Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/01/20

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Subject: [Leica] Leica 111c instructions -- dinky VF/RF
From: hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)
Date: Sat Jan 20 19:54:20 2007
References: <000e01c73ce7$e7e365a0$6501a8c0@asus930><110612.81009.qm@web55905.mail.re3.yahoo.com> <200701210208.l0L28qP1044438@server1.waverley.reid.org>

Hi Marc, yes I've read with great interest previously when you have posted 
regarding the Contax cameras. I got the 111c because it
was in a local camera shop (very rare indeed) and modestly priced. It is a 
very interesting and elegant piece of history for me to
use and enjoy. The Contax designs are very appealing also although I 
currently don't know if they are able to be serviced here. I do
have a conduit for the Leica gear to be maintained as well as sources for 
lenses etc. The dealer (interstate) where I purchase most
equipment from, would typically have a decent range of Leica on hand. The 
Contax much less so. Still maybe one in my future at some
point. Still a bit of an M and LTM shopping list first.

Cheers
Hoppy
-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Marc James Small
Sent: Sunday, 21 January 2007 12:08
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica 111c instructions -- dinky VF/RF

Some folks do have problems with the LTM camera's 
squinty VF and RF.  I do not, but then I've been 
using these for donkey's years and have accomodated.

The LTM cameras have issues with this, with their 
short RF baseline, with film loading, with the 
slowness of lens exchange,  and with the fiddlin' nature of the shutter 
speeds.

Another option is a Contax II, the camera Oscar 
Barnack wished he had designed.  These can now be 
had rather cheaply on eBay (though prices are 
rising) or in their Ukrainian clones, the Kiev RF 
line.  These cameras have a magnificent combined 
VF/RF, a combined speed dial running from 1 
second (if you know the trick) to 1/1250", an 
easy lens exchange by a bayonet mount, an opening 
back, conventional film loading, AND they offer 
cassette-to-cassette film transport for those of 
us Scots-descended tightwads who roll our own film.

And most Contax lenses can be found at prices 
lower than those for their late Leitz equivalents 
-- AND the lenses are properly coated with the Smakula process.

Marc


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



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Replies: Reply from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Leica 111c instructions -- dinky VF/RF)
In reply to: Message from hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson) ([Leica] Leica 111c instructions)
Message from h_arche at yahoo.com (H. Ball Arche) ([Leica] Leica 111c instructions (summaron VF))
Message from marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small) ([Leica] Leica 111c instructions -- dinky VF/RF)