Leicaflex Standard - a users view

[rgh]

A great 1st camera, and Leica 'spice'<p>

 

For the Leica User that wants a bit of change or 'spice', a First

Timer Leica, or just a bit of classic camera interest... I thought

I'd mention a nice camera to use that's a bit over-looked, under

appreciated, but still after 40 years a wonderful camera to use, takes

nice Leica glass, and is a good bargain these days - the original

Leicaflex. And no, I'm not selling one :-) I know this is a bit long,

but if you want a 'look' at the Leicaflex Standard as its now called,

read on.<p>

 

I got an original 1965 Leicaflex years ago but it was one of those

rare black paint versions and I ended up selling it to a collector.

Just recently I got another for my niece as a starter camera and its

as impressive as I remember. Yes, I did say "impressive" - it does

have all the well known short comings, really only two - no full frame

focus screen / no through the lens meter - and Leitz was famously late

into the SLR market - but they did get some things right, and

especially if you are into 'classic users' ( a special breed of

photographer that enjoys photography, 'fun user cameras', and

sometimes a rare/interesting camera ) , the Leicaflex has an appeal to

it.<p>

 

First off this is a very COOL camera (hope I can say that, without the

"Leicas are only for making pictures" crowd on my back? ). Just

picking this camera up you know it is well made to the extreme, its so

solid feeling and heavy, the advance, shutter, opening the back and

lens change are super smooth and made with precision. The usual chrome

finish is beautifully applied, black lacquer trim, and the engravings

are nice too, even an engraved diagram of open/close function of the

swing-out back on the side release. An expensively made camera on par

with the Leica M3 quality.<p>

 

And speaking of the M3... in comparison this is where the Leitz design

logic of the original Leicaflex comes into focus. Looking through the

finder with an f2 lens is a real treat, its as bright as if you are

seeing with the naked eye, even noticeably brighter than the famously

clear M3 finder. The central micro-prism focus snaps in and out of

focus very well, no it does not have a full frame focus, but neither

does the M-series if you think about it that way. So what you see in

the finder is a super bright image, easy to focus area, a view of the

photo that is 'truer' than the M-series finder, shutter speeds, a

meter readout, and good eye relief. As I said before - cool.<p>

 

Standing off the film advance 90⁰ takes the advance lever out of the

way of your head and the start for one quick smooth stroke (and turns

the meter on in the 2nd version of the 'Standard'). Film loading is

helped - easy and quick (no fumbling with the take-up spool) - with

the swing out back. Shutter release is very smooth, and the actual

shutter and mirror action a very nice fairly quiet sound, not

M-series, but pleasant to hear. It also has an 'improved' shutter, top

speed now is 1/2000 second - helpful for action and if you want to

open your lens an extra stop in daylight to give a more creative

effect, and flash is also twice the speed of the M and synchronized at

1/100 second. This also was the first Leica with a crank rewind,

actually the M4 borrowed the exact same part from Leicaflex grafting

it on to the M body in its now famous angle position.<p>

 

Its a heavy camera as I've said, but as camera movement with unsteady

hands may be the biggest reason for poor photography, the Leicaflex

excels. It settles in the hand very solid and basically there is

amazingly no vibration. Its like a 'hand-held tripod'. The mirror can

be adjusted for 3 actions; automatic quick return, up and stays that

way after shutter release, and up and quick return after shutter

release - same as the Visoflex III. But this is only really needed to

use the famous 21mm f3.4 Super Angulon first version with the

protruding rear elements. This 21mm does make a nice compact package

with the Leicaflex and unlike the M-series Angulon with the MR meter

OR the finder, you can have a meter AND the finder on an original

Leicaflex.<p>

 

Remember, this is a Leica 'flex', and one of the best things about

them is they use Leitz glass, some people would say "the reason to own

a Leicaflex body is..." The 50mm Summicron, 90/35 Elmarit and

Summicron, 135mm Elmarit, and the 21mm mentioned are all as good as

their M-series counter parts, and they focus in close. Even without

the full screen focus and depth of field view option of the later SL

this is an advantage. Great Lenses and at a fraction of the used

M-series prices for most!<p>

 

Problems...? The camera is getting on in years. A general CLA is a

good idea to start things off right. The meter may be the item most to

suffer with age, so check it out, and if the camera comes cheap enough

without a working meter, you can always go 'M-style' and use a

handheld - sometimes its a better idea anyway.<p>

 

These are really great cameras and lenses at bargain prices. Can you

imagine a beautiful almost mint M3 for $200 or less? The original

(heavy) 35mm Summicron is a beautiful 9-element optics, focuses to 12

inches, very flare resistant, sharp with a 'classic' look - better and

at less than a third of M-series 1st version collector's price. The

50mm Summicron is superbly made and 1st rate optics, the 90mm Elmarit

really great lens to concentrate on detail, very sharp and ELPRO

close-up attachments make it a macro lens. What a great way to get

into photography as a starter camera, or to just enjoy a quality

experience without the price.<p>

 

Now I get to enjoy a few rolls 'checking this camera out' before

sending to my niece!<p>

<img src = http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/3053062-lg.jpg>

[kent_tolley2]

I want a Leicaflex SL2 recently CLA'd with a few classic lenses.

[Troll]

Leicaflex: the first Leica to be designed by committee rather than by a photographer. The real first Leica SLR is the Olympus OM-1.

[jason]

I was astonished when Leitz/Leica released that Wagnerian tradgedy,40 yrs ago.I thought that the design team would set out to beat the Nikon-F.The Leicaflex was based on a mix of Visoflex and a simple tiny system.I guess they, the designers and accountants knew the battle was over, in regard to the Japanese onslaught.A SLR without a groundglass, no depth of field control in the viewfinder, no behind the lens metering and 4 lenses initially.Sure the lenses were great.The camera a disaster,in terms of what was already, available.Seeing that prototype with "selenium" meter in an earlier posting, one must beleive the whole of Leitz was "somewhere else".Suggest a fun camera? Yes! The Canon AE-1 Program and a few lenses. Batteries readily available.

Auto exposure.Wonderful focussing.Lenses that are more than adequate.

I hated my EOS.I disliked the AE-1.The Program model a whole other animal.It is fun! I can use it with my Leica-M as everything moves in same directions.I Never use my Nikon-F's with M's.

[paul_chan4]

Robert, you gave a fair roundup report on Leica's neglected 1st SLR. I believe you had the Canadian-made 35mm/F2 Summicron on your pix, a lens equally neglected as an excellent performing lens. If anything, the Leicaflex and to some extent the SL model as well, evokes a strong sense of the nostalgic years in the 60's and 70's. Both are essentially no-frills cameras of that so-called golden era. I can vividly remember the feeling of holding one of these heavyweights with that brand name on it. And it is still today as good a user camera as it was 30+ years ago.

[david_watts]

Robert, I couldn't agree more. I bought the first version (with pie shaped exposure counter) last year from a deceased estate. It was my first Leica and I agree with everything you have said about its weight, viewfinder and use. When I bought it I had a part used slide film in an Olympus OM-1 so put similar film in the 'flex and took identical shots with both cameras. What impressed me most was that when the slides were returned, it was possible to see on the light-box in the camera shop that the 50mm Summicron was able to resolve details in shadows that the Zuiko f1.4 left as black masses. Projecting the slides showed that not only were there details in the shadows, there were details in the highlights as well. The outcome is that the OM-1, 2 and 4ti plus lenses have gone, replaced by a Wetzler M6 and 35mm and 50mm Summicrons. My Leicaflex is also used regularly. A word of warning from the Leica dealers here in Australia was that the exposure meter can no longer be repaired and should only be used with 1.35v batteries. I now use a zinc-air battery and remove it and block off the air holes between uses. As Robert says - a great classic camera that still gives superb results.

[david_watts]

I should have said that the 50mm Summicron on my early 'flex is a Wetzler made version.

[kent_tolley2]

Can you still get a Leicaflex repaired and CLA'd?

[rgh]

The 35mm Summicron on the camera above is the 1st version made in Canada. It was Leitz first attempt at a fast retro-focus lens. Big and heavy especially compared to the 2nd Wetzlar version (or an M-lens of course!), but the image quality was and still is great, and like the Leicaflex cameras 'built like a tank', still liquid-like focus after 40+ years, an 8 blade very round aperture opening with classic smooth bokeh.

[rgh]

Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch is 'the best' person for Leica / Leicaflex repair, I've been a happy camper for many years with her care. I remembered that she told me she got a Leicaflex Standard for her nephew as a first camera, I guess that could be thought of as a recommendation.

[rgh]

Kent ^,

 

I see you want an SL2, I would recommend a look at the straight SL, a better made camera (according to the repair people I've known over the years, and from my own use of the two I perfer), cheaper on the used market, and the SL's only real drawback being a meter that's not as sensitive - but then a flex isn't a low-light camera to me anyway.

[rgh]

opps... make that 35mm Summicron 30+ years, introduced 1972

[kent_tolley2]

Thanks Robert. For a vintage camera I want one that Sherry can work on. I'm looking for something like this.<div></div>

[paul_neuthaler]

SL great!; SL2 Unbelievably great!; Leicaflex original horrible IMHO!<div></div>

[paul_neuthaler]

...another for you lucky LF viewers

[paul_neuthaler]

...and one more

[doug herr]

Hey Kent, where did you find that photo of the black enamel SL?

;-)

<P>

There are actually 4 versions of the Leicaflex Standard. Two are

what is called Type 1 (pie-shaped film counter window), two are

called Type 2 (round film counter window) with some very

significant internal changes between some of the versions and

limited upgradability. The easiest to service is a late Type 2.

The meter probably can be re-calibrated for 1.5-volt silver-oxide

batteries but this involves removing to top plate to reach the trim

pots. On the SL and SL2, access to the trim pots is behind the

strip of trim on the front of the prism housing.<P>

The Standard's battery cover protrudes far enough from the

prism housing that some lenses will not fit due to interference

with the aperture ring. If the camera's meter is dead you can

either remove the battery cover entirely or remove the battery and

screw the battery cover in farther. If the meter is still good, you

can replace the battery cover with the one intended for the SL2's

second battery compartment, the one on the front of the camera.

Two lenses I've found that have this interference problem are the

100 APO and the 280 f/4 APO.

<P>

I use my Standard for B&W landscapes. The lack of TTL

metering isn't a big concern with B&W neg film, and the MLU is

handy for vibration-free exposures.

[ed_balko3]

Thank you, Robert, for a good, thorough discussion of the Leicaflex from a user's perspective. I have second type (round frame counter window) Leicaflex and enjoy using the camera.

 

In use, the Leicaflex is functionally equivalent to the M2/M3/M4 rangefinders Leicas. The metering system is no less convenient than a hand-held meter, the Leica MR meters, or the clip-on meters that some photographers use with these rangefinder cameras. Arguably, the viewing angle of the Leicaflex meter is similar to center-weighted TTL metering for 50mm and shorter lenses and full-field averaging metering with a 90mm lens. With lenses longer than 90mm, or a macro lens, clearly there is an advantage to the TTL system in the Leicaflex SL cameras.

 

Much is made of the shortcomings of the small center focusing screen if the Leicaflex. This can be a matter of preference; I am an eyeglass wearer and find the Leicaflex perhaps a bit easier to focus than the SL. In use one can compare the area outside the microprism spot with the region within the spot to find sharp focus.

 

Sherry Krauter, DAG, and Essex Camera Services all offer CLA's on the Leicaflex. The meter can be recalibrated for a silver oxide battery during a CLA or use the zinc-air hearing aid batteries available cheaply in most chain drugstores. DAG has resilvered prisms should one be needed. The single-cam R lenses are probably the least expensive modern Leitz optics available.

[ben z]

"Much is made of the shortcomings of the small center focusing screen if the Leicaflex. "

 

Possibly because it defeats one of the main points of using a reflex, which is being able to focus anywhere on the screen without needing to recompose after focusing?

[kent_tolley2]

Doug - found the black enamel SL here. <A HREF="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/leica/sl.html">Leicaflex SL</A>--

[rgh]

Kent^

 

Don't know if you got the joke, but just in case... that's Doug's site...

[kent_tolley2]

dOh!

[karl_keung]

SL2 is what M5 in the M world, whereas Leicaflex original is what M3 in the M world,

hopefully I get this wrong.

[rgh]

Karl, you got me on that one... ?

[karl_keung]

Leicaflex Original, like M3, is a no nonsense camera; Leicaflex SL/SL2, like M5, tried to

introduce some improvements, with its increased height and size.

 

Leicaflex Original feels just right in hands (my hands anyway, which has grown to suite

M3). Leicaflex SL/SL2 seem just a bit too large. Leicaflex Original I believe is also heavier

than the later SL/SL2. Its back door is heavier and one can immediate feels the difference.

Mirror lockup is another nice touch.

 

Have a re-silvered prism installed, Leicaflex sits very comfortably along with M3, two of

Leica's best, never sinced equalled in workmanship and self-confidence. The only Leica

which has not been invaded by those collectors on ebay, I am happy to say.