Waiting for the mail, have some questions

Bobbo

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Aug 29, 2003
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Well, after some wheeling, dealing and waiting, I have a Youxin Ye CLA'd Leica IIIf coming to my door Tuesday morning for a trade. I picked up a Jupiter 12 for it (I loved the one I had on a Kiev about 5 years ago) and I made a finder out of a busted P&S, so I can shoot it when it comes.

There are a couple of questions, however:
-I'm having a hard time finding any 50mm lenses that aren't from Russia for under $300. Anybody else have this problem? It seems to be cheaper to buy another camera (particularly a Canon) with a lens on it. I know, I'm complaining about the price of a Leica 😱.

-I'm looking for a "real" (as in not made in my basement) viewfinder for the 35mm. I'm looking at three choices: the basic 35mm FSU viewfinder, a Helios 35/85/135mm finder or a VIOOH. I'm leaning towards one of the universal finders right now, particularly the VIOOH, as I could use it while I get another finder when I get different lenses. Why the VIOOH? Because it matches the camera, hehe. If I need, I've been finding 135mm viewfinders for cheap, so I won't have to worry about the masking down there.

So, which viewfinder is the best one of the four?

I'm sure I'll have some more questions later, as well as some pics in about 30 hours or so 😎.
 
The Canon 50mm 1.8s definitely tend to come with a body attached. 🙂 Thats how I landed one - I picked it up with a busted Canon P for $100. I've compared the lens informally to my J8 and I61 and it definitely comes out ahead for my needs, though neither of those lenses are far off.

I picked up a multifinder but find myself using the FSU finder more frequently. It makes up for the lack of focal lengths with a much larger view. I still have a TEWE I use periodically but the FSU finder was cheap and much more user friendly.
 
I would wait on a camera show, or shop in person. The only company I can personally vouch for in NY is Tamarkin. I would save my money and buy a Summitar, you can get a Chinese E39 adapter for filters. The Summitar filters are way too expensive. You shuld be able to pick up a Summitar for under $300, even though I know the prices are crazy now. I said Summitar not Summar as it may be easy to confuse.
 
Heck, the Canons go for ~$120 when you can find one. No idea how much well adjusted J3s go for but they're worth it too from the looks of it. Elmars should be going well within your budget as well.

I'd suggest posting an ad here. I'm sure you'll get a response or three.
 
Phil is helping me out on my two questions (he's also the seller of the IIIf) with a small finder and a Jupiter 8. I was looking at the Summitar as a more-popular alternative to the 'cron, and a sharper, probably-better-condition than the Summar. That will be a little while off, however. That's what I get for becoming a writer, rather than a plastic surgeon, hah.
 
Here's another question for y'all.

I was getting ready to post a pic on the "Show me your..." thread, and I noticed something.

Supposedly, any Leica with a replacement top has the serial number stating "Nr." instead of "No." before the number. Well, guess what mine says? Nr. it is. Guess she went back to the factory at some point... How common is this?

Another thing I noticed (also shown in the pic) is the shutter speed sequence... 1/1000, 1/500, 1/200, 1/100, 1/60, 1/40 and 1/30. The front dial shows 1/30, 1/20, 1/15, 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, 1s & T. Is that the normal sequence for a 588xxx-era Black Dial? For some reason, that doesn't sound right. Then again, I'm a Leica noob, so what do I know?

The last question is this (I haven't searched it yet, but that's next): What's a good book to learn more about Leicas? I have an Amazon gift certificate (yay for Coinstar) burning a hole in my pocket... 🙂

I love learning about new things. Whenever I get something new, I learn all about it. I'm kind of obsessive over such things, hah. So thank you all for listening to my questions.
 
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OK, Books

OK, Books

Hi,

In your shoes the first thing I'd look for is an original instruction manual for the camera and then I'd look for an advertising brochure for it. They exist as real paper and as pdf's; pdf's are useful but don't bother printing them...

The background will come from "Leica The First 70 Years" by Gianni Rogliatti; published by Hove Collecors Books or Hove Foto Books. This is a nice big book for the bookshelf with lots of photo's etc.

The small pocket guides from Hove Foto Books are called the "Leica Pocket Book" and the "Leica Accessory Guide" and there are dozens of them out there on ebay. Essential reading and reference manuals.

After that I don't think you'll need anything but there's lots of reference manuals published by Hove, codes to numbers, a complete guide (to the point when it was published) "The Leica Collectors Guide" and so on including instruction manuals.

There's also the "Leica Manual" by Morgan and Lester (pick the edition year to be certain it covers your model).The book first came out in 1935 and appears to have been continually revised.

Also "The Leica Way" by Matheson which is aka "The Leica and Leicaflex Way" by the Focal press and last but not least Focal publish a series of guides for almost every camera.

Then there's the Leica magazines published over the years and "My Leica and I" which was a book of amateurs' pictures and essays about the camera published in the 30's.

I hope I've typed all the titles correctly. I've tried to put them in order of usefulness but really you'll end up with them all...

Regards, David
 
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I.....should not have read that list.

Sorry.

If you want to convince yourself that a few books are the cheap option, then look at ebay.co.uk and item no: 110708955930

I sat and watched it and remembered one I ignored in a shop years ago for £50...

Regards, David
 
Thanks for the plenty of book responses... I need to get some 🙂. I haven't bought a photo book in at least 5 years, so I guess it's time for some more.

Hey, another question: The collar around the shutter release is missing. I've seen some on eBay. Is there a difference between the different models, or will any one fit?
 
Thanks for the plenty of book responses... I need to get some 🙂. I haven't bought a photo book in at least 5 years, so I guess it's time for some more.

Hey, another question: The collar around the shutter release is missing. I've seen some on eBay. Is there a difference between the different models, or will any one fit?

Hi,

Try DAG (? in the USA) he sells lots and lots of spare parts and, as far as I know, they are all the same. Best to get the original ones but there's modern ones available, made from stainless steel.

Sorry I can't say more than that but I've not dealt with him for a few years and aren't 100% certain.

Regards, David
 
Another book

Another book

As a IIIf was mentioned it rang a bell and so I've been searching and have found it.

The book is the "Leica Pocket Book" by Theo Kisselbach: Publisher is Heering Publications.

The 3rd edition of 1952 was written for the IIIf but the M3 came along and so a chapter was added to it. It's a neat book, about A6 in size and 226 pages (including interesting adverts). It's important, imo,to get it with the dust jacket intact as inside the dust jacket they've printed a very nice guide to all the models from I to IIIf and the jacket folds out to give a reference diagram to the IIIf.

"My Leica and I" is the best for period flavour - although of 1937. The aim was to publish a series of photographs by amateurs and the text with it is fascinating. It was about the time of several important events; colour film, the IIIa, Summar etc and the articles reflect that.

Regards, David
 
<snip>

There's also the "Leica Manual" by Morgan and Lester ...

<snip>
Seconded. Really nice. I have a 1954 first print for the brand new Leica M3 and it is a great book.

Also, get a Helios finder asap. It migrates to any future camera you will own, and most Leica's are either 50mm frame (thread mounts) or can show the 50mm frame easily (Leica M). The one finder will give you four focal lengths, it is small and cheap, while the front element is coated against flare. I bought mine new-old-stock for GBP 20 from eBay 6 months ago.

It converts my M3 to an LTM camera: just leave the 50mm adapter fitted and for 35, 90 and 135 use the Helios to frame. Brilliant!

Happy shooting!
 
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