Leica LTM Why use a Barnack?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Calzone said:
Funny thing is that sometimes I play up like I'm a tourist (a Japanese tourist even though ethnically I'm Chinese) because the locals know that it is not cool to bother tourists in Madhattan. Basically a tourist has a license to be annoying and a new-sense and I exploit it. LOL.
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I do the same thing when I come down to the city to shoot. Especially in tourist-heavy areas, you have pretty much free license to point a camera just about anywhere.

As to the original question, I tend to agree with what's been said above. For me the most appealing part of the Barnack experience is the precision of the controls; the machining was really well done, and properly serviced they are just a joy to use. The size makes them very handy as well.
 
I loved the 'SNICK' of the shutter.
Unfortunately, not enough. Every exposure I'd make with the IIIf I also would replicate with whatever digital camera I was carrying at the moment. I'd get instant gratification from the digital and when I had the film processed a week or so later, I was already 'over' the images I had made (and shared) with the digital. Made no sense to keep a camera for just the lovely 'SNICK'.

I DO wish I'd have kept the lovely Summaritt and Elmar glass though. They'd work wonderfully now on my Fuji X cameras. ;)
 
GoodPhotos said:
when I had the film processed a week or so later, I was already 'over' the images I had made (and shared) with the digital ;)
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One of the reasons I use film - and screw-mount Leicas - is the surprise you get when developing the film. It takes ages to complete the 36 exposures, so every shot is forgotten.

Erik.
 
I (like many members) have a number of cameras, mostly film. But shooting one of my Barnacks (from the moment of loading on), puts me into a slower and studied frame of mind. I also love the pure mechanical simplicity of that wonderful design, and then there's the size ....... well one could go on and on.
 
Why shoot a Barnack?

Because there are still people around who can fix them and extend their usefulness over many more decades so we may continue to shoot and enjoy them.... And... ...I love design; the heft and feel of the cameras (IIIf's for me) and the signature of the glass. As others have mentioned, the machining is exquisite.

This is a shot from my recently acquired IIIf RDST w/Collapsible Summicron (from a nice gentleman on this forum).
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The Summicron was hazy (and has some light cleaning marks). This test shot is prior to cleaning (outdated color film/low-res Noritsu scan). I subsequently took the camera and lens to Youxin and spent the afternoon with him while he CLA'd the lens and made some minor adjustments to the camera (shutter speeds were spot-on). I subsequently purchased a barn-door hood for this lens (SOOFM) and will shoot a subsequent roll soon to test the lens. (BTW- if you spend time with Youxin, he has quite the sense of humor. A really fine gentleman).
 
Erik van Straten said:
One of the reasons I use film - and screw-mount Leicas - is the surprise you get when developing the film. It takes ages to complete the 36 exposures, so every shot is forgotten.

Erik.
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Likewise..I also find it easier to evaluate photos given some time and space.
 
Erik van Straten said:
One of the reasons I use film - and screw-mount Leicas - is the surprise you get when developing the film. It takes ages to complete the 36 exposures, so every shot is forgotten.

Erik.
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Good point, Erik. Film simply works in a different time-space. The Barnack cameras emphasise the difference with contemporary digital - which is perhaps why so many of us appear to like them so much. They are oppositional.
 
I think a Barnack gives one the true Leica experience as people of my generation daydreamed of it. I had a IIf for a weekend, and loved it but my wife kept asking, "Why do you need another Leica?" I couldn't come up with an answer that would've made sense to her, so back to KEH it went.
 
Barnack's are good for picking up girls, and a higher quality at that. But selfishly, I use my IIIf, and this is a bit embarrassing, because I feel like a real photographer using it.
 
I like my IIIf because it's compact, reliable and fun to shoot. I always feel using it is like driving a good British sports car of the same vintage -- great handling, completely manual for good control. The recent CV lenses are a nice addition.
 
For the past five years most of my film has gone thru a pair of IIIc's with a variety of old and new lens's. It has made me a more thoughtful photographer. It has motivated me to keep a notebook on what I shoot, when a camera is loaded and other data. It has helped me learn to get by without an exposure meter. Having said that, I am not a pro, I don't pretend to be an artist, just a lucky guy with some nice old cameras taking photos of family and friends. A Barnack is not for everyone but they are great for those that enjoy them. Joe
 
BillBingham2 said:
I feel Helen's hand moving at high speed to the back of my head right now, so I will refrain from what comes to mind...........:angel:

Beware, the mods are everywhere:rolleyes:

B2(;->
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B2,

I saw Helen in person Sunday at the NYC Meet-Up and only got hugs and kisses. You are right about the moderators being everywhere. Over the years I have met 4 "in the wild:" John, Helen, Fred and Joe.

Cal
 
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