Re: [Leica] Screw Opinions!

[4season <4season@boulder.net>]

Mike Johnston wrote:
> 
> I've had a hankering in recent months to try using a Leica thread mount
> camera (or Barnack camera,  as the Japanese and Stephen prefer). I'm
> reasonably good at guessing exposures and don't mind carrying a small
> meter as a backup, and I do enjoy challenges. I mainly use Tri-X and I
> do "personal diarist" sort of work, i.e., looking around the world and
> seeing what there is to see.
> 
> Is this a practical option for actual photography? [snip]

I want a IIIc or IIIf the same way I want a 1972 Datsun 240Z, but the
shape some of these things are in today--the exterior may shine, but
you're lucky to get far without investing a hefty dose of TLC into it to
make it suitable for daily use again, and those who have done so tend
not to sell.

Awhile back, somone was offering a IIIc that had seen a CLA and shutter
replacement in recent history, at around $450 and that was the one I
should've grabbed, because everything else out there seems to be
overpriced, a fixer-upper or both. Lately, no luck in getting this or a
IIIf BD at a good price.

Okay, it does make *some* sense now, with the arrival of the Cosina
lenses--why buy a Bessa-L body when you can use a IIIf? Okay, besides
the working slow shutter speeds and light meter? Sounds to me like a
fine match for a Snapshot-Skopar or a Heliar.

The handling is antiquated but what style! Leica designers would do well
to keep one onhand so that they never lose sight of what Leicas are all
about. Put a collapseable 50/3.5 elmar on it, and it's TINY. Next time
they talk about adding another 2 millimeters to the height of the M6,
you can go "ahem", as you point your finger to the IIIc (let them slink
away, red-faced, back into their workshop) I'm not sure how one does a
rapid film rewind, aside from holding the rewind knob firmly and
spinning the whole camera over your head like a party noisemaker. That
would likely be deemed as abuse by the factory, but after 40 years, I
doubt that they will be checking.

Eye relief? Forget about glasses; in fact, forget about contacts-you
have to get up REAL close to those peepholes. I think if your eyeball's
not squishing against it, you're not close enough ;-) <--what you look
like when you've been using it a bit

- -- 
Jeff Segawa
Boulder, Colorado
www.boulder.net/~4season