My IIIc - One year on (long post with images)

[bill]

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One year ago, at about this time of year, I treated myself to a Christmas present; a IIIc with a 3.5cm f3.5 Elmar. Although I swore to keep things simple... I have added over the last year, a 3.5cm Summaron, 5cm f3.5 Elmar, a 50mm f2 Summitar, a 90mm f4 Elmar and a VC 28mm. I have used on it the VC 15mm and 75mm lenses I already own.

 

I have also fitted a Gordy wriststrap, a Luigi halfcase, an OKARO to improve focussing and a VIDOM for the various focal lengths. A £75.00 CLA organised through Wey Cameras in Weybridge transformed the viewfinder and handling, and sorted out a slight shutter stutter.

 

I've perfected the art of trimming the film leader with a small Swiss Army knife kept on my keyring for the purpose. I have put upwards of 26 rolls through the camera without a single misload. I have also perfected exposure estimation on a "Sunny 11" basis (well, I am in the UK, after all). I have made it easy on myself; the IIIc is my "street" camera; 95% of use has been outdoors, and I have, with the exception of a couple of rolls of Superia in Vietnam, fed it only on Kodak 400CN, processed and scanned in an hour by my local Sainsburys - 6x4 prints, cd, index cards and a text to tell me when it is ready, usually under the hour - all for £8.00.

 

I carry the IIIc when wandering around every weekend; sometimes during the week too. It has travelled with me to Prague, Singapore and Vietnam, and on trips around the UK to London, Brighton, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, etc.

 

This is the camera that triggered the idea of the Barnack Challenge too!

 

I love the feel of the IIIc, improved ('cos I have large hands) by the joys of the Luigi half case. The sound of the shutter, the acts of focussing, setting dials, winding on, all are deeply satisfying in a very tactile way. It slows me down, yes, but I feel, honestly feel, that I have produced more "keepers" with this camera in the last year than I normally have a right to expect. It is small, discreet, delightful to use, and very "Zen". I don't know how else to put it into words. The satisfaction of getting decent results out of a device old enough to be my father, without the aid of auto-anything, or even a battery, is deeply satisfying.

 

I keep the photoshopping to a minimum - cropping, levels, duotoning - that's about it.

 

Results?

 

I shall let the photos speak for themselves. This was the camera I used when I won the "Decisive Moment" Barnack Challenge (1). I also used it to take this photo, which won a Salon competition for Silhouettes (2). This (3) is my favourite from Prague, and this (4) from Vietnam. I'll finish this ego-trip with my personal favourite from the year (5).

 

I just want to say that I have really enjoyed using my IIIc this year. I'll go on doing so next year; watch for further adventures in 2008

 

Thank you for reading my ramblings.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

The Decisive Moment:

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Silhouette:

 

Prague, Old Man:

Vietnam, Decorating Pottery:

 

Millennium Bridge:

[imported_peter_m]

Nice ramblings

 

Who needs one of those new fangled digital contraptions

 

Peter

[earleygallery]

.......or even one of those new fangled M thingy cameras with - get this - a 'bayonet mount'. What's wrong with a good simple screw thread attachment?

 

Glad you're enjoying your Barnack photography Bill.

[like-a-leica]

Bill, I read your thread with great interest. What a pity there aren't more like it! We learn alot about you and your relationship to your Leica III. And the pictures show how well you go together.

 

I am considering going digital (Canon 20D:eek: ) and using my Leica III as my only analogue camera (there are a couple of pics in the German Forum). It would be a big step (more or less mothballing my M6 and M2), but your thread gives me the courage to at least give it a go. I, too, seem to have produced a disproportianate number of "keepers" with the Leica III.

 

One question: unlike yourself, I have had a little trouble loading films. It seems hard to cut a nice curve, sometimes the film tears a little, and I sacrifice a few frames (for fear of damaging the mechanics of the camera or even hearing unpleasant noises), and try again...

 

Do you have any tips? Isn't there some kind of tool for cutting the film?

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

[eyedeebee]

Andrew I've got some sympathy - I've just about mastered cutting the film, but still struggle sometimes extracting the exposed film with my film leader retreiver.

 

The ABLON film cutting template is what you're after and there's currently a few on e-bay such as this one.

 

Vintage Leica Film Template,Matt Chrome "ABLON". on eBay, also 35mm Cameras, Vintage Cameras, Vintage Photography, Photography (end time 08-Dec-07 11:56:22 GMT)

[Niko Schmitz]

Do you have any tips? Isn't there some kind of tool for cutting the film?

 

I don't have an ABLON cutting template, so I use nail scissors. It works well to cut a nice curve with them.

 

Niko

[bill]

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Thank you all for your kind words. A belated special mention should go to Peter Mayer who provided me with a splendid deerskin lens pouch as a prize for winning the Barnack Challenge, and to James Earley who sold me the 5cm Elmar

 

One question: unlike yourself, I have had a little trouble loading films. It seems hard to cut a nice curve, sometimes the film tears a little, and I sacrifice a few frames (for fear of damaging the mechanics of the camera or even hearing unpleasant noises), and try again...

 

Do you have any tips? Isn't there some kind of tool for cutting the film?

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

 

It sounds like it is worth spending a moment or two on my film-trimming routine (sounds suspiciously like personal grooming tips...)

 

I think the secret is... I am left-handed.

 

I spool out a length of film then hold the roll in my right hand, emulsion side down. The roll is held against the ball of my thumb by my little and third fingers. The extended leader is held taut by forefinger and thumb. I don't "snip", with the scissors on my Swiss Army knife - I just hold them steady in a deep v-shape and "push" firmly, shaping the leader by eye.

 

It works every time. I think it is one of those rare things in this overly-dexterous world in which us sinistrals have an inbuilt advantage

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[jc_braconi]

and to James Earley who sold me the 5cm Elmar

 

This Elmar has a special signature, keep it as a jewell Bill !

 

Cheers

JC

[Irishimage]

I use this method for film loading on my IIIc and it works every time, no cutting involved so no likelihood of tearing the film.

 

I use a piece of plastic foil 100 x 55 x 0.25mm Thickness .. to give you some idea of this 35mm film is 0.14mm in thickness.

 

With the lens removed and the slow speed dial at position "T" operate the shutter to open the curtain , Insert the foil between the film pressure plate and then load the film between the foil and the pressure plate, put slight pressure on both spools until the film nears the bottom edge of the curtain frame,using your thumb you can now put some pressure on the film through the front opening to overcome any obstruction at the same time pressing home the film spools until the bottom sprocket holes on the film are no longer visible.

 

I then wind on until the rewind knob rotates, expose a couple of blank frames and set the frame dial to zero.

 

With a little practice its easy and works every time.

Best of luck.

Noel