Leica 11

[johesm]

Last week I purchased a Leica 11 at an auction. According to the serial numbers on the body and lens the camera was manufactured in 1936. The camera has a lot of wear from use but is in excellent working order and has been serviced at some point. The wear adds to the look and I rather like it. I believe the camera was originally purchased in europe as the lens is in metres not feet and the tripod mount is 3/8" not 1/4". At sometime strap lugs were added unless they were an option at time of purchase. I owned a Leica years ago and regret getting rid of it and will enjoy using this camera. I don't think the lack of slow shuuter speeds will bother me at all. I have attached a couple of pictures. One of the camera and one of the first roll of film I shot.

Joe

[Graybeard]

Last week I purchased a Leica 11 at an auction. According to the serial numbers on the body and lens the camera was manufactured in 1936. The camera has a lot of wear from use but is in excellent working order and has been serviced at some point. The wear adds to the look and I rather like it. I believe the camera was originally purchased in europe as the lens is in metres not feet and the tripod mount is 3/8" not 1/4". At sometime strap lugs were added unless they were an option at time of purchase. I owned a Leica years ago and regret getting rid of it and will enjoy using this camera. I don't think the lack of slow shuuter speeds will bother me at all. I have attached a couple of pictures. One of the camera and one of the first roll of film I shot.

Joe


I doubt that the lack of shutter speeds below 1/30th will be much of a problem for you at all. With a reasonably fast lens, f2 say, and ASA400 film, you wil be able to shoot in most indoor situations, handheld, and of course, outdoors.

I have an embarassing number of IIc's and IIf's and use them quite frequently - usually with a Jupiter J8 or a Serenar f1.8. I find that, despite my inability to hand-hold below 1/30th, I rarely miss having the slower speeds. If I wander into a situation where the light is really poor (usually church interiors, in the US or Europe), I just put a new roll of film into the camera (Fuji Neopan 400 is my current favorite) and push process it when I get back to the darkroom.

Congratulations on your acquisition and good light-

Graybeard

[photomoof]

I just had to peek and see what a Leica eleven looked like. :p

[Vince Lupo]

Whoa, a Leica that goes to 11!

[payasam]

Joe, you want a Roman two, not an Arabic eleven.

[Roger Hicks]

The first Leica I ever used was a II in about 1969-70. Then after a few weeks my girlfriend wanted it back and I had to buy my own -- a IIIa. I still have it...

It's a lovely camera, and I agree that with an f/2 lens and ISO 400 you shouldn't miss the slow speeds. With the f/3.5 you have, it's marginal in low light: try HP5 Plus in Ilford DD-X, true ISO 650-800, pushed to 1000-1250 (effectively 1/2 to 1 stop push).

Cheers,

Roger

[photomoof]

I have never actually owned a real II or III (or an 11) but I have owned many copies from Nicca, and I think that form factor is perhaps the best size and shape film camera ever produced, especially with a collapsible lens.

I only like the Nikon S2 better, but not by much.

[johesm]

Thanks for the tips. They are helpful. In the future I will use the roman ll. I also have a Jupiter 8 lens from my Zorki 3C.

Joe

[Graybeard]

Thanks for the tips. They are helpful. In the future I will use the roman ll. I also have a Jupiter 8 lens from my Zorki 3C.

Joe

With the J-8, a f2/50mm, you are all set. Buy a lot of film and use it all.

-Graybeard