I admit that I've neglected my IIIC recently for the M6 TTL. For a particular subject matter, I was seeking that softer Summaron 35 3.5 look that we've lost w/ the new tack sharp M lens. So I cranked through two rolls of Tri-X this afternoon in the late sun angle with the 60 year old Leitz equipment. Wow, what a magic sound as the shutter fired. Completely different than the M3 or the new M6. I was entralled all over again. There's definitely something magical about the screw mounts. And I found I was falling into a more contemplative mode with the fussier IIIC. Slower focusing, smaller RF, no meter, going back & forth from the RF window to the mounted viewfinder. I loved it & found it very similar to shooting with the Hasselblad. The IIIC is not a camera I'd take for rapid fire shooting, but it's a different zone & creates a wonderful sound that's quite memorable. Anyone else have a similar reaction to their "antiques"?

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), June 02, 2002

Answers

I thought the feel and sound of my IIIF was heaven, until a friend gave me a Model II. Ummmm Mmmmmmm!

-- Willhelmn (wmitch3400@hotmail.com), June 02, 2002.

I agree completely. My IIIf is in need of a CLA, and as such has slow shutter speeds. But what does it matter? It's a nice step back from all the digital shooting I usually do. I was at a rave/dj/dance/skateboard/BMX event last night. My three cameras? Canon D30, Leica Digilux 1, and the IIIf. I can virtually guarentee that out of the 10,000+ people there, I was the only one with a screw mount leica. In fact, I'd guess that there were only a handfull of people there who would have known what one was.

-- Josh Root (rootj@att.net), June 02, 2002.

I carried one of my IIICs into the Boston Museum of Fine Arts a couple months ago. No problem taking photos there & lots of people tote cameras in. Before I got 10 feet into the lobby, three guards approached me & I thought, Whoo-- But instead of slamming me, they were all asking, "Man, what's that? How old is that thing? Does it still work?" I sort of brushed it all off, explaining that it WAS old but still took pictures, shrugged & went on my way. Little did they know its capabilities. I shot w/ a 35 summaron & a 50 elmar & got some great low light shoots using Tri-X. Museums are interior places to do "street shots"--lots of people totally unconscious of themselves, good interactions, interesting backgrounds...

-- Patrick (pg@patrickgarner.com), June 02, 2002.

i was at the beach in mendocino last weekend and did not want to open up and reload film into my cameras on the beach, so I packed up my contax IIIa to go along with my m6 and m3. it does not have the silky finess of the M's, but i had forgotten how sharp that old 50mm f1.5 lense is.

-- greg mason (gmason1661@aol.com), June 03, 2002.

My IIIa is being serviced but hopefully will be as good as new. Love the compact shape and precision feel. It has character, which people like - one person even asked "is it digital"? Yes, more fuss to use but fun.

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), June 04, 2002.

I agree it's nice to see, handle and use an LTM camera. I first had a IIIc but its shutter made quite a clatter. I worried that it was symptomatic of a problem, even though all speeds seemed to work OK.

So, I traded my IIIa for a IIIf RDST that is cosmetically nicer and has a much quieter shutter, more like an M. Problem is, the top speeds don't work! Seems to be due to a sluggish front curtain, as far as I can tell, having tried slowly releasing the shutter in B mode, by holding the shutter speed dial and letting it turn slowly. The shutter curtain tends to stick before it is fully open, although it does open fully if released at normal speed, probably owing to its inertia.

I can probably still trade back to the IIIc if necessary, since I onlyh did the deal a few days ago but I'd be reluctant to do so.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), June 04, 2002.

unfortunately, many people form their impressions of the barnack cameras based on dried out examples. a just-lubed iiif or iiig is one of the all-time most viscerally satisfying cameras to use. the shutter soud is amazing. i also have a C, recently overhauled, that makes an astonishingly pleasant thunk when the shutter fires. it sounds exactly like the door of a bentley closing as heard from a distance of about ten feet.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), June 04, 2002.

I reckon the leica shutters max.speed 1/500 were softer and quieter, at least the ones I have used. My Leica II 1932 with uncoated Elmar 50 is a pleasure; & does a great job with 400 ISO print film

-- James Elwing (elgur@acay.com.au), June 04, 2002.

Dear All,

Yes there is something about the sound of the shutter. I'm having fun with the Abrahamsson Rapidwinder prototype on my IIf. The winder and the camera have mated well all around. I've found street photography to be a blast with this little camera. My standard lens as been the Ultron 28/1.9. Am amazed how well this heavy lens balances on the camera with the prototype.

I just wish we had a good all round leader cutting.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@suma.kobe-wu.ac.jp), June 06, 2002.