Pre-war"Barnack" Leica cameras and uncoated lenses.

[L39UK]

I would like to introduce to forum members the work of James Ravilious who used Pre-war Leica cameras and uncoated lenses for his lifes work in recording a disappearing world in rural England and Europe.It shows what it is possible to achieve with Pre-war Barnack Leica cameras, uncoated lenses, and black and white film.
I am sure that he must have used an uncoated Summar for many of these photographs.
What do you think?
Examples of forum members photographs taken using uncoated Leica lenses in black and white or colour would be very welcome on this thread.

I hope these James Ravilious's photographs will show to forum members with limited resources what can be achieved with the less expensive uncoated pre-war Summar and Elmar lenses.One doesn't have to own and use the latest state-of-the-art super multicoated,aspherical wonder optics before one can produce photo's like these.
It is surprising what a good eye for a subject and simple equipment can achieve.
I hope that you will enjoy viewing the photographs on this website and that it encourages you to go out and make more use of those uncoated "treasures".

Please go to :-
www.jamesravilious.com (http://www.jamesravilious.com)
and click "Gallery" and "Biography"
Regards
William

[julio1fer]

Beautiful images. Thanks for posting this link.

[jolefler]

They are beautiful images.

I've recently made the switch to equipment to which you refer ('37 II & Elmar 50 f3.5 same year). I'm feeding it an "old style"BW film. It's my daily carry camera, forcing me away from modern optics & metering.

I have to say, results from the first four (short) rolls were immensely disappointing. After heading in to make prints I was again dismayed at the amount of wasted material and dismal results. A couple of weeks worth of rethinking my shooting regarding lighting angles combined with tweeking my printing has changed all of that.

It seems that the equipment to which you refer has it's own signature that I've never been able to accomplish with my modern optics. Really a "retro" feel to the photos, softer in contrast, creamier transitions in tones. I really enjoy making photos again, I can see why so many photographers are heading this way.

[burninfilm]

William,
I've never heard of this man's work, and I must say, it's very impressive. If all of the work was indeed produced with pre-war Leica equipment, he did very well in utilizing it. I have never doubted the capability of uncoated optics, as those who still use them are aware of their photographic capabilities. Currently I'm (slowly) assembling a pre-war Leica outfit (35mm Elmar, 50mm Summar, 90mm Elmar, 135mm Elmar/Hektor). So, it's good to see a large collection of images that are presented as having been made with this equipment.

Again, thanks for pointing me towards the site.

[cmedin]

I can definitely agree that the early cameras and uncoated lenses have great potential and are often overlooked by many. I posted these in another thread a while back, but since you were asking for uncoated samples, here's a 1936 (I think it was) uncoated Summar with XP2. Granted, I used my IIf and not my III for it, but I don't think the body adds much of its own signature. :)

http://www.beyondthematrix.com/noraswing.jpg

http://www.beyondthematrix.com/deadcar.jpg

[payasam]

William, I dare say many members from the east of the Atlantic will be familiar with the work of Ravilious. As for his equipment, we should consider that it was probably the best available at the time.

[Nikon Bob]

Thanks for the link, I really enjoyed viewing examples of his work. I have two examples of uncoated lenses, a pre war Elmar and a pre war CZJ Sonnar 1.5, and neither are wanting in sharpness or producing nice colour shots using modern print film. When shots are backlighted that is a different story and you live with it.

Bob

[lushd]

Here's one of mine that's been kicking around in the gallery for a while:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=33096&ppuser=1346

1937 uncoated Elmar on a IIIa. The gentlemen are actors.

[Dralowid]

Was he the son son of Eric Ravilious the respected wartime artist?

If so, the similarities in composition and 'atmosphere' are uncanny.

Michael

[Solinar]

I've never seen this photographer's work either, but I must say some folks are capable of achieving good photography regardless of their equipment. Thanks also for posting the link.

[L39UK]

Was he the son son of Eric Ravilious the respected wartime artist?

If so, the similarities in composition and 'atmosphere' are uncanny.

Michael

Hello Dralowid,

Yes, he was the son of Eric Ravilious (click "Biography" on the website.)

Many thanks for your interest and comments.

Regards,

William

[bcostin]

That's some beautiful work, L39UK (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/member.php?u=13931). Thank you for the link.

cmedin, those shots are nice examples. Nice and sharp but with that distinctively dreamy look.

[Dfin]

Thank you L39uk, beautiful photos of a Britain fast disappearing. Very nostalgic for me, as I lived in London in the late `70`s early `80`s and travelled around the west counrty a fair bit. The photos remind me a lot of Frank Medow Sutcliffs Whitby work, especially the farm workers. Thanks again for the link, all the best Alan.

[Bingley]

These are really lovely images. I have seen James Ravilious's name mentioned in other threads on this site, but hadn't followed the links or looked at the photos 'till now. His photos also bring back memories for me, as I spent the second half of the 1970s living in Britain, and during that time traveled quite often to rural areas in Dorset, South Wales, and other parts of the southwest.

There is another British photographer working w/ older equipment, who goes by the name GeeBee. He specializes in landscapes in Northamptonshire, and many of his photos are shot w/ a Leica IIIf and Summitar. Very good work, although Ravilious I think excelled in capturing rural society (human interaction in a rural context) in contrast to landscapes per se. Nevertheless, as another example of what can be achieved with this wonderful older gear and an expert eye, here's a link: http://www.geebeephoto.com/

[L39UK]

There is another British photographer working w/ older equipment, who goes by the name GeeBee. He specializes in landscapes in Northamptonshire, and many of his photos are shot w/ a Leica IIIf and Summitar. Very good work, although Ravilious I think excelled in capturing rural society (human interaction in a rural context) in contrast to landscapes per se. Nevertheless, as another example of what can be achieved with this wonderful older gear and an expert eye, here's a link: http://www.geebeephoto.com/[/quote]

Hello Steve,
Another great link with some superb images especially the landscapes taken with the Leica 111f using the 50mm Summitar.Many thanks for this link which I am sure many Leica user forum members will appreciate and enjoy.
Kindest Regards,
William

[Ming The Merciless]

His "Cows coming home to be milked" is something special. It moved me very much.

[peterm1]

Top drawer work. Very nice. I am sure this is what we are all aiming for with old lenses

[Morca007]

Top notch work, it made me nostalgic for a time and place I was never part of.

[nickdando]

There is a DVD about James Ravilious and his work in the Beaford area of Devon. It's Region 2 and is available only from:

http://www.banyak.co.uk/shop-ravilious.php

It's only 30 minutes long but it gives a very good idea of the photos he took and what the people thought of him. It's a quality production, made for BBC4, and narrated by Alan Bennett.

Some more of his work, including a book on his work and digital prints from his negatives, can be found at:

http://www.beaford-archive.org.uk/

Nick

[nickdando]

Oh, and by the way, he used what appears to be a heavily camouflaged Leica M3.

Nick

[dee]

I love the photos , i will never apire to such heights ! I too have travelled all around England , and have watched so much disappear , so they really mean something to me .

I am new to all this , having picked up a Leica II just over a year ago .
Having blown an inheritance , I nowhave a 1932/3 intial batch Leica II , nickel Elmar [ a bit later I think ] IIIc with uncoated Summitar , and IIIf with 50's Elmar ... [ and a brilliant Fed Clip collapsible ???]
Intially I shot slides with the various cameras , and love the quality of each lense
[ not my Jupiter 8 , though , nor the Helios on the Kiev 4m , both '' excellent '' but not '' right ''... too hard ?]
Naive , I guess , but , given my status as a '' considered snapshooter '' I just expected all of these lenses and cameras to perform beautifully .. [ well , not the Fed maybe !] .. '' beautifully '' being the factor .

When I bought the cameras from reputable dealers in London , they were so blase about the ability of older , serviced , Leicas and lenses to perform faultlessly for
ever and a day , having got over the shock of an everyday 1933 Leica , I just expected it .

Now they are given a new lease of life on my treasured M 8 - despite the dire warnings I keep hearing of older lenses performing '' badly '' on digital - they are superb ... or should I say create delicate images ?
I guess that this follows a dissatisfaction with SLR lenses from the 70s from the major players - except for Minolta Rokkors ...which give me a similar quality , some of which I will be using on the M 8 -[ awaiting adapter ] .

Sometimes , it seems like the differnce between a valve amp and a transistor amp ... record player or CD ... guess which I have !

dee

[L39UK]

A NEW EDITION OF A JAMES RAVILIOUS BOOK IS AVAILABLE.
Many thanks to sunsworth for this information (see link below).


sunsworth (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/member.php?u=4179)
Registered User


Status: Online
Posts: 143
Join Date: Jan 2006



Speaking of Ravilious, there's a new edition of a book of his photographs that is _highly_ recommended. He was an outstanding photographer of rural life in Devon. My copy arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Details here...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Eye-...52190&sr= 8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Eye-Photographs-James-Ravilious/dp/1905622147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200252190&sr=8-1)
__________________

[nickdando]

James used lenses specially modified by having the coatings removed by Malcolm Taylor. I've recently been speaking to Mr Taylor and he told me these details and was very keen to get hold of the book on James, An English Eye. James used to send Malcolm copies of his prints with scribbled notes (which Malcolm regrets having thrown away).

According to the book, James used a 28mm f6.3 Hektor, a 35mm Elmar and a 50mm Elmar on a heavily taped M3. These were used with a heavily modified lens shade to restrict, to the absolute minimum, the amount of extra light falling on the lens surface. More details and some film of the cameras is available on the DVD mentioned above.

He didn't use the viewfinder on the M3, preferring to use the VIOOH attachment instead.

All of this information, plus details of what film and developer combination he used, can be found in An English Eye, available directly from the Beaford Archive. Please support them as they gave James the opportunity to create his legacy of work.

http://www.beaford-archive.org.uk/

Nick