Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Folks: This list has created some fluidity in some tired 71 year old veins! In my early twenties, I got my first Leica; but as the back weakened thru the years, I grew tired of foreign travel with two or three camera bodies and an assortment of different focal length lenses. For the past 20+ years, my travel camera has been first a Canon w/ Tamaron ZOOM, and more recently a Pentax Plus ZOOM . I do not do professional shooting. The fast films and good, small flashes have enabled me to get all of the Cathederal Dome interiors I wanted - and not to shabby. :) Since I can no longer access the second floor of my house, I asked an associate to see whatever was in my "secure" camera closet. Was I in for a surprise!! Amazing what one can forget about over a period of a couple of decades. (Out of sight, out of mind!!) Leica/Leitz pamphlets, instruction books, Leica books, lenses, cameras, and accessories. What a ball I have had for the past two days recalling the past via this small hoard. Found 3 M2s, and three LeicaFlexes - one a LEICAFLEX w/ meter above the lens, one a LEICAFLEX SL (which I believe meters thru the lense), and a LEICAFLEX MOT (with corroded battery case :( ) I also remember having purchased 40 years ago a secondhand early Leica with the tubular view finder on top of the body, an ELMAR 50/3.5 lens, with a silver locking spring on the front of the body to the right of the lense - not sure what the model is called, but it looked neat back then, and I sent it in for a rework. Haven't located it yet, but I know it's SOMEWHERE. I'm trying to get my affairs in order, so unknowing family members don't toss out my "Treasures" thru ignorance when I am no longer on "The right side of the grass". My objective is to leave all of the "good" equipment to a Numismatic research foundation that I have set up. It will be primarily interested in macrophotography and photomicrography (coins and currency) for eventual mounting on a World Wide Web site that I have set up for the purpose. Ability to fill a full 35mm frame with single side color shots of very small coins (size of a little finger thumb nail) up thru silver dollar size. I no longer have a clue as to which lenses and bodies to use for what, but I suspect that the TTL MOT would be the best option from what I have, but which lens to use beats me. Hell, I can't even what the ratios mean, as 1:5, 1:1.2, 1: 3 etc. Is the "3" the object size diameter, and the "1" the "1" the measured image size diameter on the film? I have a wide assortment of lenses (probably a dozen) from a 21 wide angle up thru (I believe) a 150. Can't remember which lenses go with which bodies though - M2s or Leicaflex. I also have a zoom stereo microscope w/ camera port on top for photomicrography (and here again, which camera body and which lens to use). One item in particular I am curious about as to utility/quality and value is a ZOOM lens with "LENS MADE IN FRANCE FOR LEITZ - LEICAFLEX" on its barrel. It is further barrel identified with "P.. ANGENIEUX PARIS ANGENIEUX-ZOOM 1:2.8 / 45-90 mm (Serial #: "No1237911". Is it a "keeper"? Rather than clutter the mail list with a surfeit of replies, feel free to respond (should you be so inclined) to me personally at my EMail address below. Thanks for "listening"!!! Cordially, Harry Bass Harry Bass Research Foundation hwbass@hbrf.org ANS URL: http://www.amnumsoc2.org !!!!