Why use a Barnack?

[Mr_Flibble]

Barnack's are good for picking up girls, and a higher quality at that.

I must be in the wrong neighborhood....or country. 😀

 

[mcfingon]

When I use my oldest Barnack with an Elmar lens on it, I can almost hear Oskar whispering to me "This is the way it was meant to be!"

 

[jsrockit]

Over the years I have met 4 "in the wild:" John, Helen, Fred and Joe.

You've more than met me... we've discussed the craziest stories while roaming around for hours on end. I haven't met Fred, but of course I've met the others... Helen and I have had a few gear transactions even.

 

[Calzone]

You've more than met me... we've discussed the craziest stories while roaming around for hours on end. I haven't met Fred, but of course I've met the others... Helen and I have had a few gear transactions even.

John,

We have done some dumb things like going shooting in Harlem the day of the Zimmerman verdict; roamed sketchy areas, and found ourselves in sich-E-A-tions. LOL.

Bike and shoot was fun.

Cal

 

[Pfreddee]

I haven't met any mods, but then I don't get out much.

BTW, are there any awards for most number of posts?😀

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[Roger Hicks]

The less technology between your eye and your subject, the more creative you become

Hardly, or we'd all use pinholes.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

You have to like a challenge. But I love the way someone's hands have polished the black paint and nickel back to brass in the 82 years this Leica III has been around.

What challenge? I just take pictures...

Cheers,

R.

 

[mcfingon]

Enjoyed that Roger! "I just take pictures..." One challenge I've felt is getting the parts of the picture exactly where I'd like them in the frame. I cheated with this one and used an M3. And even then, one bit was closer to the edge than I'd like...But I am getting better at framing with the Barnack VF, particularly the III. Got this book for inspiration:

 

[Erik van Straten]

Oh, yes, I know that book, also for me an inspiration.

Nice III you have!

Leica II, Hektor 50mm f/2.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

 

[literiter]

I was gonna say that some people thrive on adversity....but that would be wrong in the case of the Barnack.

It's like some of us like to use a fountain pen or even a straight pen, some a typewriter, some listen to records, some still use film, some like wood stoves........and the little Barnack is a nice camera.

 

[johannielscom]

Because you can find one that is only one digit (or ten days) away from your birthdate. And (likely) has its matching nickel Elmar with it.

And because it's so cool to shoot the 208th Leica II ever made, a camera that will celebrate its 84th birthday in 2016!

 

[Red Robin]

I have two Leica bottom-loaders. Three Canon bottom loaders. My Canon's preceded the Leica's for me, but my iif and the iiif just feel better to me. The Canon's seem a tad bit more rugged. the Leica a lot more elegant to me. In size, weight, and general feel I prefer the German product. .. ... for myself. Others may like other cameras I wish I had made my purchases earlier.

 

[leicapixie]

remembering images.

remembering images.

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.

In my case, not true! I remember almost every exposure.
Time after exposure, I write or sketch the images.
I can do it with film, never digital.
I love seeing the developed images, still wet with fixer.
I have never lost that magic.
I am 71 and doing it since 12.

 

[pete hogan]

Convenient small size and nicely made.

 

[mcfingon]

Oh, yes, I know that book, also for me an inspiration.

Nice III you have!

Leica II, Hektor 50mm f/2.5, Tmax400.

Erik.

Thanks Erik. It's great that the '33 III is still a usable daily camera after all this time. The other book I find an inspiration for Leica II and III use is Wilfred Thesiger's "A Vanished World".

 

[Bingley]

I agree with everything said above. For me, my IIIc is also a perfect travel camera. Put a 50 on it, bring along a 28 when wide is desired, and slip an Oly XA in the bag, and for me that's a travel kit I can carry around all day.

 

[mcfingon]

The man who shot these photos certainly did some travelling, starting with a Leica II. He added a 90 (Elmar?) to his goat-skin bag and stayed in the desert with the Bedu for months. Definitely a Barnack champion.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I didn't know that book, I will look for it. When did it appear? Who is the publisher?

I like the old Barnacks, from before the IIIc. They have slow running shutters. These give a typical unsharpness to fast moving subjects. Their sound is inspiring too.

Erik.

 

[tyrone.s]

Lot's of love for the Barnack here, and rightly so!

I'd say because the buttery smooth snick of precision German engineering never grows old.

With a Barnack you can be as fast or as composed as you like. With an Elmar on board it collapses down to nothing and I've achieved worthwhile hand-held moments using 400asa film indoors at 1/15th of a second with mine. The IIIF is precision itself and very clear and non-squinty to use - and I wear glasses.

(My daughter being held by a friend 1/15, F3.5)

Plus, if you don't carry it with you, you'll never take the photo.

 

[mcfingon]

I didn't know that book, I will look for it. When did it appear? Who is the publisher?

I like the old Barnacks, from before the IIIc. They have slow running shutters. These give a typical unsharpness to fast moving subjects. Their sound is inspiring too.

Erik.

Published by W.W. Norton & Company, New York and London, Erik. Printed and bound in Belgium by Proost NV, Turnhout. First published 2001 according to Wikipedia. I got this copy though Amazon, USA in December 2015.(http://www.amazon.com/A-Vanished-World-Wilfred-Thesiger/dp/0393050866) If you would like to read his desert travel adventure story in English, the best text to go with the photos is "Arabian Sands". I am finding using the III is different to the IIIf I have had for some time. After a little bit of practice, I now prefer the III. It looks, sounds and feels lovely.