christopher_a._junker1

Arthur, lovely portrait series of your co-workers, nicely done. I just had e-mail from Ballaroo NSW, the area looks so green and well kept. Most Yanks, myself included know very little about Australia.

I'll have to get out my "no name" Kiev again. Although it is about the size of a Leica M, the user experience is very un-Leica. I was able to acquire a Contax mount Nikon SC f1.4 50 with hood that has worked well. The plusses are ease of focus, film loading and wide open performance of the Nikon, at least in the center. On the minus side is the less than smooth shutter release (a Tom A. softy release helped), squinty viewfinder, hard to set shutter speed and overall heavy industrial feel to the controls. JDW, is an actual Contax much smoother than a Kiev?

Is there any validity to the claim that lenses stored at maximum aperture tend less to gas off and deposit lubricant break down on lens surfaces?

In response to this topic I just had a good time finishing a roll of color print film that had been in my IIIg/50 Summicron for six months. It does require a bit of adjustment going from an M to an LTM camera body. I didn't expect much from the prints as most pictures were taken indoors or at dusk and I thought best to use a meter. However there is something special that a 50 Summicron gives you at f4 when focus, light and shutter speed all come together on a shot. Based on the results, I'll be using it more this fall.

This lens is a gem. Small and light, mine is a nice fit with the Leica LTM to M adapter on either an M or my Leica CL. Very sharp and clear stopped down.

Bill, thanks for the information, 1.25x makes sense, especially at $250. However the M4-2 rangefinder/viewfinder isn't quite as nice as the M3's as it seems to want to flare out in the rangefinder patch. With a motor drive and 135 lens it works well for sports photography.

With the 1.25 eyepiece, what would the frame lines represent in an M4-2? I'm hoping the lines come close to 50, 90 and 135. The eyepiece isn't cheap, but certainly less than the modifications to the M3 and M4-2. And I'd still be able to use the original M4-2 eyepiece if I wanted to use 35 lenses. My understanding is the M4-2 already has steel film advance gears and the quick loading system. Thanks for the guidance and advice.

Thanks Bill, especially with the comment on the Leica Motor-M. Might be easier to fit an M3 rangefinder system into an M4-2. Either way it won't be cheap but I shoot more 50/90 than 35.

Has anyone had their M3 modified to take a baseplate Leicavit or TA Rapidwinder? As a lefty, I greatly prefer a baseplate winder and if the conversion is reliable and not too expensive I'd like to do it. As the M3 is a "user" I'm not concerned about devaluing it.

Alan, best wishes to your Mom, perhaps you could load the IIIg for her and have her take your picture. My first ever lens purchase for my Leica IIIg was a pristine 50 Summicron f2 collapsible. Wonderful lens. I hope Kodachrome someday returns as the images are unique. I still have a roll of K64 in the freezer for when Kodachrome returns. With reference to the LTM Leicavit, I've never had a film loading or film advance problem as the bottom edge guide really works as a film guide.

Speaking of radioactive glass, at one time Tiffany made and sold beautiful lead glass candlesticks colored with Uranium Oxide to a beautiful yellow-green color. Their radioactive level was well above background levels.

Allan Cobb, is that an early Kodachrome yellow top can? Also, how many of us inherited or were gifted their first Leica from their parent or grandparent? My 21st birthday present was a IIIg with 2.8 Elmar and Leicavit from my father. Still have it of course.

Was the ver.1 Summicron 50 Leica's only "hot" lens?

Looks like a 1955 VW Karmann body cabriolet. Right behind the door is the turn signal "trafficator" a flashing flipper that popped out on either side wheny ou signaled for a left or right hand turn. I still have the1955 VW factory shop manual my Dad bought along with our black convertible identical to this picture. I learned to drive and took my test on it.

I had excellent results when Sherry Krauter straightened out my Leica CL. My best contact with her was after 7PM EDT, she works at night.

Per Sandy and SCL regarding the template, I printed the template, then transferred it to 1/16th basswood.

I have a IIIc with paint missing on the base plate interior. I have not had any light leak or other problems as the missing paint is not an issue so long as the remaining paint is well adhered and not flaking off and the base plate is a good tight fit with no gaps around the camera body when locked on.

JDMvW is correct. I came across an old receipt from Leica Rockleigh NJ for winter prep on my Dad's IIIf. Of three early 50's 50 Elmar 3.5 lenses, only the one on the winter IIIf has a non-sticky focusing mount. The shutter release sound on the body is much louder than on any of my other LTM Leica bodies. Very possible there is no lubrication in either body or lens.

I like all of the portraits. Keene looks like a 90 shot unless the background is way far back. Separation of subject from the background is well done.

stric1975 Well done, nice separation from the background. HP5 worked well.

The camera description is now: "M3 Serial No: 736489 Double Stroke converted to Single Stroke". It was built in the third production block of M3s beginning in January 1955.

Leicas are like owning a high performance 50 year old supercar. Preventative maintenance costs are high, but at least your Leica can be repaired so you can maintain the high performance level. Leica quality backup camera? I use a rebuilt and component updated Leica CL.

Dieter, my error, I meant the original poster. You are correct, regarding the shutter speed dial. I've yet to read of a M3 DS where in addition to the SS modification, the shutter speeds and dial were adjusted to geometric speeds. We'll know more if OP comes back with his confirmation of the shutter/film advance method.

Dieter, research double stroke M3 cameras on the internet where there is a concise explanation of the function and Leica's original reason for using a double stroke shutter cock and film advance. Later M3s were built as single stroke shutter cock and film advance along with several other changes, not all regarded as positive. Many early M3 owners sent their cameras back to Leitz to have them converted to single stroke function.