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Hi everyone

 

I am new to Leica.

 

I went visiting a vintage camera shop with the hope of buying a n old 35 mm; and ended up buying a Leica IIIc with a Summar len. Which I am possibly going to change for a Summitar

 

My interests include watches, now, cameras, movies, and general banter.

 

As you all know much better than me, Leica is not a camera, its a way of life. And being new to it, I have a lot of questions.

 

Like, what lens should I really get for my Leica. What other options do I have for a L39 equivalent. Should I upgrade to a M3.

 

And, what makes a good photograph?

 

Looking forward to learn from you all; and spending a lot of evening in pleasure; and a lot of lunchtime blowing up money.

 

I am truely honoured to be a part of this community.

 

I hope, when I ask stupid questions, I shall be treated with the same love and care that you treat your lovely Leica with

 

Looking forward to a great time

 

Regards All

 

Ujjwal

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Ujjwal,

First of all WELCOME, and congratulations for your buying,

you asked a lot of questions in your first post, I think a lot of members will answer to you.

 

One is really a good question, "what makes a good photograph?"

 

I will say : "able to create to the others the same emotion than when he took the picture".

 

You will spend good time in this forum.

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Hi welcome ! Compliments for your entrance in this world ! Well, there are too many things one can say to a new arrived in the Leica universe... let me say, anyway, you entered the right way: a classic Leica like the IIIc is a sort of must to introduce oneself in the mood; to add a detail, and also answering to your question about lenses, my idea is that having a classic screw mount body (and IIIc is such, undoubtly) one must have also the classic standard lens : Elmar 5cm f 3,5 (don't call it "50mm"... is "5cm" :) ).

Then... you have two alternatives :

1) Continue in depth with knowledge (and collecting) around YOUR camera : there are number of books, infos, lenses, accessories, models close to yours...

2) Explore also the other half of the Leica rangefinder world: you quoted M3... the superclassic of this 2nd half ... postwar, a new design, another history, other accessories...

 

Of course, you cannot mistake acquiring a M3... but my personal advice is that is better that you spend sometime with your IIIc and ITS world... keeping in mind that it anyway belongs to a breed that is still both collectible AND usable. This, at least, was my personal experience... a IIIc in 1979... M2 (not M3... matter of taste) followed in 1983...

 

"What makes a good photograph ?" you ask... well... many books have been writte around... :o ... and I am not at all an authority about... so simply say that a quick possible answer is "the photographer" :)

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What makes a good photograph?

 

It depends on what sort of photograph you wish to make. My suggestion: Start looking at glossy magazines differently. Each picture in there is a product of the often exhausting and extreme efforts of a professional photographer to make a "good photograph", generally with the knowledge that tomorrow, he or she will then have to make another.

 

Also, start browsing the photo books in the "Art" section at your library and bookstore. You will soon discover a pattern in what you think is good. Go with that; it's just as valid as what I or anyone else says is good.

 

Have fun with the IIIc; you're starting right.

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Ujjwal, You say you are not sure about keeping the Summar ... I just did an advanced search for Summar in the Photo fora and here is the result http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/search.php?searchid=681036&photoplog_searchinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=Summar

 

... lots of pictures for you to compare. Summars have their uses.

 

Cheers

 

dunk

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Dear Ujjwal,

A IIIC is a way of life. The others are "just beautiful Leicas" You do not "switch" from a IIIC to an M3. You "abandon" a IIIC. The IIIC was the epitomy of the classical Leicas - some late models had the shutter curtain made from parachute silk... Anyway for black and white photos, with a light yellow filter - sometimes an orange - and patience and love, you can not fail. Read Ansel Adams' book: "The Negative".

P.S. Invest in a Sekonic spot meter.

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Dear Ujjwal,

A IIIC is a way of life. The others are "just beautiful Leicas" You do not "switch" from a IIIC to an M3. You "abandon" a IIIC. The IIIC was the epitomy of the classical Leicas - some late models had the shutter curtain made from parachute silk... Anyway for black and white photos, with a light yellow filter - sometimes an orange - and patience and love, you can not fail. Read Ansel Adams' book: "The Negative".

P.S. Invest in a Sekonic spot meter.

 

Dear Dr Gulyas

 

Yes I agree; IIIc is beautiful. I was offcourse thinking of getting an M3 at some point in time in the future; but that can wait for now.

 

I do have a sekonic meter; got to get a filter.

 

Thanks for your response

 

Ujjwal

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