Glenn R Posted February 24, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) After many years I've finally managed to afford my first Leica. An M3, 1956. First roll of film just finished and awaiting results. It strikes me how beautiful and item it is. I don't know which is the greater urge...to photograph it or photograph with it. I've only ever handled them superficially but when you get the chance to properly play with one and poke about with it I can now see what people mean about its build. Let's hope it lives up to my expectations! I can pretend I'm HCB now (until my prints come out!) Glenn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 24, 2010 Posted February 24, 2010 Hi Glenn R, Take a look here My first Leica. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted February 24, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 24, 2010 Nice one. Don't forget to post some masterpieces in the Photo section of the forum. My dealer had a mint M3 kit arrive last week. Absolutely spotless, every part of it, and the camera was a smooth as a baby's bum. I thought that my M2 was a nice operator, but this one was in a different league from that. You will have a lot of fun with that, I am sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 24, 2010 Good choice, Glenn. What len(ses) do you have to go with it? Remember that the M3 needs goggles or an external viewfinder for the 35mm focal length - my main reason for having an M2. Also, don't forget that it may need a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) - it's coming up to pensionable age, after all! Above all, enjoy your beautiful new "toy" - and post the results in the photo forum! Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 24, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 24, 2010 Hi In the acknowledgements of one of HCB photo books is the one liner 'These photos were taken with a Leica and 5cm lens.' He used a collapsible summicron as his fav lens for a long time... Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 24, 2010 First roll of film just finished and awaiting results. ...someday, your prints will come Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted February 24, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 24, 2010 Glen, nice avatar. The M3 is my all time favorite camera. Nothing else will do. Congrats & post often. BTW, welcome aboard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted February 24, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Chaps, thanks for the warm welcome. The lens I've got is a 5cm collapsible Summicron. I've just thrown a film through it and had it developed on the high street. Focus seems sharp and contrast is good however there are faint horizontal lines running through the prints. More noticeable in less contrasty images. Always in the same position on each print and running the full width of the picture. Could of course be either the film or a developing fault, will need to try a couple more films through it to establish if it's a camera problem. I've shone a light through the film gate and can't discern any holes in the curtains. This sound familiar to anyone? I expect a CLA would be the order of the day anyway due to it's age. Thanks again, Glenn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted February 24, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 24, 2010 Glenn, are the lines dark or light? Scratches during exposure show up (I think) dark, scratches during processing show up light. If I have got that wrong, I am sure someone will correct me Hope this helps. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 24, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 24, 2010 Hi You need to look at the negatives, compare with the prints, and try and identify the cause. The effect may not appear on the negatives... Scratches need not be your or the camera fault mini labs can be delinquent. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted February 24, 2010 Thanks very much chaps. The lines are lighter I think and quite uniform across the width of the print. I bought a bog standard Kodak colour film from the supermarket as I had no C41 stock and wanted a 1hr job to test the M3. I'm hoping it's either dev/or print issues. Can't think why the curtains would throw up this effect, although I've no experience of this type of camera up to now. Glenn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted February 25, 2010 Having examined the prints this morning in the cold light of day, I'd say the lines are actually darker. I've had a good look at the negatives as suggested and I can't see corresponding lines on them. Fingers crossed then that its just poor printing. I'm putting a B&W film through and will get this developed over the weekend. Hopefully put this to rest. Thanks for your advice gents. Glenn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollum Posted February 25, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 25, 2010 Does sound like a processing problem, take them back and ask them to do them again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share #13 Posted February 25, 2010 Does sound like a processing problem, take them back and ask them to do them again! I certainly will. My cat could have done a better job! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 25, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 25, 2010 I've found Snappy Snaps to be the best High St processor. If you're shooting traditional B&W film you'd be much better off processing it yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted February 25, 2010 I've found Snappy Snaps to be the best High St processor. If you're shooting traditional B&W film you'd be much better off processing it yourself. Yes, that's going to be my next step. Just got to figure out where to do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn R Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share #16 Posted February 27, 2010 Just got my first B&W film back. Shot some snaps very quickly to see how things fared. The lines I had on the first set of prints were clearly due to poor minilab results as they don't appear at all on this film. Need to take some time now and get my exposures correct. Bit different to my old OM1n which is like an old friend. Using a Sekonic L 208 meter. Rushed things to see if all was OK. Seems to be. Glenn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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