm using it with a wider lens. The integral VF on the IIIg makes it more flexible and marginally more portable with a 50, but the external finders are quicker to use for street photography.
Larry Cloetta
Veteran
Sometimes, I don't listen to the advice of others. Usually that's a problem. However, I will forever be grateful that I disregarded the received wisdom that Barnacks were hard to load and that the viewfinders were problematic. Maybe I'm just "squinty" myself. Fortunate to have two iiigs and one iiib. If anything, I find the iiib easier to focus than the iiig, due to the rf magnification, though neither one is difficult to use. I can focus either one faster than my Hasselblad 500CM, and nobody complains about the Hasselblad.
As far as loading the film, it's one of the easiest things I get to do on any given day. I wish the rest of my life was that easy. Yes, it is easier to load film into many other cameras, but you're just comparing an easy thing to an even easier thing. If you are shooting less than thirty rolls a day, I can't see how the loading issue would be a real problem. I know I am sanding against the grain here. Maybe the ease of use and joys of a Barnacks are all in my head, and I should accept the idea that they are somehow difficult to use, but I just don't get that. To me, they are happy little tools, and I would not change anything. (That door on the back of the M3, that's known as a kludge
I post this mainly for people who have never owned a Barnacks, so, if they are considering one, they won't be put off by all the chatter. For me, the only disadvantage lies not in the body but in lens selection, and that's a matter of taste. You might find, as I did, that a Barnacks is a perfect fit. I'm easy, that's a possibility.
As far as loading the film, it's one of the easiest things I get to do on any given day. I wish the rest of my life was that easy. Yes, it is easier to load film into many other cameras, but you're just comparing an easy thing to an even easier thing. If you are shooting less than thirty rolls a day, I can't see how the loading issue would be a real problem. I know I am sanding against the grain here. Maybe the ease of use and joys of a Barnacks are all in my head, and I should accept the idea that they are somehow difficult to use, but I just don't get that. To me, they are happy little tools, and I would not change anything. (That door on the back of the M3, that's known as a kludge
I post this mainly for people who have never owned a Barnacks, so, if they are considering one, they won't be put off by all the chatter. For me, the only disadvantage lies not in the body but in lens selection, and that's a matter of taste. You might find, as I did, that a Barnacks is a perfect fit. I'm easy, that's a possibility.
Jerevan
Recycled User
I have to say I agree. I find them easy to load - I read up on how to do it and stick to doing it by the book (I've done a few rolls without cutting them, and it worked fine too in a pinch). Love the RF/VF experience and that you have to "wait for the moment". But I suppose I am a bit crazy.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
An external VF changes everything (even for an M). I have SBOOI and longer Leitz versions, but decided that SBLOO was too big and rectangular. The modern Zeiss offerings are even chunkier, so I picked the V/C finders for 28mm & 35mm and am very pleased with them—perfect proportions for any Barnack. As for sheer beauty, I feel the IIIb is the pinnacle of all Leica cameras, ever.
Ditto for love of the IIIb, although the pinnacle...��
My IIIb was CLA'd about 15 years ago by Leica themselves and it's the smoothest of all the Leicas I have, and that's a total of 25 and includes the second best, the M7.
And I love the small 28/35 Voigtlander viewfinder also. Pity they're so hard to find nowadays and their cost ��
oltimer
Well-known
The SBLOO sits close to 1/8 of an inch higher on my IIIG, than the very beautiful Voightlander 35 viewfinder I have on my IIIC. I agree about the pricing; but quality costs, and what happens when they no longer make them?
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Sometimes, I don't listen to the advice of others. Usually that's a problem. However, I will forever be grateful that I disregarded the received wisdom that Barnacks were hard to load and that the viewfinders were problematic. Maybe I'm just "squinty" myself. Fortunate to have two iiigs and one iiib. If anything, I find the iiib easier to focus than the iiig, due to the rf magnification, though neither one is difficult to use. I can focus either one faster than my Hasselblad 500CM, and nobody complains about the Hasselblad.
As far as loading the film, it's one of the easiest things I get to do on any given day. I wish the rest of my life was that easy. Yes, it is easier to load film into many other cameras, but you're just comparing an easy thing to an even easier thing. If you are shooting less than thirty rolls a day, I can't see how the loading issue would be a real problem. I know I am sanding against the grain here. Maybe the ease of use and joys of a Barnacks are all in my head, and I should accept the idea that they are somehow difficult to use, but I just don't get that. To me, they are happy little tools, and I would not change anything. (That door on the back of the M3, that's known as a kludge
I post this mainly for people who have never owned a Barnacks, so, if they are considering one, they won't be put off by all the chatter. For me, the only disadvantage lies not in the body but in lens selection, and that's a matter of taste. You might find, as I did, that a Barnacks is a perfect fit. I'm easy, that's a possibility.
Wow plus one on this.... I was also advised against Barnacks and have now owned and operated them for many years happily!