What have you just BOUGHT?

After tearing the internet apart searching in vain, I finally purchased two diopter correction lenses for my Rollei 6006 prism and WLF. Eric at Rolleiflex USA had them, and he tore his place apart looking for them, for me! A great guy, and great service. Now I can use the camera without destroying my glasses.
 
DSC_7437.JPGDSC_7438.JPG

Leica 1 with 4 digit serial number.

I’ve always tried to kid myself that, when it comes to Barnack Leicas, I’m not a collector, I’m a user. Then I came across this on the Leica Store Manchester website, and it just started calling to me. So I ummed and ahhed for a week or more, and despite the very cagey description on the listing and in emails….

My question…

““As a collectors (sic) item, we do no (sic again) guarantee the working accuracy of a camera of this age" Understandable, and the shutter and lens are very difficult to examine without dismantling, but have you done any testing, such as running a film through it, to ascertain its functionality?”

And the reply…

“The speeds appear moderately accurate, this four-digit camera, is intended as more of a collectors (sic again) item or display camera.

Hence the note on its listing.”

…pulled the trigger.

You’d have thought that a camera shop would have the nous to film test it, which only deepens my suspicions.

I now have to check out if I have a useable classic or a very expensive paperweight.

As an aside, several millennia ago, shortly I had scrimped and saved to buy my first Pentax, I remember a letter in a magazine that some camera “was not a replacement for my Leicas and Nikons.” Come the revolution, sunshine. I have now got to the point where I literally have six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.
 
Malcolm M said:
I’ve always tried to kid myself that, when it comes to Barnack Leicas, I’m not a collector, I’m a user. Then I came across this on the Leica Store Manchester website, and it just started calling to me. So I ummed and ahhed for a week or more, and despite the very cagey description on the listing and in emails….

My question…

““As a collectors (sic) item, we do no (sic again) guarantee the working accuracy of a camera of this age" Understandable, and the shutter and lens are very difficult to examine without dismantling, but have you done any testing, such as running a film through it, to ascertain its functionality?”

And the reply…

“The speeds appear moderately accurate, this four-digit camera, is intended as more of a collectors (sic again) item or display camera.

Hence the note on its listing.”

…pulled the trigger.

You’d have thought that a camera shop would have the nous to film test it, which only deepens my suspicions.

I now have to check out if I have a useable classic or a very expensive paperweight.

As an aside, several millennia ago, shortly I had scrimped and saved to buy my first Pentax, I remember a letter in a magazine that some camera “was not a replacement for my Leicas and Nikons.” Come the revolution, sunshine. I have now got to the point where I literally have six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.
Click to expand...
Pleased to see that it retains its original big domed shutter release. Is the bottom catch also original? Mighty envious, I do hope it turns out to be a good purchase...after all there is not an awful lot to check...!
 
I must say the 135 shoots beautiful images....a little flarey against the sun, but in a nice way. Anyone who has an M mount camera should buy one. They're a steal!
 
Even my 1960 vintage Hektor 135mm f/4.5 in M-mount produces rather nice photographs, despite being roundly criticized by many people.


Favorite Tree Against Hedge - Santa Clara 2023
Leica M10 Monochrom + Hektor 135mm f/4.5, Green filter​

I suspect most of the complaints come from it being somewhat difficult to focus precisely with the rangefinder, since it has a very slow focusing helicoid and the movement of the coincident patch in the RF can be very subtle to the eye. With the M10-M and M10-R, I can always add the Visoflex 020 and have full TTL viewing/focusing capability, with magnification, if I need it. This makes a big difference!

G
 
Dralowid said:
Pleased to see that it retains its original big domed shutter release. Is the bottom catch also original? Mighty envious, I do hope it turns out to be a good purchase...after all there is not an awful lot to check...!
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that there are variations in the bottom catch.

DSC_7444.JPG

I started running a test film (check for holes in shutter below) but I've just spotted a missing screw under the rewind, so may have to start again after taping over in case it was causing light leaks. The screw at the other end is obviously non-original, but front and back are both black.

painted.DSC_7443.JPG DSC_7445.JPG
 
Godfrey said:
Even my 1960 vintage Hektor 135mm f/4.5 in M-mount produces rather nice photographs, despite being roundly criticized by many people.
...

I suspect most of the complaints come from it being somewhat difficult to focus precisely with the rangefinder, since it has a very slow focusing helicoid and the movement of the coincident patch in the RF can be very subtle to the eye. With the M10-M and M10-R, I can always add the Visoflex 020 and have full TTL viewing/focusing capability, with magnification, if I need it. This makes a big difference!
Click to expand...
Oh yes: just wanted to add that for use with the 135 Hektor, a viewfinder magnifier accessory also nets a big improvement in focusing accuracy. Utterly unnecessary for the M10-R/-M due to Live View and focus magnification, but a nice addition for the M4-2 and other film Ms. 🙂

G
 
Malcolm M said:
I wasn't aware that there are variations in the bottom catch.

View attachment 4824335

I started running a test film (check for holes in shutter below) but I've just spotted a missing screw under the rewind, so may have to start again after taping over in case it was causing light leaks. The screw at the other end is obviously non-original, but front and back are both black.

painted.View attachment 4824338 View attachment 4824339
Click to expand...

I no longer have the camera but here is a pic of the underside. Is the Leicashop in Manchester what used to be Stephens?

IMG_2401 by dralowid, on Flickr
 
Got a Bell & Howell Auto 35 Reflex -- this is a rebadged Canon EX EE. Late 1960s/early 1970s -- typical solid and beautifully finished Canon construction from that period. Fascinating camera -- kind of an evolutionary dead end: Rather than interchangeable lenses, the front lens groups are interchangeable. Unlike similar interchangeable element SLRs (Retina Reflex, Contaflex), this has a focal plane shutter, though only a 1/500 top speed, like a leaf shutter would have.

The camera came with both the 50/1.8 (very compact) and 125/3.5 (not compact!) lens units. Nice handling camera and lenses. Everything appears to have been sitting for 20 or so years -- as evidenced by the 11 rolls of color print film with 2002-2003 expiration dates. The meter seems to be dead, sadly, though I haven't given up on it quite yet. Even so, it seems pretty straightforward to set shutter and apertures for full manual use. Otherwise, 1/8 (slowest timed shutter speed) isn't working; not a problem. Came with everready case, case for the 125, filters, hoods, instruction book, lens fluid and tissue. $45.
 
Dear Board,

I had purchased one of these for my father circa 1980 with the manual adapter and the winder 2. He used it and enjoyed it, but then lost interest and I had no idea where it went.

In an effort to resurrect my youth I bought this from an auction site and hoped for the best. It arrived today, DOA and locked up. I put some new batteries in it and fiddled with some dials and soon it beeped and started working. After checking the meter results from the camera with known good camera and hand-held meters I loaded it with film.

I honestly can't get over how bright and clear the viewfinder is after 25 years of mostly auto-focus camera use.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

OM-10 by Tim Murphy, on Flickr
 
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