Vintage Leica ID

[troy]

Looks awesome! Lol I’ll take it off your hands if you don’t really like it

Thanks! It is a great looking camera and I see why it's a legend and had to be awesome in it's time. I guess this is just one area I do like the new tech vs the old school. Who knows maybe you will be the one to take it off my hands. I may look into sending it off for a clean and service still, I really don't know what I'm doing with it for sure.

 

[Basil]

Thanks! It is a great looking camera and I see why it's a legend and had to be awesome in it's time. I guess this is just one area I do like the new tech vs the old school. Who knows maybe you will be the one to take it off my hands. I may look into sending it off for a clean and service still, I really don't know what I'm doing with it for sure.

Yeah I will admit that film cameras are awesome but the ease of digital can’t be beat. The one thing I liked about film was that I actually displayed or framed pictures I took. With digital they just all sit on my computer or hard drives.

 

[Legion]

I don't think putting a roll of film through it will compound any problems. Those cameras a solidly built, and if parts do need replacing, then they need replacing. Winding it and shooting film puts no more strain on the parts than firing the shutter while it's empty. You have already done that, and so have who knows how many people in the store where you bought it. Take it for a spin. Use your digital as a meter if you want. That way you can work out if it is worth the price to service it, or if you should sell it, or just keep it as a collectable.

Of the dozens and dozens of film cameras I owned over the years, including several Leicas, an M3 is the only one I hung on to. I can't see myself getting the film bug again, but if I do I might as well use something with some style.

Hopefully yours just needs lubrication and some light seals replaced. If you decide to get that done, get it done by and authorised Leica repairer. Just giving it over to "the local guy" might be a bit like giving a 60's Jaguar to the town mechanic because he knows cars. He might... but he has probably never looked under the hood of that particular car in his life.

 

[Legion]

Oh, if you haven't read it already...

http://www.joe-chan.com/pdf/leica_m3_manual.pdf

 

[troy]

I don't think putting a roll of film through it will compound any problems. Those cameras a solidly built, and if parts do need replacing, then they need replacing. Winding it and shooting film puts no more strain on the parts than firing the shutter while it's empty. You have already done that, and so have who knows how many people in the store where you bought it. Take it for a spin. Use your digital as a meter if you want. That way you can work out if it is worth the price to service it, or if you should sell it, or just keep it as a collectable.

Of the dozens and dozens of film cameras I owned over the years, including several Leicas, an M3 is the only one I hung on to. I can't see myself getting the film bug again, but if I do I might as well use something with some style.

Hopefully yours just needs lubrication and some light seals replaced. If you decide to get that done, get it done by and authorised Leica repairer. Just giving it over to "the local guy" might be a bit like giving a 60's Jaguar to the town mechanic because he knows cars. He might... but he has probably never looked under the hood of that particular car in his life.

This all makes a lot of sense too. I'm reading lots of other posts on various sights both ways on this topic. Some even saying it's risky to take things apart just to look at them and just getting arts moving again is really the best place to start. Thanks for the manual too. I hadn't tried to find it yet, but that's probably where I should be starting. Looks like I have more reading and thinking to do.

 

[troy]

Here's an update. I spent what free time I had researching whether to use it or not, and how to shoot manual with no meter. I decided to go ahead and load up a roll and give it a go. After I took a couple shots I noticed the rewind knob was not turning to show that the film was advancing. I decided to open it and see if it came loose. No, it was working just fine, so I closed it back up and went on shooting. The knob did eventually start turning. I googled it later and looks like I should have turned the knob back to take up slack before starting. For exposure I followed the sunny 16 rule and erred on the side of overexposing an bracketed shots. It was bright and sunny and I didn't want to shoot everything stopped all the way down. so for every stop I opened the aperture I sped up the shutter. I used both lenses and even tried the close focus attachment. I still have a few shots left on the roll which I plan to finish a little later. I'm sure I ruined a few shots at the beginning by opening it, but I hope to still wind up with something keepable or at least decent enough to see how it's working. I'll drop the roll off at Walmart to send out and let you know what I get back.

 

[Basil]

Excited to see how it turns out. The first roll in a new camera is always exciting.

 

[ajkel64]

It will be interesting to see how the shots turn out. I don't take many camera shots as I prefer film to digital. I used to love the anticipation of seeing how my photographs would turn out. Mainly whether I had focused the shot or not.

 

[FarmerTan]

I taught my wife how to shoot with that camera a hundred years ago. It was her Grampa's. Thanks for the memories.

 

[troy]

Thanks guys! I usually love the instant gratification of digital, but there is something about the mystery of not knowing what you will get too.

 

[troy]

I dropped my film off today. (There's a sentence I never thought I would use again.) Unfortunately I missed the pick up time by a few hours. It won't go out until Friday and should be back a week from Friday. Now for the waiting.

 

[Basil]

If you do end up enjoying it there are easy one step at home processing solutions. And you can just scan the negatives to your computer to.

 

[troy]

If you do end up enjoying it there are easy one step at home processing solutions. And you can just scan the negatives to your computer to.

Thanks I'll look into that. Do you do your own processing? Any recommendations?

 

[Basil]

I haven’t done my own in ages. Cinestill does it and I think a few others I can’t remember the names right now.

 

[sarimento1]

Thanks I'll look into that. Do you do your own processing? Any recommendations?

home processing? not easy. always need fresh chemistry. temp control. excellent cleanliness and dust avoidance.
print processing messy. did it for years.

or scan the negs with care at high res. more dust avoidance.

today's digital blows everything away!

 

[troy]

home processing? not easy. always need fresh chemistry. temp control. excellent cleanliness and dust avoidance.
print processing messy. did it for years.

or scan the negs with care at high res. more dust avoidance.

today's digital blows everything away!

View attachment 985119

Thanks. Awesome pic! I was more thinking just developing the film and scanning, but even that is really more than I want to get into after watching a few videos. I already have too many hobbies without picking up developing. Shooting a roll of film every now and then? Maybe, jury's still out on that. Really curious to to see how the camera did, and how I did.

 

[legrandfromage]

If you decide to get the camera serviced you need to send it to a Leica specialist. This may cost a few bucks, but the idea is to get it right - if you decide to keep the camera, it's worth it in the long haul, or, if you want to sell it, having had it serviced properly (and being able to back that up) makes it more attractive.
This is a link to a photography site that is loaded with Leica fanatics and is a great place for getting info - the folks that post on here are very helpful. You can get names of service specialists and also get pricing info if you decide to sell (and can sell through the site) Rangefinderforum.com Portal - Rangefinderforum

 

[troy]

If you decide to get the camera serviced you need to send it to a Leica specialist. This may cost a few bucks, but the idea is to get it right - if you decide to keep the camera, it's worth it in the long haul, or, if you want to sell it, having had it serviced properly (and being able to back that up) makes it more attractive.
This is a link to a photography site that is loaded with Leica fanatics and is a great place for getting info - the folks that post on here are very helpful. You can get names of service specialists and also get pricing info if you decide to sell (and can sell through the site) Rangefinderforum.com Portal - Rangefinderforum

Thanks I'll check that out.

 

[natenaaron]

That meter is stupid easy to use, built like a tank and unless totally abused, is super accurate. Twist the dial to your film ISO aim and hold the switch down. Take note of the number it lands on and then look at the dial for you exposure. The only thing to worry about is the proper way to meter.

Camera was a good find. It will serve you well. I moved away from 35mm film a long time ago because I hate grain. I needed bigger negatives. Now, if I shoot small format, it is with my digital stuff.

 

[troy]

Got my pics today. I definitely messed up several when I opened it, blew the exposure on a few more, and a few with bad framing, but a few turned out OK. Here are the highlights, all just as they came back on the CD.