jerry_pfile1

Lemmesee here. Leica makes five (5) focal lengths in both black and chrome at the same speed. The 21,24,35,50, and 90.

Assuming one carries all of either finish and same speed around at once, how much more weight would the chrome lenses add?

Three plus pounds maybe? What is the matter with you young whippersnappers? When you get to my age you'll be glad you had the exercise.

The camera bodies weigh the same in either finish. The glass in the lenses is the same so one must presume that the results depend upon skill, and occasionally on luck.

Best,

Jerry

John,

I agree that using the older Elmars can be a hassle of sorts. I guess that's the cost of the "charm" factor.

Used one for a long while till I decided to get the E-39 f/3.5 version for about $75 more or less on a trade.

Best of both worlds.

Best,

Jerry

Paul,

The fact that the "little old lady" was almost out of frame is part of what made this image work for me.

The actions of each of the figures showed that the older generation was being passed by, as it always has and always will.

Best,

Jerry

Tom,

"the world is wonderful in part because of the limitless possibilities"

Limitless? Well not quite, but 6 billion or so and counting is close enough I guess.

Best,

Jerry

Gil,

Naw, it's an 0.72 mag, just like the M4 that preceeded it.

When your eys get big, everything just looks bigger to! (:>)

Best,

Jerry

Bas,

Really quite a contrast between 1 & 2.

Regarding the first. Central figures in an image should always have a head. (Unless they just had it taken off by an RPG round or you're shooting some porn shots.) :>)

On 2, I thought it was quite good. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" if you will, appearing totally engrossed in her cell phone conversation...oblivious to her surroundings...apparantly outpacing the much older lady who is scanning the shop windows... and almost out of frame.

Said a lot to me at least.

Best,

Jerry

The lens RF cam on the eyes version is ground differently than that of the non-eyed version. Hence if use it on other than an M3, in particular at the more open aperatures and close up, you will not be focusing accurately.

DOF will only do so much.

Using the "taller" top cover bodies might pose a problem also, but I don't have any so don't know.

Best,

Jerry

I don't think I'll be ordering one. All my purchase decisions should be this easy!

However, I wonder if the chrome hood will be made available to us peons. It certainly looks more substantial than that plastic stuff they've been kicking out over the last few decades.

If it's not in the "equity loan" range, I might get one if available.

Best,

Jerry

I'm curious as to haw all those dials can be set with apparantly only two buttons.

Whoops, maybe there is a third there (flush with case). Still that would be an accomplishment.

Best,

Jerry

I can't recall seeing an Elmar that old with the barrel so unmarked.

Don't think that a lot of photons have passed through that glass.

Best,

Jerry

Edwin,

Not really enough info to give a proper full answer to your question.

Allow me to speculatate though: Obviously you're new to Leica, and perhaps to using an RF camera, and lastly assume you're not putting food on the table as a result of your photographic efforts.

With that, I'd sell the 0.85 body, and buy another lens with the proceeds and as much film as leftover funds allow. Then shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. RFs (all kinds) are different than SLRs and there is a learning curve.

So, one body only for awhile. ONE body? I'd better send this before my wife comes back into the room!

Best,

Jerry

John,

Victor asked the pertinant question, i.e. what kind of lens is it? If it lacks the proper rf cam (or any cam for that matter) it will not couple to the rf.

However, you may be able to scale focus at higher aperatures if light levels permit.

The M2 vf is slightly wider than the field of view of the 35mm lens, and with practice (use the frame selector) you'll learn to get the proper framing.

I'm curious that you describe your M2 as "2-stroke", as I'm fairly certain they were all manufactured as single stroke (but you can manually operate them as 2 stroke). Perhaps at an early age, it was converted to 2-stroke only. That would have had to have been done quite awhile ago though.

Best,

Jerry

Ya-but the Buckeyes have won the last two years.

AND didn't have to share their championship with anybody.

AND OSU isn't on NCAA probation.

AND...the Supreme Court ruled against the undergrad school.

I'm sure if I wasn't in a hurry I could think of something else.

:>)

Jerry

Mitch,

Although old (35 yrs. plus) my MR works fine for negative film. Angle approximates that of 90mm lens.

I'd want to see it in person though and see how it matches with a newer meter. Newer meters have greater sensitivity on the low end.

Remember that it uses the older style mercury batteries that are hard to come by, although conversions are available.

Finally, the MR is activated by depressing a switch on the side, that would be in the way when rewinding on an M4. When the M4 was introduced, they dropped the MR and went to the MR4 which activates via a switch on the top.

Best,

Jerry

Steven,

In the choice of "which tabbed Summicron", my vote would be for the convex version. I've never shot with the convex type, but have with my 40mm Summicron and it's the only complaint I have with the lens.

If you decide on the chrome finish, concave tabbed, external hood, Summicron however you may have a problem. They made very few I understand and are hard to find. When I was searching for one a few years back (99' I think), on a "flyer" I decided to e-mail Leica NJ in the person of Roger Horn. He took the time to search for a NOS one and sent it to my dealer. Leica NJ takes a lot of flak, apparantly generally deserved especially regarding poor repairs, but in this one case at least, they came through for me.

All that said, if I were serching for a 50 Summicron today, I'd look for the retro version that they have (still are?) making. Too much for the budget? Look for a clean 50 DR. The construction of either can't be beat, and the scalloped focusing ring is better than either of the tabbed styles.

Optically I really can't tell much difference in the old/new formulations. However, I wouldn't buy a 50 DR sight unseen, for all the reasons that have been mentioned previously (haze, fungus, etc.) here on the forum.

Best,

Jerry

Paul,

Again, someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I seem to recall that M4 #1,234,567 is in a display of Leica camera's (and perhaps other brands as well) at a University in South-Western OH, close to Cinncinati.

I recall that from the blurb advertising the annual LHSA meeting over a decade ago. A side trip for members to view the display was one of the offers available to attendees.

Can't recall the name of the school, or why they would have such a display. Perhaps some younger LHSA'ers with better memories can assist.

Whether it is still there, and should it ever come on the market, I suspect that a few well heeled collectors would go bonkers bidding up the price.

Best,

Jerry

That's OK Doc. One has to finance that new lens or body somehow.

Best,

Jerry

I really haven't had a problem (although no international travel in the last couple of years.

I've had to supress a chuckle a few times though. Non P&S RF cameras sometimes confuse the inspector. They want you to take the lens cap off before they look though the finder, and many comments about how "heavy" they are. I get the impression they don't see too many M's.

Film? Hardly ever shoot anything faster than Tri-X and never had a bad experience. However, if my livelyhood depended on film that was x-rayed, I'd probably take additional precautions.

Best,

Jerry

Best,

Jerry

"And they'll pry my Leica from my cold, dead hands."

Oops, that best belongs in another post.

Jerry

Although nowhere near the top of my "to do" list, it will be interesting to check in 30/40 years to see if the finish on the chrome MP/M7 with their brass top covers holds up as well as my brushed chrome M2/M3 of 35 and 43 yrs respectivially.

Best,

Jerry

Doubtless that someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I beleive you are correct that at some unknown point in M6 production, Leica went to a plastic housing for the disk that houses the film rewind lever.

I have an M6 (0.72 at serial 2,290,302) that appears to be metal, and an M6 (0.85 at serial 2,433,067) that appears to be plastic. (Hey honey, have you seen my magnet?)

Jay and Al heros? Proof positive that hero status transcends all personality bounds.

Best,

Jerry

Chuck,

Don't complain. A lot of old M spools have gotten "loose" with time and won't hold the leader.

Hope you can follow my verbal explanation but I learned long ago the following is pretty quick.

Holding the leader in your left hand and the spool in your right, insert the end of the leader in the spool "gap" at about a 45 degree angle first. When engaged, then push it in while you bring the film leader up so that it "squares" with the path that is established by the spool ends.

You'll get used to it in no time. Find yourself in a real rush at now and then? Invest in a spare spool and "pre-load" the leader to the spool. You'll be able to change rolls faster than the rapid loads of the M2R and later.

And no, I don't want to hear from all those who will note that I'd didn't consider the rewind time. After forty plus years of M3 shooting you can get pretty quick at that to. (Not to mention a darned good callous (sp?) on your right thumb and index finger!

Best,

Jerry

The practice of having to sell only at "list" price in the times Al mentions above was known as "fair trade". E. Leitz would "shop" their authorized dealers on occasion to see if they complied.

One way (albeit risky) was to offer an inflated trade i.e. "Sure I'll allow you $150 for that Brownie Hawkeye if you buy this M3 with 4 lenses". You didn't do that though with an unknown customer.

Kelly, I don't recall it being necessary or required to sell a lens with each body. At that time however, in their catalogs, E. Leitz often would list a body and lens price as an individual line item such as one poster above quoted. As I recall however, the combination total was no different than the sum of the individual items.

One "then vs. now" difference is that the dealer mark-up in those days of yore was somewhat more favorable to the dealers. I think in the late 50's dealers paid $0.78 per retail dollar. Not great, but better than it is today.

Best of all, an employee (or owner) of an authorized dealer could buy a body with a normal (50mm of course) lens for 50% of list, along with however many lenses they wanted at 40% off. Provided they purchased the other lenses at the same time. You had to agree though to keep the purchase for a specified time, two years at least as I recall.

Best,

Jerry

Al,

All the more reason to put your money in this stuff. Like I tell my wife, it's a great way to avoid probate!

Best,

Jerry

Richard,

The narrow and wide patches correspond to the DOF at f/5.6 and 11.

When the lens is set to either of these f stops, and when both images of the subject you wish to focus on provided by the RF are within the width of the notch appopriate to the either of these stops, then the suject will be sharp. (Given no camera shake or very slow shutter speeds of course.)

Kind of nice and handy. Miss it when I'm shooting with my M6, and wonder why they dropped it.

Best,

Jerry