Menu
What's new
The GetDPI Photography Forum

Great to see you here. Join our insightful photographic forum today and start tapping into a huge wealth of photographic knowledge. Completing our simple registration process will allow you to gain access to exclusive content, add your own topics and posts, share your work and connect with other members through your own private inbox! And don’t forget to say hi!

Using old Leica film cameras

A

algrove

Well-known member
Santa just brought me an old Leica 1C Barnack camera. I will get CLA'd and wonder if anyone knows of someone in the US who does good work on this type of camera.

Also can anyone point me to a good source for use of this camera as I am told it needs special care and a specific workflow when shooting. Thanks.
 
dave.gt

dave.gt

Well-known member
Wow!!! Congratulations!!! Love those cameras.

DAG is the first choice.:)

Over the years, I have used several very good repair specialists and I like these two for now:

(I think these contacts are still current)

1. Don Goldman in Wisconsin
https://www.dagcamera.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

2. Youxin Ye
Email: [email protected]
Location 16 Fairview Rd
Canton, MA 02021-1720, USA
tel: (781) 830-9141

I have not yet tried KEH but I am looking for a nice IIIF like I had before… I will let you know if I get any information on others using KEH for repair. I have heard they were good.:)
 
Last edited:
dave.gt

dave.gt

Well-known member
“Also can anyone point me to a good source for use of this camera as I am told it needs special care and a specific workflow when shooting. Thanks.”

I am not sure I understand about special care… it is certainly a special camera (http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Leica_Ic) for sure! Very cool.

Great review here:
mikeeckman.com

Leica Ic (1950)

What is it? This is a Leica Ic 35mm camera made by Ernst Leitz GmbH from 1950 to 1952. The Leica Ic was a variant of the earlier Leica IIIc but without a r
mikeeckman.com mikeeckman.com

If it is anything like my IIIF camera with a need to cut the film leader in a certain way…it is simple, but there are diagrams and even a special Leica cutter (or just use scissors like I do). It is easy, just different.

I have not used a IC before, though, so I’m curious to know what you find out. . I am sure KEH, Youxin, or DAG can help you there!

***DAMHIK… LOL it’s best to do multiple leader modifications to film rolls ahead of time. :)
 
Last edited:
dave.gt

dave.gt

Well-known member
For in-depth discussions and information, I highly recommend:

Leica Screw Mounts, Canon & Other Leica Copies

All Leica Thread Mount ("LTM") cameras including Barnack, Canon and other Leica LTM Copies are combined here to encourage a more useful discussion of this entire fascinating group. Also LTM lenses from various makers
rangefinderforum.com rangefinderforum.com

***Note: The entire RFF migrated to a new site recently… this link should be the latest.
 
Last edited:
Godfrey

Godfrey

Well-known member
I had Leica IIc and IIf cameras once upon a time. The only special things about using them are a- cutting the extra long leader when loading, and b- always, always set the shutter speed AFTER winding the camera. The shutter dial spins when the shutter operates and setting it when not wound can mess up the positioning gate.

Beyond that, if I recall, the Ic does not have a rangefinder or viewfinder, or low speed shutter timing. This means you have to set the distance by scale and have shutter times from 1/30-1/500 sec available (plus B). This makes it best suited to short focal length lenses, and you'll want to use a matching optical viewfinder to suit. Leica made a clip on rangefinder for these cameras, handy if you want to use larger aperture at close distances for accurate focusing.

Neat camera regardless. :)

G
 
A

algrove

Well-known member
I was lead to believe that one must first advance the film and then change the SS or else the SS change will not take effect.
 
Godfrey

Godfrey

Well-known member
The selector sets the width of the slit. It latches with a spring-loaded peg into the mechanism. So you can make a setting to the shutter speed without winding the shutter, but the mechanism isn't in the right position to set the speed correctly. I think, although I'm not entirely sure on this, that I was told by a camera repair person experienced with the Barnack selector that if you set it to certain positions, it could cause the shutter curtains to buckle when the shutter was wound.

I'm not entirely sure of the truth of that, but the simple thing is just to remember to always wind the shutter after you make an exposure. :)

G
 
A

algrove

Well-known member
Godfrey said:
The selector sets the width of the slit. It latches with a spring-loaded peg into the mechanism. So you can make a setting to the shutter speed without winding the shutter, but the mechanism isn't in the right position to set the speed correctly. I think, although I'm not entirely sure on this, that I was told by a camera repair person experienced with the Barnack selector that if you set it to certain positions, it could cause the shutter curtains to buckle when the shutter was wound.

I'm not entirely sure of the truth of that, but the simple thing is just to remember to always wind the shutter after you make an exposure. :)

G
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
dave.gt

dave.gt

Well-known member
algrove said:
Light, but also small. 2.5" high with rewind knob and just 2" high without taking knob into account. Shutter works. I just do not know its accuracy. Might try a roll before sending it in for a CLA.
Click to expand...
Woohoo! Can’t wait to see the results!!!:)
 
A

algrove

Well-known member
Me too just might not be film available here in my small city. Walgreens maybe. I would be happy with any old B&W film!
 
jotloob

jotloob

Subscriber Member
Godfrey said:
That's a beautiful camera. :)
G
Click to expand...
Yes , I can only agree . I would very much like to have an old , fully working , LEICA . Good ones are very expensive and hard to find .
Westlicht/LEICA in Vienna is a good place . leitz-auction.com
I am afraid , once you start "collecting" LEICA's , you can't stop .
 
A

algrove

Well-known member
dave.gt said:
Hey, just wondering if you picked up some black and white film. I would be delighted send you some.:)
Click to expand...
Dave
For some reason just saw this. Thanks. I picked up some old LTM lenses and old accessories from Tamarkin and they included 2 rolls of B&W film as a gift. Ilford 100 and Ilford 50. That 50 will need a tripod. I'm an old Tri-X user from way back over 55 years ago.

Will start with that Skopar 25 and use it as a point and shoot for the moment. Now to remember my sunny 16 rules again. I used to develop my own, but no more so next thing is to find a reputable lab who can also scan at 30MP or more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top