Congrats! I bought a Leica ii yesterday. New video to come

Thanks Zoltan and thanks yes appreciated!

Thanks Norman, glad you found it useful. There’s more info on MrLeica.com too

Thanks Don! I have the Canon L3. I've not yet used the IVSB/2. I do love the Barnack size and look. See my latest videos to see a few more. I'll check those Canon models too so thanks!

You should definitely get a nice one to add to your collection Vic, if need help message me!

No problem!

* ruZzian

Thanks Norman, yes if can find a clean copy old lenses have more character but if you want sharper modern LTM are better. Lots of great options!

Thanks Stephan! I have their twin hotshoe adapter too.

Thanks! I don't know that one

Hi Stephen, very nice choice! You picked the best of the Leica iii cameras :) Great with 50s and 90s (9cm f4 Elmar is great to own and good value). Enjoy! :)

Agreed. I get Collapsible Dysfunction anxiety ...

Thanks Brian, nice!

Haha i'm sure it's a real thing :)

Ha thanks! Yes i'll publish a book one day, girls with cameras!

Congrats! I do love the old Leica cameras!

Thanks MB, great tips and yes on multi-exposure too. Also the 21/25 is nicer than the 25mm VF as it has framelines vs not.

How do you do the multiple exposure on these?

@@Skipsul Yes, this is not well documented but works very well if done in this order: 1. Take 1st exposure as usual. 2. Keep shutter release button pressed while turning the shutter speed dial back counter-clockwise until it stops and shows the formerly used shutter time. Do NOT lift the speed dial! 3. Take 2nd exposure on the same frame. The procedure can be repeated unlimitedly for as many exposures on the same frame as you like. No Leica M camera can do the same - only the Leica LTM cameras can.

@@MB-or8js Thanks! I had no idea. I will definitely have to give this a try.

@@Skipsul Google it for a quick answer, I’ve got quite a few cameras /systems so I forget from body to body. I only found out when doing it with Leica R bodies.

Yes! Great tip Andy :)

Yes I love my iiF (using iiig at the moment for the bigger finder with a 40mm lens)

Thanks Don!

Thanks Andy, yes I love my Barnack cameras! (search Leica Standard to see the one I use the most)

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Ohhhh... I have two. I own a IIIb and a IIIa. I work at a WWII museum in Indiana and so when I researched and found that my IIIb was a Leitz Freedom Train camera, I ended up donating that to the museum. But since it still works, they let me get it out from time to time and shoot events when they want something in film. I actually like the A more than the B. The two separate viewfinders are actually good because I was getting headaches straining on the single. It was like a bifocal and was just something I didn't catch onto.

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I cannot emphasis how important that last tip is. Now for once, my impatience paid off. I got a leica IIIb. However, not wanting to wait the extra few weeks to developed a roll of film in the lab, I taught myself how to develop it. Come to find out, the shutter curtain had some serious issues. So I was able to send that off to a cla befoer I shot more rolls. Thus minimizing the damage to my wallet from bad photos. :P of the three leica's I own, I only had one that was outright alright without a service

Thank you! I think i've done 400+ videos now. Newer ones are probably better but the info is similar.

Thanks Andy, I’ve nearly bought the MD cameras a few times!

Thanks. Yes absolutely! I still need to do a video for my Canon L3 (I did one for the Model 7)

Thanks William, yes agreed we need more new LTM lenses! Thanks regarding Konicas

Canon 28/3.5 or 28/2.8 are alot faster, better and less expensive.

@@shoefantasia1412 Canon lens review to follow!

Ha thank you! I love these cameras! (See tonigh's video - best cameras of 2022!) :)

Thanks, Yes agreed the old lenses often give a nice low contrast look.

I like the 5 cm F2 Summar as well. Great for portraits.

Thanks Richard, haha, I know a lot about a very small topic but not much on anything else!

Hey Adam, great to see to here. Thanks for the usual top info. I just posted a Canon lens video, you must have sensed it! :) ..I still need to finish film in my L body.

And if are left eyed alot can be said for using a trigger-wound body (Canon VT, VT deluxe, VI-T ) to keep the camera at your eye whilst shooting rapidly and NOT poke out your right eye with the film advance lever….

@@shoefantasia1412 great tip!

Thanks James, great tip!

The original Leica II (Model D in USA) has a couple of drawbacks; the RF window is 1x, rather than 1.5x （less accurate) and lacks diopter adjustment. Also no lugs for camera strap, so stuck with an ancient neverready case or a wrist strap attached to tripod screw. Your recommendation is much more applicable to a IIc or IIf…

@@shoefantasia1412 thanks, yes I normally recommend C & F but great info on the D thanks.

@@shoefantasia1412 All true, but if you're on a budget there are real bargains there to find. Because the II or (D) lacks either the usability improvements of later models, or the "cool" factor of the 1s, bargains can be found (except for the black and nickel ones, which go for silly money).

Thanks for the tip! I wanted the 28/35mm micro finder but silly expensive!

Thanks! If I see a clean copy cheap i'll check it out

Thanks Steve, i've not seen these until now. Great that there are more companies making these types of items (I recommend the Leica X1 36mm VF as you get it discounted being a 36mm yet beautiful quality. I have it).

Thanks Lucy!

Apparently it's not just the flange distance... supposedly Leitz and Zeiss designed their "50mm" lenses to slightly different actual focal lengths (something like 51.9mm and 52.4mm) which in turn meant the focusing mounts need to move a slightly different distance as you focus closer. When the Soviets got their camera industry going after the Hitler war, they very sensibly standardized both their Contax-mount and Leica-mount lenses to the Zeiss value. But that meant a Soviet LTM lens that focused perfectly on a Fed or Zorki would not focus quite correctly on a real Leica -- you could shim it to be correct at one distance, but it wouldn't be correct at other distances. Supposedly there are shops that can fix this by adjusting the lens-group spacing, if you've got an exotic wide-aperture Soviet lens and are determined to use it on a Leica with rangefinder focusing. The expert on this stuff is a guy named Brian Sweeney; a search should turn up some of his published articles on the topic...

Thanks Barry, I had the same issue with the J3 on my M9!

Thanks JL, great info! Yes I find the 50 3.5s no problem on any body but not the faster J3 as mentioned here.

Thanks Justin and yes great tip for glasses wearers! (I only wear mine for driving)

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks Matt. To get that “full, wider than 50 but not quite 35mm view,” I have to put my glasses up on top of my head though 🤷🏽‍♂️. It works in a pinch if I forget the 35mm external finder, or want to slim the camera down and I know I will get a little more than what I’m seeing. Perfect? Nope, but it’s just another option. Loved this video. Thanks again!

@@justinconnaher8868 thanks Justin!

This is what the IIIa manual says on the topic: "The field of view gives the exact size of the photographic image at 9--12 ft.; at infinity rather more is on the negative, and at 3--6 ft. rather less."

Ah yes turret finders! Thanks. Yes good value I just didn't get them as they are quite big (but overall smaller if using lots of different lenses).

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The issue I find with Soviet turret finders is that on my Leica iiib and indeed on my Zorki 1 the eyepiece pokes uncomfortably into my forehead when I'm trying to use the rangefinder. It sticks out so far that it actually makes getting your eye close enough to the rangefinder window very tricky.

Thanks Erich! Noted.

They vary a little depending on the age of the camera and servicing etc. My 1931 Standard sounds different to the later Leica iii cameras for example.

Thanks and nice.. maybe i'll trade my M240 for a cheap M10 if prices come down enough.

Yes but better is the blog post. Visit MrLeica.com and search Leica iii on homepage, look for title listing all the models. Videos linked there too.

Hi Mark, RS Elmar..very nice! I have the Skopar (see video), it's one of the smallest LTM 50. I never notice any blockage but you can easily get spoilt by the tiny Elmar :) Bigger lenses like the Canon 50mm f1.4 do cause more blockage.

Thanks! About 12 months ago so i'm running behind with it, sorry! (Still has film in I need to finish).. you'll see it mentioned briefly in last night's video.. again me trying to finish the film!

Hi Ronald, no VF/RF is a ic/if or if it is bigger the ig. Patch on the front is normally a iiif or iiic without slow speeds so called the iif etc. Later ones have combined finder, older ones have 2 windows on the back, G is easy as has bigger window on the front. It's a big topic so perhaps buy a book so you can spot them/ look them up.

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Hi Matt Thanks for your quick and comprehensive reply Actually I think it would make a great video…… hint hint Your looking fit and happy Kindest regards Ron

@@ronaldsand3000 see my other Leica iii videos and blog posts. It’s probably covered already in those.

Nikon S are nice but RF is dim so harder to see. L3 is better for focusing. I’ve not used my Zorki enough to know that one.

Hi i've not used them but know of them. I guy I used to teach at my 1:1 workshops in Zurich had a Widelux

Good spot!! :)

Thanks, hmm maybe I got lucky as my M39 one fits my various L39 cameras. I’ve used it for a while and had no issues. Yes it is a tighter fit.

There is a M42 to LTM adapter. I ordered one and will let you know if it works. This is the Kipon Pentax M42 Screw Mount Lens to Leica L39 Camera Lens Adapter. Goes for $34.95. No adapters found so far for Canon FD to LTM adapters.@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom

Matt, you were right! The Pixco Nik-M39 adapter does work on Leica LTM cameras. I was overly cautious using it on my Leica iiia when I felt a little resistance. Then I tried it on a much safer subject, the L39 lens holder for my Omega enlarger. It worked. With this result I tried it on my Leica again and found that it does work though a little tight in spots. However, the Fotodiox Nik-M39 adapter defiantly doesn't work for the Leica. Another great option is the Kipon M42-L39 adapter which allows you to use M42 lenses on your LTM Leica or Canon.

Hi, twist to de-couple then push in (make sure click it back out before you shoot!)

Check eBay in your area for average value. Will depend on condition. See the detailed Leica iii blog post for the year each model was made.

Thanks David!

Thank you. Yes this is common with these older Leica. See one of my other Leica iii videos. It's a shutter issue so the CLA didn't fix it/ was not done properly. (If left black or right black). If top or bottom is black that is not the shutter.

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I did a test. Yes it is a shutter problem. 1/1000 and 1/500 are problematic. I am sending it to CLA again. Thank you for your comment.

Sorry I don’t. I repair person did mine but I don’t know if he had old stock he used.

Thanks Dan, I now have a turret finder, yes really nice piece. I don’t mind the TTA meter. CLA price sounds about right, maybe a bit high but all prices are up.

I do it the safe normal method but google for a hack without cutting

Thanks, yes some older cameras are a tighter fit. I have the same issue with some finders not fitting Leica iii cameras.

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I fixed it by using a pair of pliers, but I almost broke the base of the viewfinder and was trying to strengthen it😮‍💨

Hi Phil, I couldn't find on Amazon(s) and there was only 1 listed on eBay which someone probably bought. See the screenshot in the video of what to look out for if more list in the future.

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom oki if I FIND one I will give it

Good repair guys seem to repair and replace everything. Mine have had new shutters etc

Hi David, yes if you use 90mm a lot and want parallax correction.

Also, how much bigger and brighter is the viewfinder of the iiig compared to the iiif? I have the iiif and have been thinking of upgrading to the iiig for the larger viewfinder. Is it really a big difference?

Hi! I wondered if anyone would stop that little teaser clip! :D I will be reviewing yes. Need to shoot it some more before I can give an answer. Size is amazing!

See the video cover showing both cameras side by side in the video. I would say at a guess 50%+ bigger. A lot!

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom - Oh yeah, we don't miss anything! ;-) I have the 20mm SLII, 28mm SLIIn, 40mm SLIIn, and the 58mm SLIIn. I'm thinking about adding the 90mm to the kit. I'm looking forward to your review!

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom - Thanks Matt.

Thanks James. I’ve not tried Minolta LTM but Canon and Nikon are usually both excellent.

I like higher contrast and fine grain so I like TMax 400 but I use cheaper films too

ADOX KB 14 ORWO NP10 Gevapan 27 Fortepan 80

Ah thanks Thomas, I’m trying to keep you guessing! :P

Thanks Luca! You know I love my Kiev 4(and others), I have Zorki, FEDs (video to come soonish).. clones.. Leica are much smoother to operate but I can get excellent images from my Kievs (and others).

Kiev's made in 50s -60s are great

Oh no, yes easily done! I sold a good Sonnar ZM copy

Nice Chris!

50/0.95 is NOT L39. It is a custom mount for Canon 7/7s/7sZ.