Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Peter A. Klein <pklein@2alpha.net> wrote (edited): > I've always preferred rangefinder focusing. Since the early 80s, I've > used a IIIf with a (shudder) Imarect finder and 35/3.5 Summaron, > 90/4 Elmar, and 50/1.4 Nikkor lenses. But I was getting tired of this > outfit's inconveniences. I'm a IIIf fan as well. The Voigtländer 15 & 35 LTM lenses have resulted in this old camera getting more use recently than any of my other photo gear. I also have a late '40s 50/3.5 Elmar that I treasure for B/W work along with a 90/4 Elmar and a few other Leitz LTM lenses. The IIIf is indeed a quirky camera compared to an M, but I guess I'm the sort of person who's delighted by eccentricity. Besides I just get a kick out of using a 45-year-old IIIf with a brand-new Cosina/Voigt lens, finder and VC meter (the latter two via Voigt's nifty 1-to-2 shoe adapter). > But we don't know how long or how far the so-called Rangefinder > Rennaisance will go. Is it really going to catch on among a critical > mass of amateurs? Who knows. We're lucky that it has caught on > among more than the initial market of Japanese collectors for whom > it was first intended. But regardless of what happens, we do know > that Leicas will remain repairable for a long time. So, if I must have > one "M" camera, let it be a genuine Leica. My choice was basically made for me in this regard as my M2 used to belong to my dad. (The Heretic...he now uses only his Retina IIc. <g>) Regarding the Rangefinder Renaissance, my hat's off to Mr. Kobayashi of Cosina not only for the Voigt cameras and lenses (that new 12mm looks to be really something!) but also for the VC meter, shoe adapters, viewfinders and other cool accessories. This stuff has put fun back in the LTM game for me. - -Dave-