[Leica] Leica IIIF and 50 Summicron

[pdzwig at summaventures.com (Peter Dzwig)]

It's a lovely jewel of a camera. Please use it.

On 26/02/2014 17:43, EPL wrote:
> The principal challenges with that old gear typically are:
> 
> - mastering film loading (a PITA with LTM).

On a IIIf there is a picture on the base plate. FOLLOW IT! You can thread any
modern B&W with a leader eg Kodak BW400CN onto the take-up spool without
trimming. Get the film well in under the tab on the spool. You will get it 
right
second or third time. BUT you will screw up on occasion ;-) You will know 
that
you have done it right because the arrow on the wind-on on the left will 
rotate
- backwards!

> 
> - taking exposure readings with a separate lightmeter and then re-setting
> the lens aperture and camera shutter speed (after winding the film, of
> course, never before film wind) for shots in changing light.

Start with the sunny-16 rule. Follow the chart here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule

If you have film of say 400 ASA set the shutter to 1/400 (on a IIIf 1/250 or
1/500 - over or underexpose respectively) AND LEAVE IT ALONE. On a bright 
Sunny
day will require you to use f16, if it's a little over cast drop that to f11,
most days you will get away with 1/500th at f8, dull overcast f5.6 and so on.

As you get more experienced you can use varying combination. But it is always
about getting the right amount of light to the film.

> 
> - checking focus in the rangefinder half of the eyepiece before re-framing
> in the frameline-less viewfinder half of window. Focus accuracy with a fast
> 50mm is pretty critical.

It really is practice and only practice - but isn't difficukt
> 

> Emanuel
> (who is happy they invented the M camera)

Peter

Who has an M but is inordinately fond of his IIIf :-)

> 
> 
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> 

-- 

===========================================================
Dr Peter Dzwig