Leica LTM Using a 3.5cm Summaron on my IIIg

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

lxmike

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Hopefully my 1953 3.5cm Summaron will arrive this week, l plan to use it on my IIIg, (as well as my III and IIIc), now until l get a dedicated finder l plan to use the area outside the 5omm brightline markings in my IIIg viewfinder. Hopefully the outside area of IIIg will help me frame the Summaron until l get a dedicated finder:D
 

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After you have shot it a while, you should be able to get a good approximation of the field of view even without a supplemental finder. Remember, rangefinders are not for precise framing.
 
that's what I found when I shot with a 35 on an M3. Not sure how much view is outside the 50mm frames on a IIIg, however.
 
Or you could make a wireframe finder to get used to the FOV, or use your phone with camera as a finder, or figure out how to vertically hold a finger in front of your nose in such a way that the overlaid images from both eyes put the finger at the edges of the horizontal FOV.
 
That is the lens that was on my IIIg when I bought it 40 years ago

I just had missed out on the rare rigid LTM 50mm Summicron that it originally came with, as a sharp eyed and knowledgeable Leica gear collector snagged it, but back then I did not know what was rare and desirable or not, I just wanted the camera to use.

I got rid of the IIIg a short time after but I still have and still use the fine 3.5 cm Summaron lens.
 
Or you could make a wireframe finder to get used to the FOV, or use your phone with camera as a finder, or figure out how to vertically hold a finger in front of your nose in such a way that the overlaid images from both eyes put the finger at the edges of the horizontal FOV.


yes but in truth l am lazy and will probably hunt out a SBLOO finder
 
That is the lens that was on my IIIg when I bought it 40 years ago

I just had missed out on the rare rigid LTM 50mm Summicron that it originally came with, as a sharp eyed and knowledgeable Leica gear collector snagged it, but back then I did not know what was rare and desirable or not, I just wanted the camera to use.


do you still have the IIIg, they are great to use
 
I agree that's better, and have to admit that I can compose much better and more easily through a reasonably precise finder. ;)

yes its precise and better but maybe not so good on the pocket, especially when the wife asks how much l paid for such a funny little thing:D
 
do you still have the IIIg, they are great to use

No, It was the only Leica I ever got rid of, it was not bare-bones enough for me for the Barnack experience and never got along with it in practice and later I replaced it with a Leica IIIc, I still have the IIIc.

I don't think I kept the IIIg for more than a year, and it was in minty condition and it worked great, and they were not exactly common to find in Canada.
 
I own the same lens and like it and I use the standard viewfinder only.

If I were to not like the added field covered by the lens I could always crop the negative in the darkroom. So fsr I haven’t done this.

Enjoy the lens as it’s a nice compact size and performs very well.
 
I own the same lens and like it and I use the standard viewfinder only.

If I were to not like the added field covered by the lens I could always crop the negative in the darkroom. So fsr I haven’t done this.

Enjoy the lens as it’s a nice compact size and performs very well.

many thanks that is encouraging to hear
 
thanks for the link:)

You are welcome .

The Rostock VFs with the metal foot are the ones to go for if possible but the plastic foot ones are hardy too.

My go-to 35 mm VF for my Nikon S2 is a plastic foot Rostock VF and yet I got many 35mm finders from the famous 1950s Japanese and German makes to choose from , all in my photo gear drawer, including ones from Zeiss and even a Leitz SBLOO.
 
You are welcome .

The Rostock VFs with the metal foot are the ones to go for if possible but the plastic foot ones are hardy too.

My go-to 35 mm VF for my Nikon S2 is a plastic foot Rostock VF and yet I got many 35mm finders from the famous 1950s Japanese and German makes to choose from , all in my photo gear drawer, including ones from Zeiss and even a Leitz SBLOO.

how do you find the SBLOO, does it have brightlines
 
A good finder is the small and relatively inexpensive one for the Canon 35mm. It would look just the ticket with a 111g I should think. To be honest it is not as good optically as the SBLOO finder but is MUCH more reasonably priced and is somewhat smaller too.

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The later black one is also excellent but I suspect (I have not checked) more expensive.

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BTW I like the 35mm f3.5 so much I had two of them. I eventually sold the one I had in LTM and kept the optically identical early Leica M one designed for the M3. It is without goggles (a later version had these) and the first Canon finder above is what I used with it on that camera.
 
A good finder is the small and relatively inexpensive one for the Canon 35mm. It would look just the ticket with a 111g I should think. To be honest it is not as good optically as the SBLOO finder but is MUCH more reasonably priced and is somewhat smaller too.

The later black one is also excellent but I suspect (I have not checked) more expensive.

BTW I like the 35mm f3.5 so much I had two of them. I eventually sold the one I had in LTM and kept the optically identical early Leica M one designed for the M3. It is without goggles (a later version had these) and the first Canon finder above is what I used with it on that camera.

thanks l really do like the look of those Canon finders
 
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