Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ric, The Canon cameras are much more user friendly than the Leica LTM counterparts, especially the Canon 7 series - switchable and integrated rangefinder/viewfinders for lenses, much easier focusing and handling, etc. The only caveat is that you have to be very careful with collapsible lenses - sometimes it throws the focusing system out of alignment when you collapse the lens - it has happened to me twice. Another alternative, as long as you are OK with a 50mm view only on the integrated rangefinder/viewfinder, is a Minolta 35 rangefinder is a surprisingly usable camera. http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Minolta35.html~mainFrame http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Minolta_35 http://www.huffman.tk/id12.html Cheers Jayanand On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 3:12 AM, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net>wrote: > > On Jan 11, 2009, at 2:08 PM, Ric wrote: > > What's the story on these Russian copies so far as shooting in the >> real world? >> >> a suitable second ltm body? >> >> or first body for that matter? >> >> I have a light leaking IIIf that seems impossible to cure. >> >> ric >> > > Ric, > > The quality of the basic Fed camera that is used to make the fake Leicas > varies widely. Some are decent cameras, others not worth a damn. For a > while > the British camera buying pubic bought dozens of these cameras as cheap > versions of the Leica and while some swore by them, other swore at them. If > you want a replacement for your IIIf, you have several approaches open. > 1. Buy a used older Leica IIIc or IIIf. A good user model will sell for > less than $250. > 2. Pick up a Canon LTM camera. The later models, especially the Canon VT, > Canon 6, and Canon P matched the quality of the same era Leica models and > offered more features. All LTM Leica lenses will fit the Canons. > 3. If you can, try to find a Nicca or Sears Tower version of the Leica III > at a flea market. It should sell for $50 or less. Many claim that this was > the best of the Leica knockoffs. > > Larry Z > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >