[Leica] my first Leica

[marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small)]

My first Leica was a IIIc, which I still own and 
use:  they will pry this one out of my cold, dead 
hands.  My second was a very early M3 DS which I 
later sold, but have since replaced with a late 
M3 DS which, again, I use regularly.  My third 
keeper was an M6 Wetzlar, my main 
miniature-format camera.  I also own a IIIf RDST 
and a IIIg, though I do not use these as much.

Along the way, I have owned three or four other 
IIIf's, a couple of IIIg's, and a IIIcK, all of 
which I sold to finance other Leica 
purchases.  And I have owned three M4's, the 
least reliable and most problem-prone of all of 
my Leica bodies.  Oh!  And a Leicaflex SL, a 
really nice camera I only parted with when I was 
offered four times what I had in the set.

When I am stirred to shoot pictures, I normally 
opt for medium format, either a Rolleiflex TLR (I 
on six of them,and a couple of Ikoflices, as 
well) or Hasselblad (I have three).  If I am just 
banging a miniature-format shutter to pass some 
time, I will generally opt for the IIIc or a 
Contax II or a Werra 3.  For serious work, I 
generally use the M6 or M3, though I did shoot a wedding once with a IIIc.

I carry a Rollei 35S in the glovebox of my 
car.  And I have a slew of Prakticas and Icarices 
and a Rollei SL35E to keep me flexible.  Not to 
mention Contarex -- I have two bodies and a small set of lenses.

And, with all that gear and no dark room set up, 
I may shoot two rolls a year ...

Marc


msmall@aya.yale.edu
Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!