Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/07/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Alan, My Konica was a Konica I, from the late 1940s. Even then, the optics were great. Yours sounds like a very nice camera for daily use. Speaking of old-time cameras, the real treasure that I picked up was a little Exa, baby brother of the Exakta. I was using an Exakta until the shutter mechanism died, and had a few lenses. I found the Exa in a pawn shop. The shutter speeds were limited, because of its rotating prism shutter, but it took the standard Exakta lenses and had x-synch for a small strobe unit. I used it for a number of years for family photos, and, when I switched to digital and put it away, it was still functioning fine. Oh yes, it also took the standard Exakta viewfinders, of which I have several, both eye-level and waist-level. Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA On 7/3/2015 8:42 AM, Alan Magayne-Roshak wrote: > On Thu, 02 Jul 2015 Jim Nichols <jhnichols at lighttube.net>wrote: > > >> Hi Ric, >> There used to be a lot of them around. Mechanically and optically, mine >> is fine. Oxidation has taken its toll on the aluminum over the years. >> Speaking of oxidation, at one time I was given an early Konica >> rangefinder that was taken from an abandoned seabag that some sailor >> left along the roadside in Mississippi, and was picked up by the MHP. >> Exposure to salt air had really done a number on the body, but the >> rangefinder optics were MUCH better than my LTM Leica. I shot a few >> rolls with it, and was impressed with Konica, despite the camera's >> condition. >> Jim Nichols >> Tullahoma, TN USA > =========================================================================================================================== > In 1973, I wanted to have a rangefinder camera for candid work but couldn't > yet afford a Leica, so I bought a Konica III from a student for $10.00. He > sold it cheap because the shutter was sticky. I unscrewed the front lens > elements and freed up the shutter blades with some lighter fluid, and later > used it to take what is still my best-selling picture: < > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/Signs/TruthClosed__AMR.jpg.html > I too was impressed with the RF viewfinder. The Hexanon f/2 was terrific > as well. (The ads for this camera in the fifties said "The lens alone is > worth the price.") > This camera now sits in my viewfinder camera gallery on top my office > bookcase, along with a Welti, a Wirgin, a Bolsey, a Realist, a Kodak 35, a > Pony, an Olympus RC, an Olympus XA, an Argus C3, an Agfa Karat, a Retina > IIa, a Bessa II, and an Ansco Super-Speedex. > > > Alan > > Alan Magayne-Roshak, Senior Photographer > University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Photo Services > (Retired) > UPAA Photographer of the Year 1978 > UPAA Master of the Profession 2014 > amr3 at uwm.edu > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Alan+Magayne-Roshak/ > > "All the technique in the world doesn't compensate > for an inability to notice. " - Elliott Erwitt > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >