Re: [Leica] Should I buy a Barnack camera?

["KPETERS" <KPETERS@huntel.net>]

Probably not a bad deal, but I've got a IIIf black dial (body, case) that's
mechanically mint (new shutters, totally redone rangefinder, etc etc) on
eBay that's only at $400-- ends Sunday and would be the perfect "usable"
collector! ha!  Shameless self promotion on a Friday!  Kpeters
- -----Original Message-----
From: Jeff S <4season@boulder.net>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Friday, December 03, 1999 9:48 PM
Subject: [Leica] Should I buy a Barnack camera?


>I've located a nice Leica IIIf ST with collapseable 50 Summicron lens
>for $650: Is this a deal? I believe it's a red dial model (has red and
>black flash synch scales, shutter speeds of 1/200, 1/500, 1/1000). It
>looks Ex++ save for a fair amount of brassing on the accessory shoe and
>a small dent by the serial number. The rangefinder image is bright but
>RF alignment seems a bit off, and I think it badly needs a relube before
>I can really use it. Curiously enough, the slow shutter speeds mostly
>work, but everything else runs like someone's stripped out the lube and
>left it dry. The lens has lovely chrome, maybe a fairly negligible haze
>and a moderately scuffed front element. As the same seller has a
>sub-$400 (IIIa?) with fresh-looking black paint on it, I expect this
>IIIf has been polished up some, though I didn't see any signs of silver
>paint or botched repairs. I didn't take a good look at the shutter
>curtains.
>
>Opinions? I have no good reason for wanting this camera, but darned if
>it isn't pretty, and I I can (weakly) justify it by using it as a
>"Heliar Camera". Pure collecting isn't my cup of tea, but a *useable*
>collectable sounds like it could be fun. At the moment, my intent is not
>to go for a vintage look in my photos but rather, to have fun and get
>perfectly modern results with multicoated Cosnia glass.
>
>And by the way, can the 50 Summicron be fitted with a lens hood? It
>seems to me that if I buy the lens as part of the package, I ought to at
>least try it.
>--
>
>Jeff Segawa
>Somewhere in Boulder, Colorado
>