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I love my Leicaflex!


ganzosrevenge

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In light of the I love my M3 thread, the I love my M6 thread, the I love my M4 thread, the I love my M5 thread, and the I love my MP thread. This thread should be for those who love their pre-R, manual beasts known as the Leicaflex!

 

All you need is a Leicaflex Standard, SL, or SL2. Or if you just want to see what 35+ years after the last ones were made, is a sorely underrated and most excellent SLR camera.

 

Here's mine

 

5447227440_11f3dfb726_z_d.jpg

 

5447225896_5bec7e8fb9_z_d.jpg

 

1968 Leicaflex SL with 50mm f/2 Summicron-I.

 

Who's Next :cool:

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I have owned this camera for two years and I have taken some nice photos with it.

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I once owned the original Leicaflex (with the meter on the outside). It was a joy to use - the microprism focusing was the best through-the-lens focusing system I have ever seen, the viewfinder was huge and extremely bright, the feel of the camera was like nothing else I ever owned (except my M2 and M3), and the 50mm Summicron was probably the best perfoming lens I have ever owned. I have never handled a more satisfying SLR.

 

I sold it to buy a 135mm Tele-elmar, which suited my needs more at the time. I decided to stick with 1 system, but I remember the Leicaflex with respect and affection.

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Just took mine off eBay the other day, decided I love it too much!

 

John

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I use the Leicaflex SL for more than 30 years. One of the best SLR Leica ever made.

 

I do also have the Leicaflex SL2 and use it for more than 10 years...

Last year I had some shutter problems with it.

But my Leica repairman in Nijmegen (Holland) solves this problem and gave the camera a CLA and the camera works fine now again...:)

It is a pleasure to work with the SL 2.

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I once owned the original Leicaflex (with the meter on the outside). It was a joy to use - the microprism focusing was the best through-the-lens focusing system I have ever seen, the viewfinder was huge and extremely bright, the feel of the camera was like nothing else I ever owned (except my M2 and M3), and the 50mm Summicron was probably the best perfoming lens I have ever owned. I have never handled a more satisfying SLR.

 

I sold it to buy a 135mm Tele-elmar, which suited my needs more at the time. I decided to stick with 1 system, but I remember the Leicaflex with respect and affection.

 

I love the original L-Flex myself, but it was out of my price range as a college student, whereas the SL was barely over $100. Everything else (M-series, CL, etc.) was out of my range, so it's a "everyman" leica (bar the lenses which are $$ out the wazoo and rightfully so).

 

Just took mine off eBay the other day, decided I love it too much!

 

John

 

NICE SL2! What are the diffs between it and the SL (other than the legendarily sensitive light meter and the aperture also being visible in the viewfinder)

 

I use the Leicaflex SL for more than 30 years. One of the best SLR Leica ever made.

 

I do also have the Leicaflex SL2 and use it for more than 10 years...

Last year I had some shutter problems with it.

But my Leica repairman in Nijmegen (Holland) solves this problem and gave the camera a CLA and the camera works fine now again...:)

It is a pleasure to work with the SL 2.

 

One day I want an SL2, black, or an SL MOT myself with drive. SOmething about these L-Flexes...

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@ganzosrevenge

 

Your SL looks well; when al functions works you have an excellent camera, also the Summicron 50 is top:)

 

 

"so it's a "everyman" leica "

 

It could be a everyman leica, but most people don't want know it....:cool:

In fact the SL is the best SLR Leica and the SL2 is not better but much more expensive...

 

When I was student 30 years ago I also had the Leicaflex SL and do still use it (not the same one):D

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@ganzosrevenge

 

Your SL looks well; when al functions works you have an excellent camera, also the Summicron 50 is top:)

 

 

"so it's a "everyman" leica "

 

It could be a everyman leica, but most people don't want know it....:cool:

In fact the SL is the best SLR Leica and the SL2 is not better but much more expensive...

 

When I was student 30 years ago I also had the Leicaflex SL and do still use it (not the same one):D

 

I'm about to find out if the "everyman" leica is capable of good photos. Developing my first B&W roll (T-Max 100) from it.

 

On a side issue, when i open the back, the exposure counter doesn't reset. It only resets while rewinding, is this normal?

 

Jason

 

PS: bring out more L-Flexs!

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NICE SL2! What are the diffs between it and the SL (other than the legendarily sensitive light meter and the aperture also being visible in the viewfinder)

 

Some info here..

Leicaflex SL2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

I have used an SL, and two SL2s in the past. Agreed, the SL is a fine piece of kit, but I find the SL2 viewfinder more satisfying to use, and with the extended meter sensitivity I feel more able to cope in difficult situations.

 

John

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Meet the family.

 

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The Apo 180 3.4 Telyt: one of the reasons I bought the Leicaflex in the first place.

 

 

 

Across the generations. I see a family resemblance.

 

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A beloved combination.

 

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The reference SLR camera for film bought in 1969 and refurbished last year by Solms * :)

next to another reference for sound

 

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Henry

* http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/97395-i-am-sad.html

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My one-of-a-kind SL, with chrome trim from a Leicaflex Standard cadaver, modified to use ROM lenses:

 

SLCC.jpg

 

Douglas,

 

So that L-Flex SL has built in ROM points so it can read ROMs a la R8 and R9, yet work fine with the original lenses from the 1960s?! that looks beautiful

 

BTW, i LOVE the leicaflex appointments... are the dials for ISO and shutter metal or plastic?

 

Jason

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... i LOVE the leicaflex appointments... are the dials for ISO and shutter metal or plastic?

 

Metal.

 

 

I believe Doug has mentioned previously that all he did was trim the flanges inside the lens mount.

 

Correct. Some SL bodies will also need a newer (narrower) lens lock pin.

 

ROM lenses have an R-only flange to prevent these lenses from being used on the Leicaflexes. If used on a Leicaflex Standard or SL2 the first cam follower would foul the ROM contacts. The SL doesn't have a follower for the first cam, so trimming the inner diameter of the SL's flange to R-only specs allows many ROM lenses to fit (the SL still has mirror box clearance limits). Add the SL's second cam to the ROM lens and it will meter perfectly on the SL, and the lens still works perfectly on an R body. My 180/2.8 APO is a ROM lens with the SL cam, works perfectly on the SL and the R8.

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