jonathan_stark

I have a Komura 105/2.0 that looks very similar except for the back end (lens mount). Mine's in T mount. I wonder if they're the same formula?

John - If you really enjoy the old beast, and your own efforts to fix it don't work out, you can have it fixed "professionally". <a href="http://www.exaktaphile.com/repair.html">Miles Uptons</a> repair service is temporarily closed, but he'll very likely reopen in a few months. I had him overhaul a VX and have never regretted it - it's now one of my favorites in all it's clunky oddness.

Benjamin - did you ask John Maddox? He works only on Leica LTM cameras, he might do the clones. You can get his contact info from Andrew Nemeth's <a href="http://www.nemeng.com/leica/007e.shtml">Leica FAQ</a> web site.

Ah, now I remember! M90 is the setting. If your camera has a 'M90' shutter speed setting, turn to that and see if the mirror doesn't come down.

This question comes up now and again. The battery's probably dead. There's a shutter speed setting that will bring the mirror down, I don't remember exactly 'cause I don't use my FG much, but it is the setting that begins with "M". Turn the dial to that setting and the mirror should come down by itself.

My Retina IIIc is so quiet my (recently CLA'd) Leica IIIc sounds like a gun firing in comparison. The shutter release linkage sliding actually makes more sound than the synchro-compur firing on the Retina.

Gene - you're lucky you found one that works. One of these days, when I stop being so mad I could spit, I'm gonna post my tale of woe and Retina Reflex frustration. These things are beguiling temptresses that lure many a would-be collector to the horror of realizing their new-found treasure is really just a paperweight!

Andrew- I believe you went to "camera-auctionS.com", not "camera-auction.com" (no 's'). Same thing happened to me earlier when I mistyped the URL. Camera-auction.com was up and working as of about 1 minute ago.

Todd- You raise some valid points in your post. However, I'd like to set the record straight on one point: you said, "most are Exakta related." This statement is just not true. As of a few minutes ago (9:05 PM US EST), there were 89 items for sale, and 17 of those items were for Exakta or even remotely related to Exakta.

Daniel & Dan: give it time, maybe? It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, of course. If everyone says "it won't work," then it surely won't. It started a few weeks ago with maybe a dozen items for sale, and worked it's way up to over 100, and is now down a bit from that height. Personally I'm more in the buying game than selling at the moment, or I'd give selling a shot. Maybe I will anyway. I think the folks behind this are only asking for a fighting chance, that's all. (Concerning "not-sporting" I suspect some of the early listings were intentional "sacrificial lambs" to get the ball rolling. The guys listing are VERY experienced in the marketplace.)

 

Now, my next remark is not directed at anyone in particular, so please don't read it that way. I've seen a lot of carping on photo.net about eBay - (although maybe not on this forum.) For anyone who is bummed out with eBay, here's a chance to build an alternative. It's going to take a little time, a little vision, a little faith, and a little persistance. I don't have any stake in this, I was a bystander to the conversations that spawned it. But I think it could be a good thing, and I've put my money as a buyer behind my words, and will continue to do so. Anyone want to join me?

That 80/2.8 Tessar is a sweetie. I have that lens in Exakta mount, it's a favorite.

I've used this, it's real and it works. I've won a lens hood for one of my less common lenses, and a 85mm Travenar in LTM. There's a Praktica V I'm eyeing that expires tonight. The site grew out of some discussions in the Exakta internet community. So far most of the sellers are well known Exakta folks, e.g. Miles Upton, John Dugrew, Klaus Rademaker, etc.

 

Some of the differences from the large auction site are no fees, (site runs on voluntary contributions), and no sniping. Any bid in the last 30 seconds extends the auction end time by 5 minutes, the way a live auctioneer holds an auction open if he thinks more bids are coming. It takes a while to spin a new venture like this up - there's about 80 items for sale now. Folks dissatisfied with e-prey should check this out and give it a chance.

Having had something "real" to do last night (involving elderly parents, nursing homes, and an insurance company...yccchh) I wasn't paying much attention....... did we have a fight or something? Hey, folks, this is a HOBBY for me. Like, relaxation, enjoyment, dig? I get to listen to folks bicker at work all day long. And if I don't get enough at work, I can always cruise the Leica forum!

 

What CE said.

Andrew, I'm no authority, and not even a serious student of these matters, but won't the difference between a Tessar and a triplet mostly show up in the corners, at large aperatures?

There's FED's and FED's. They range from the FED 1 of the 1930's which was a virtual clone of the Leica II, to the FED 5 of the early 1990's. I have a FED 2e, which is rather elegant (in a Soviet sort of way), has a very wide-base rangefinder, and loads easily with its removable back. It works well (most of the time.) A word of warning: the quality level of Russian cameras can be all over the map. Good examples are very viable user cameras, but a willingness to do a bit of tinkering (e.g. rangefinder adjustment) can be useful. I believe all FED's have the older-style rotating shutter speed dial; shutter speeds can only be changed when the shutter is cocked.

 

Another word of warning: FED's and Zorki's generally have wedge-shaped rangefinder cam followers, instead of the roller followers in Leicas. A wedge-shaped follower is designed for the annular cam on older Leica and Russian lenses. It can hang up on the tabbed rangefinder cams often found in non-Russian telephoto lenses. (I don't have VC lenses, don't know what kind of cam they have.)

Harry,

 

It's a VC meter 1 - no locking dial. I'd prefer to have it on the camera for the simple reason that it's a small object, and I've got an unfortunate tendancy to misplace small objects!! I'm hell with lens caps....

Mike, Dan, Donald, I rummaged around at the B&H site, saw some of the shoe adapters you referred to. PITA to have to buy another little bit of kit I know darn well I'll misplace when I need it!

 

James, The VC double shoe adapter would have to be the "C" model with the 10mm rise - the double shoe adapter also extends to the left, the lower "A" and "B" models would probably foul the rewind knob.

 

Frank, I think it cannot be moved laterally - it would start to bump into the cover to the battery compartment. You make me think, though, I wonder can it be raised with some shims underneath? Depends on the length of the 3 attaching screws.

 

Everyone, thanks much for your help and suggestions.

Bill, You're right! I'm SO ashamed of myself. Real Men shoot Kodachrome 200 by the Sunny 16 rule!

Warning: gearhead equipment trivia, please skip if indisposed to this

kind of thing!

 

I received a Cosina VC meter for Christmas a year ago. For whatever

reason, I'd never used it with my Retina IIa. I picked up that combo

this a.m., thinking the meter would sit on the Retina's accessory

shoe and the whole would make a nice compact package for my lunchtime

picture-taking walks. It didn't work: the meter rubs on the Retina's

rewind knob, making film advance difficult/impossible. The VC

meter's body overhangs to the left of its shoe mount. The Retina's

accessory shoe is to left of center on the camera, and the rewind

knob is just tall enough to rub on the bottom of the meter. Geez,

who woulda thunk it?!!

 

Somebody, somewhere in this world probably once upon a time made

an "accessory shoe extender" -- one more think for me to paw through

the junk bins at camera shows looking for. Just when ya think ya got

all the bits and pieces ya need...!!!

I would buy any new $800 M body, and 2 new $400 M lenses, if Leica cared to develop and market such items. I would love to drive a Porsche, too, but must content myself with Volkswagens. Leica doesn't make products for Volkswagen budgets.

I enjoy the 1950's Schneider Xenons wherever I meet them. I have them on Retinas (IIa, IIIc, and Reflex), and two versions of the interchangeable model for Exakta. Universally excellent lenses. Ergonomics of those cameras? I vote for the traditional trapezoid shaped Exaktas, because I have big hands and they fit in my hands well. Retinas are a little small and fiddly for me.

Ivor Matanle in his book Classic SLR's book seems to draw the line with the introduction of significant amount of plastics in the frame/structure of the body, and solid-state electronics in the exposure system. By this categorization, a Pentax K1000 is a classic, and a Pentax ME of the same year is not. A Russian FED 5 produced in the early 1990's would be a classic, but a mid 1980's Leica M6 wouldn't because of the electronics in the meter system?? (not sure that makes sense!) How about a 1968 Yashica TL-Electro with the diodes in the meter display, and the electronically controlled Copal shutter? Well, all I've done here is agree with Daniel that there's no firm and fast line! FWIW, I think discussion of post-1970 cameras that have some palpable connection to classics, either through use of traditional materials in construction, or mechanical or electro-mechanical shutters, etc. is fine.

Unfortunately, the cost of one new MP or M7 and one lens far surpasses the worth of my entire collection of 28 classic cameras and various lenses, accessories, etc. My one solitary Leica is now 59 years old. Much as I admire the current products, unless I win the lottery, there is virtually NO chance of my ever buying a new outfit of an MP or M7 and 2-3 lenses. None whatsoever. It is simply financially out of reach, despite my decent middle class income. A new Bessa outfit, OTOH, is quite realistic. Multiply my experience by many times, or consider all the folks who have bought new Voightlander/Cosina -- how would Leica be faring if those sales had been Leica's instead? I don't know the answer, but the illness is clear. There's a potential market of lots of folks still interested in film photography, who aren't going to pay $7,200 (B&H price) for a new M body and 28/50/90 lenses. The VC rough equivalents can be had for about $1,500 (Cameraquest prices, minus accessories). There's a heck of a better chance my squeezing $1,500 out of the discretionary budget than $7,200. Leica makes great machines & glass, but they're not going to make my pictures 4-5 times better!

 

I'm the guy to whom Leica should be selling, but they've got nothing I want that I can afford. Cosina does.

Thanks, Jorge. I have the LTM version of the Russian multi-finder, so of course it sits to the left. Looks like I'll have to get an Imarect. Too bad, I really like that Russian finder.

Does anyone happen to know, will a VC Meter I and the Russian multi-

turret finder for LTM sit side by side on a VC double shoe adapter?

Or is the Russian finder too wide? If the Russian finder won't work,

will an Imarect work on that adapter, or is that too wide too? TIA.