Leica ii

[fatharry]

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I have recently bought an early Leica ii, body only, which I have fitted with an industar 22 lenns, until I can find and appropriate elmar. It has produced fantastic results, quite astonishing for a 76 year old machine. What impresses me is the build quality, and the design which, apart from being fantastic looking and quite beautiful, is really small! Compared to my Nikon D80 it is really portable and very inconspicuous for street photography. I love this camera and intend to use it as much as I can.

 

I'm not entirely unfamiliar with Leica type cameras, having owned a Fed 4L since 1978, and I've also got a Zorki 4K. However the Leica scores over both these two due to its much superior looks (especially true in the case of the Fed, which is really, really ugly), and of course its tiny size!

 

Although these Leicas are now quite collectable I believe in using old technology, and apply this philosophy to my old motors - a Jag xj6 and Rover P6 - as well. Anyone else use them as intended, or are they mostly just collected?

[luigi bertolotti]

Welcome to the forum Harry !!! I can tell you by sure that there are MANY people who regularly use their old prewar Leicas: why not to use a film camera that is fine, compact, precise, silent,fast to focus (and only just a little strange in loading film... me too had a Zorky 4, and when acquired my IIIc the loading was my only initial problem... ).

In this forum you can find many pictures taken with such cameras... ther is also a thread titled "LTM users, it's time to be counted !" in which lot of people have posted pics of , and/or taken with, their old Leicas (in case you don't know, LTM is the acronym for Leica Thread Mount... the "old" classics like yours). Periodically, there is also an inside context "Barnack challenge" (Barnack was the designer of first Leicas) in which people are invited to post pics on a given subject, taken with LTM Leicas.

 

Continue to surf this forum... you'll find many amateurs of items like yours;

and... be quick to find an Elmar 5 cm... is a must to really enjoy your camera.

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[earleygallery]

Although these Leicas are now quite collectable I believe in using old technology, and apply this philosophy to my old motors - a Jag xj6 and Rover P6 - as well. Anyone else use them as intended, or are they mostly just collected?

 

Absolutely, used to run and XJ6 and I have a Rover P6 on the driveway! (actually I'm just about to sell it).

[LeonardT]

I love my Leica II. With the 50mm nickel Elmar it makes the perfect walk around camera. It seems smaller then it it, probably because no strap lugs. I carry it in my pocket. I just sent it to DAG to get a CLA because as the weather gets cooler the shutter slows down.

 

To me the Leica screw mount camera is the most beautiful camera ever made. I guess I like to collect them. I have 5 from the Model II to the IIIf RD ST which is the prettiest of them all. But I also use all of them.

 

Enjoy,

Len

[Guest flatfour]

If you really want to feel free - and be able to judge distances - why not a Leica I with it's non-interchangeable lens ?

[zamri]

Hi, I got Leica IId+50mm Leitz Elmar f3.5 lens still in good shape and also still produce pleasant image. This cam was built since 1932. I'm still use it even though I have a Rollei and Hassy, This three cams are my tag team.

[bill]

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ID here. Absolutely I use it - it's my carry-everywhere camera.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[fatharry]

Thanks for the replies everyone, it's good to know that these old cameras are still being put to good use, not just kept on shelves as exhibits. Bill, your camera looks a real beauty, in pretty much original condition. Mine is in good mechanical order and without dents, but has had some of its black paint removed by a former owner, and seems to need the rangefinder adjusting for vertical alignment - although it focuses fine.

 

How does the elmar compare to the industar 22 I'm currently using? I've heard that the industar is better as it's coated, although of course it doesn't quite give the authentic Leica experience. How much should an elmar in decent condition cost? I think mine should really have a nickel plated one.

[luigi bertolotti]

Russians 50s, for what I know, have always had good reviews (my Zorky had a Helios f2 - Zeiss Sonnar based, excellent so as the Jupiter 135): no experience with the Industar, but, imho, don't expect much more from an Elmar, unless you decide for a last version coated (much "newer" than your body)... but... it's THE ELMAR ! I repeat, a serious LTM user cannot not to have it, simply...

[bill]

Luigi's right. I had the Industar, and now I have a breeding pair of Elmars (I live in hope...) I remember the rendition of the Industar (I can;t lay hands on an example on this machine) as being more contrasty and harsh, but there was not much in it. But the point, as Luigi makes, is that it is an ELMAR. It is smoother and more tactile in use, and just "right" for the IID.

 

As to price, my nickel elmar, if I remember rightly, was about £140 from MW Classic.

 

Regards.

 

Bill

[iShutterbug]

Hi, everybody,

I feel I'm going "retro" and back to my roots, looking for some of the fun I've been missing in the digital world, well, maybe it's my fault, shooting on "auto" is just too easy. I have some LTMs/lenses I'm having CLA'd and am going to use. My questions here are:

 

1) What do fellow Leica II users do for a case? There's no eyelets for a strap on a II. And my Leica leather cases are all of a sudden falling apart, the threads are rotten. Do you know of someone who restitches Leica cases?

 

2) What do fellow Leica II users do on the accessory shoe mount situation, it is slightly too narrow and modern viewfinders, meters, etc. don't fit. Is there a 3rd party accessory shoe that would work?

 

3) Also, what bulk film loader do you use that handles the Leica metal reloadable cassettes?

 

Thanks guys,

Don

[fatharry]

I just bought a case off ebay which is in really good condition, but I think it must be for the later ltm cameras - iiic and later? It's just a little too big for the Leica ii, about a quarter of an inch space on either side, although the ii will fit inside it and it's better than no case at all.

 

However, if anyone has a correct Leica ii case and needs a good later one I would be happy to swap.

[Dr. No]

... Absolutely I use it - it's my carry-everywhere camera...

 

I use mine too, e.g.:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/men-women-work/65694-yawning.html

 

the camera is here Leica II

 

More Information on my homepage!

the leicapages

 

 

Have fun!

OLAF

[telewatt]

the Leica II is a fine camera.... ..I love it for the "fingerprint"...we go back to the roots!....

 

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my old 1934 camera with the old nickel Elmar....

 

 

regards,

 

Jan

[luigi bertolotti]

I just bought a case off ebay which is in really good condition, but I think it must be for the later ltm cameras - iiic and later? It's just a little too big for the Leica ii, about a quarter of an inch space on either side, although the ii will fit inside it and it's better than no case at all.

 

However, if anyone has a correct Leica ii case and needs a good later one I would be happy to swap.

 

Yes, the leather cases changed their basic length when Leica IIIc was introduced - it had a new die-cast body which is 2,8 mm wider than previous - the original leather case for Leica II with Elmar can be found, probably, if you search with patience on the net... I quickly found this one for sale at Foto Hobby Rahn Leica Collection Homepage

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[Erik van Straten]

Leica II no 74510 with Elmar 50mm f3.5.

 

Erik.

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[iShutterbug]

Here's my ii (CLA DAG) with the obligatory Elmar (CLA Sherry):

 

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with 70th birthday gift (the camera, not me)(CLA Sherry):

 

 

with 71st birthday gift (CLA Sherry):

 

 

with 72nd birthday gift, that's a screwmount Cron ASPH:

 

 

I took it for a walk last weekend at a grade school art show, check PHOTO FORUM section for picture. Thanks.

[imported_peter_m]

Where did you get a 35 asph in screwmount?

Nice looking outfit you got there.

As for he case, you can always cla it yourself, if you want to stay period you probably want to use sorting like 4 or 5 cord linen thread and re-stitch the case by hand. Not hard to do just takes a bit of time

Peter

[luigi bertolotti]

Where did you get a 35 asph in screwmount?

....

 

It's part of a trio of lenses (together with Summicron and Summilux 50) that Leica made in 1999 as a special series of modern designs in the old LTM... I seem to remember it was initially targeted to Japanes market only, but they were obviously "instant collectibles" and spread around the world... haven't idea of the numbers made, but surely they are very appealing items... some can be found for sale at the well-known online top dealers.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[iShutterbug]

Thanks, Peter and Luigi for the nice comments about my babies!

 

I got the lens on eBay. It wasn't cheap but I had to have it, that's just the kind of guy I am, nothing's too good for my Leicas, or me. Life's too short.

 

Yes, cases, I have accumulated a box-full of them from eBay, looking for "period" one. I get a good one but it's a 3/8" tripod lug, need to figure a way to replace with 1/4". I don't want to put our Luigi out of business but, yes, I went to Tandy leather shop and got some leather working tools, rivets (paint, 1/2 brown, 1/2 black for Leica color), punches, awls, needles to make my own repairs and maybe one or two good ones. I'm not sure about the upholstery thread I got but it's same-ish Leica thread color but I think a little thinner. Oh well, I'm building up energy and courage to sewing back on all the noses and flaps of the cases I got. Isn't it funny the thread rotted out at the same approximate time and all old Leica cases are falling apart? Anyway, I want to devise a piggyback system of snaps so that the front parts of the cases can come completely off, and interchangeable noses, so that my Summarit can be on camera inside case, and I'm thinking about interchangeable tops, so if want viewfinder or exposure meter to stay on top of camera in case can have that option, too. Luigi, we need some help, are you listening?