Leica Standard

[maxspbr]

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Just got this old lady - Standard, 1934. Quite different experience to use it! Not that easy to measure distances without a rangefinder. But surely we can feel what caught the attention in 1924 - I have shot a lot with folding cameras as well with large format ones like Speed Graphics. 

 

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[jc_braconi]

Congratulations, You will see that you 'll be like people in 1934 and after, using this camera, if they done You 'll do.

[Pecole]

You could relatively easely find this FOKOS rangefinder, either directly slided vertical in the accessory shoe, or horizontally with the other model where the HFOOK "foot" is secured in the accessory shoe.

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[Ambro51]

Here’s how to exist without a rangefinder.  First, let’s go back to the 1930s and realize film speeds were much slower, and f 5.6 and F 6.3 were viewed as the “normal” stop.  Depth of field (look at the scale on your lens) was fairly thin.  But, within this range you had good focus range.  Now;, you have 400 speed film and you’ll shoot at f11 and F16.  Look at your lens scale and see the vast amount of distance in focus at f16!       It is so.  If you Never want to focus, get a 35mm Summaron and shoot fast film!  Treat your camera like a preset Brownie and 99% of the time you’re fine.•••••• When Oskar Barnack gave Ernst Leitz the UR to take to New York, he told him “Don’t bother to focus, let depth of field take care of it”

Edited July 24, 2020 by Ambro51

[willeica]

I have used this one without any rangefinder with good results. The 3.5cm/35mm lens helps along with a suitable aperture choice in the range 8 -16 or thereabouts. Scale focus can be fun.

 

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William

[250swb]

Pre 1930 era people would look at what they saw and know how far away or how long it was it was. There was no secret, people would know a six foot plank from a ten foot plank because they needed to know it, and they didn't need to have it fact checked with a rule or rangefinder. But there are an awful lot of clip on rangefinders available on eBay that get you an accurate measurement if you calibrate then after they arrive. One of the better and also most common ones is a Watameter rangefinder, not expensive last time I looked, but nice to look at and works.

[Ambro51]

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.....or you can put your camera on a tripod and measure exactly from the focal plane to the subject using a string and a ruler.  For distances over fifty feet use twine and a yardstick.  If you’re shooting over 100 feet away you’re safe simply paceing off the distance But remember it’s Very important in your 100 foot (or longer) pace to focus distance assessment to add 28.2 mm to the distance IF you measure from the front flange of the lens instead of the precise film plane.    ••••. It is Only by this Precise and Exact setting of the Elmar Lens that Anything even discernible as an image will be formed.  

Edited July 25, 2020 by Ambro51

[pippy]

As it happens I've brought my recently-acquired 1930 Leica I (A) to I (C) conversion on holiday with me and ran a film through it a couple of days ago just to check it out. The Elmar (which came with it) needs cleaning so I used a lovely little "Black-Paint" Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 instead(*). South-west coast of France so shooting at f8 - f11 which, in turn, means using 'guesstimate rangefinding' focus accuracy is unlikely to be a problem. Always assuming, of course, that the Russian lens matches up with the German 28.2mm Standardisation...

Not had the film developed yet but looking forward to seeing the results.

Shown elsewhere but just for fun here's the old girl with 'proper' lens as delivered;

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Philip.

* I also used the cleanest of my 50mm f3.5 Industar-22 coated lenses for a few frames to see if that lens matches with the body.

Edited July 25, 2020 by pippy

[maxspbr]

Thanks for all answers!

I'm getting more confidence judging distances. But surely using a 35mm or a 28mm is much easier than 50mm - and quite a pleasure with the standard! I like to use both Elmars and Summarons on f:8 or 9 so the deep of field is enough. My first tests enlarging the negatives came very good! Some aren't that sharp for a big blowup but enough for a 13x18cm or smaller.

Funny that just readed the nice tip by Pecole I crossed with two rangefinders - a vertical FOKOS and what looks as a FOKIN. Beautiful pieces that need some servicing; next week they will go to the technician (together came a Chico. Useless as bulbs as almost impossible to find here but it impressed me as much as every Leitz accessory). The black one has a heavily yellow tinted tone, very different.
 

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And, as I'm a devoted Visoflex user, too...

 

[Blanca]

Hi everyone, hope you are all doing well.

I am looking for an eyecup to replace mine because I lost it ( the one on the picture). Does anyone know where I can get that specific part or what can I use to replace it? It is not essential, but I see the image blurry.

Thank you so much!

 

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Edited October 22 by Blanca
Mistake in writing