View Full Version : First Photos with Leica III and Elmar 50/3.5
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 11:19
I've been putting 3-4 rolls through this camera kit:
http://www.pbase.com/rsilfverberg/image/55752293.jpg
and here are the first two test shots from the first roll.
Now, neither of the photos claim any artistic merits but I was personally pleasantly surprised by how well this 70+ year old camera and lens kit performed :)
http://www.pbase.com/rsilfverberg/image/56265260.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/rsilfverberg/image/56265257.jpg
That's a very nice III you have and I like the black finish. (My III is chrome)
The two pictures you posted indicate that the old Elmar is still capable of first-class images. I'd like to see more.
Walker
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 12:09
Thanks. I forgot to mention that the film was Fuji Neopan 400 and the first of the test photos was taken with a yellow filter (same as is on the camera on the top photo).
xayraa33
02-19-2006, 12:13
I like the pics, I like the camera and the lens. 70 years on and they are still a great photographic tool. they got it right.
Sweet! What a fine classic camera and lens. Sometimes I think the frames from our test rolls are among our most successful. These are very nice.
Gene
wrenhunter
02-19-2006, 12:53
Nice one. I like the first photo, and would say it has merit. You should frame it -- like a first dollar bill ;)
I can fully endorse your choice of a Leica kit. I started with a similar kit 53 years ago and it still works. I've added a IIIf to my arsenal, and a few other lenses, but the starter kit is still the one to use for daily use. A picture of my camera is shown below.
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 13:56
Nick, I see you have it equipped with an OKARO, shutter release adapter and an SBOOI.
Nice kit :)
back alley
02-19-2006, 14:02
i hope i do as well at 70 ;)
Nikon Bob
02-19-2006, 14:05
Nice kit and photos. I'll second the motion that the old 50 F3.5 Elmars are surprising performers even in this day and age. I had an uncoated one cleaned by DAG and love the results it gives.
Rich,
The OKARO and the soft release were on the camera when I found it. The Briteline finder is a real help to me since I must wear tri-focals. I also use an Imarect Finder with other lenses, but the Briteline is my favorite.
Jim N.
Include me as a Barnack camera user! (Leica IIIa)
Rich,
The OKARO and the soft release were on the camera when I found it. The Briteline finder is a real help to me since I must wear tri-focals. I also use an Imarect Finder with other lenses, but the Briteline is my favorite.
Jim N.
Rich & OldNick,
I think you will find that the orange filter for the III/IIIa camera is called an ORAKO. The OKARO is a little larger and is made for the IIIF or IIIG. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
I have the IIIa with the Elmar R.S. 3.5 and I love it. I almost sold the lens recently and then came to my senses. With the VC35 and VC75, it's a great kit.
Best to you guy's with yours.
Nice photos.
AGN, I think that may have been to me.
I wonder who came up with the Leica codes, eh?
AGN, I think that may have been to me.
I wonder who came up with the Leica codes, eh?
You're right Frank, you almost had it. Thanks for helping me with my indecision, or as you called it, my epiphany.
Yeah, the Leica codes are a study in themselves.
Art
Include me as a Barnack camera user! (Leica IIIa)
Frank, I believe you've had some good things to say about your IIIa in the past. No question about it; they're nice cameras.
I just won a IIIa yesterday. I hope to have it by week's end. It comes with a Summar and Summar shade, cut-out for the rangefinder. In profile it looks a little like a cow bell. The body and lens would appear to have been together from new as they both date to 1937 and the camera was supposedly purchased new in Hong Kong that year. I'm anxious to get it.
Now I need a war-time IIIc with the raised platform for the rewind lever and a IIIg to complete my collection of Leica models III. I'm afraid they'll have to wait awhile as both generally run pretty high...... especially the IIIg.
I just hope the new IIIa does as well as Rich's III.
Walker
Yep, at the moment, the IIIa or my CL with Elmar or FED lenses are my daily carry with everywhere cameras. They are both smaller and lighter than my M's.
Brian Sweeney
02-19-2006, 16:14
Nice pictures, Rich. The Elmar is the lens that sold photographers on Leica. Easy to see why.
Yes, very nice Richard.
The 3.5 Elmar looks great on an LTM Leica. A match made in heaven.
The old 50mm Elmar is even pretty cool on an M body! (Not M5 or CL though.)
But it looks good on my M7! :)
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 16:58
AGN,
thanks I always mess up between the ORAKO or OKARO.
Having said that I wouldn't mind getting one. Anyone have one for sale? For a III so a...ORAK..OKAR...? Damn...
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 17:00
And I wish there was an LTM/Barnack forum here.... Oh joe..do you take requests to bring up with the big guy?
And I wish there was an LTM/Barnack forum here.... Oh joe..do you take requests to bring up with the big guy?
Send Jorge a PM Rich.
I did a few month or so ago and there have been a couple threads about this very topic. The more request the better I am sure.
richiedcruz
02-19-2006, 17:29
Nice pics and I love the black finish. I think I see a black barnack in my future. It makes me miss my IIIC (away for a CLA) even more.
Richie
Krasnaya_Zvezda
02-19-2006, 17:43
Send Jorge a PM Rich.
I did a few month or so ago and there have been a couple threads about this very topic. The more request the better I am sure.
I second the motion for Barnack Leica forum.
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 17:53
I just PM'd Jorge. Fingers crossed..
back alley
02-19-2006, 17:55
requests are always best directly from the source.
SamTheMan
02-19-2006, 17:56
Hi Rich,
Let me ask you, what camera and lens combo did you use to take the picture of the Leica IIIf at the very top of this post?
Rich Silfver
02-19-2006, 18:06
Sam, it was taken with a somewhat rappy digital P&S camera. Fuji Finepix Z1.
( http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_z1-review/index.shtml )
Oh, and the camera ontop is a Leica III (F) not a IIIf ( :) )
I realize that there are two sizes of orange rangefinder window filters for the Leica III series, because the one on my IIIa will not fit my IIIf. My problem is that I can never find a reason to remember which designation goes with which size.
Another component that came with my IIIa, which actually left the factory as a III, and was later sent back for conversion to a IIIa, was a Leitz flashgun and synchronized baseplate that was installed by Leitz USA in New York. In the 50s and 60s, I took many flash shots using both focal plane bulbs and the reporter's friend, the Press 40 bulb, which had a flat response curve and worked well with focal plane shutters.
Another component that came with my IIIa, which actually left the factory as a III, and was later sent back for conversion to a IIIa, was a Leitz flashgun and synchronized baseplate that was installed by Leitz USA in New York.
My IIIb is equiped with the syncronized base (serial numbered to the camera) and flash gun with attaching L-arm. You wouldn't happen to have a chart showing the various delay settings for different bulbs, would you? Not that I plan on using bulbs but it would be nice to have a copy.
Walker
Walker,
I will see if I can locate the booklet and scan it for you.
Jim N.
Walker,
E-mail sent to you.
Jim[QUOTE]
Very nice shots Rich. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif Doesn't look like it's showing any signs of slacking off on quality in the decades to come. I'm enjoying my III as well.
Oh, and the camera ontop is a Leica III (F) not a IIIf Yep, that very misunderstanding caused me to get the wrong cover from Aki not long ago. Totally my fault for not reading closely what he told me he was sending me. :o Still waiting on the right one.
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