Repair an old Leica?
Discussion
Lovely old thing, my Dad has one albeit a little newer/less old than that one which looks like it might be prewar.
Can't help with repairers although there must be a decent number of vintage Leica specialists around.
They can be quite valuable depending on age/spec/condition so that is something to consider too.
An unusual choice of first film camera for sure Bit like learning to drive in a vintage Alvis;)
Can't help with repairers although there must be a decent number of vintage Leica specialists around.
They can be quite valuable depending on age/spec/condition so that is something to consider too.
An unusual choice of first film camera for sure Bit like learning to drive in a vintage Alvis;)
I’d be putting the Leica on the back burner for now. Just buy a decent 1970s or 80s manual camera for a few tenners for now, with one or two prime lenses, and you’re good.
I’d hate to spend a few hundred quid, or more, getting the Leica to work, only to see it sat in a drawer forever.
Edit: that looks like a Leica I, which began production in 1925! Eek.
I’d hate to spend a few hundred quid, or more, getting the Leica to work, only to see it sat in a drawer forever.
Edit: that looks like a Leica I, which began production in 1925! Eek.
Edited by Tony1963 on Wednesday 13th March 16:46
Tony1963 said:
I’d be putting the Leica on the back burner for now. Just buy a decent 1970s or 80s manual camera for a few tenners for now, with one or two prime lenses, and you’re good.
I’d hate to spend a few hundred quid, or more, getting the Leica to work, only to see it sat in a drawer forever.
Edit: that looks like a Leica I, which began production in 1925! Eek.
I'd suggest similar, something like a Pentax ME Super is a great way to play with film and is much more practical for learning. For one thing, it has a built-in light meter which that Leica does not, and a proper viewfinder.I’d hate to spend a few hundred quid, or more, getting the Leica to work, only to see it sat in a drawer forever.
Edit: that looks like a Leica I, which began production in 1925! Eek.
Edited by Tony1963 on Wednesday 13th March 16:46
On the subject of value, be aware that there are a great many fake Leicas out there, so perhaps do some googling for telltale signs before deciding how to proceed. If it's a genuine Leica I it's worth real money.
In any case, these cameras aren't super complicated, and a clean-lube-adjust by an appropriately qualified repairer shouldn't be silly money, although I'm a bit out of touch with rates...
(I have two 1938 Leica IIIa cameras, one my late father's and one that I bought as a teenager. They're lovely objects.)
I'd second the keep the leica as is for the time being and buy something different.
On that subject. What avenue is she interested in? I'm terrible for becoming hardware obsessed to the point my actual photographs suffer. It's easy to argue that given the cost of film and developing these days you want the best camera possible to maximise the quality what you are doing. But if she wants to enjoy taking photos and be bothered to take a camera with her I would argue a compact camera might make more sense. I don't mean one of the nasty quality plastic things that are around for hipsters now, as fun as they can be, but something from the 80's and 90's capable of taking nice pictures but handling the picture taking side of things so she can concentrate on composition. Something like this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276378171485?mkcid=16&a...
That isn't a high quality camera by any stretch but it will take much better pictures than the full pro camera left at home. Look on your local Facebook market place people are virtually giving away film cameras other than super desirable stuff.
If she does want to play with exposure etc. Then any of the old mostly mechanical cameras would do her well, Pentax spotmatic/k1000/KM/MX etc. the me super as mentioned is one of my favourites, and pentax have a big bonus that there are lots of lenses out there for not much money and they are generally fantastic glass. The m series of cameras are lovely and compact. The spotmatic (which uses an older lens system but it's one of the most prolific systems out there so definitely don't let it put you off) and the k1000 family (which use the newer pk system line the m family, also one of the largest lens systems) are bricks. But well made and reliable.
Olympus also made 2 ranges of the OM series the single digit were the more "pro" cameras om1 etc. and the double digit more amateur level om10 etc. again fantastic glass, and super compact. An om10 with the manual adapter and a 50mm lens makes a great beginners camera, generally reliable and so cheap you can throw it away and buy another if it does break.
Nikon and canon also make plenty of bargains, especially if you look to the unloved plastic body years at the end of 35mm production. Nikon especially benefit from a huge lens catalogue.
You can find plenty of other bargain cameras, it isn't impractical to buy a film slr and a couple of lenses for £50 or less. Including from one of the big brands. Again marketplace is a good place to buy.
But definitely recommend starting with a compact and only advancing when the pictures are good. Otherwise you end up like me spending all your time playing and no time taking great pics.
On that subject. What avenue is she interested in? I'm terrible for becoming hardware obsessed to the point my actual photographs suffer. It's easy to argue that given the cost of film and developing these days you want the best camera possible to maximise the quality what you are doing. But if she wants to enjoy taking photos and be bothered to take a camera with her I would argue a compact camera might make more sense. I don't mean one of the nasty quality plastic things that are around for hipsters now, as fun as they can be, but something from the 80's and 90's capable of taking nice pictures but handling the picture taking side of things so she can concentrate on composition. Something like this. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276378171485?mkcid=16&a...
That isn't a high quality camera by any stretch but it will take much better pictures than the full pro camera left at home. Look on your local Facebook market place people are virtually giving away film cameras other than super desirable stuff.
If she does want to play with exposure etc. Then any of the old mostly mechanical cameras would do her well, Pentax spotmatic/k1000/KM/MX etc. the me super as mentioned is one of my favourites, and pentax have a big bonus that there are lots of lenses out there for not much money and they are generally fantastic glass. The m series of cameras are lovely and compact. The spotmatic (which uses an older lens system but it's one of the most prolific systems out there so definitely don't let it put you off) and the k1000 family (which use the newer pk system line the m family, also one of the largest lens systems) are bricks. But well made and reliable.
Olympus also made 2 ranges of the OM series the single digit were the more "pro" cameras om1 etc. and the double digit more amateur level om10 etc. again fantastic glass, and super compact. An om10 with the manual adapter and a 50mm lens makes a great beginners camera, generally reliable and so cheap you can throw it away and buy another if it does break.
Nikon and canon also make plenty of bargains, especially if you look to the unloved plastic body years at the end of 35mm production. Nikon especially benefit from a huge lens catalogue.
You can find plenty of other bargain cameras, it isn't impractical to buy a film slr and a couple of lenses for £50 or less. Including from one of the big brands. Again marketplace is a good place to buy.
But definitely recommend starting with a compact and only advancing when the pictures are good. Otherwise you end up like me spending all your time playing and no time taking great pics.
Canon AE1 and a 50mm prime, its the default starter camera for film users.
Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
Does she have digital experience?
Personally, i think digital is the best medium to learn how a camera works as you can see the results of your adjustments instantly, from aperture to shutter speed as well as the use of different filters, then, once you've mastered the camera go to film and see how crap you really are when you have to do all the things the digital cameras used to do for you (talking about myself at this point
)
Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
Does she have digital experience?
Personally, i think digital is the best medium to learn how a camera works as you can see the results of your adjustments instantly, from aperture to shutter speed as well as the use of different filters, then, once you've mastered the camera go to film and see how crap you really are when you have to do all the things the digital cameras used to do for you (talking about myself at this point
)gareth h said:
Thanks for the advice chaps, I’ll look into alternative options and put the Leica away somewhere safe.
amongst film SLRs the Pentax K mount is the best supported - most of the smaller makers adopted it.My favourite film camera, which I used for 16 years, was a Ricoh XR-7.
For some reason I can't make the 'a' a capital letter - it is on the preview, but not on the page...
I used to use one of these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315217187229?itmmeta=01...
Built like a tank, nice and heavy so it's easier to hold steady. Lots of useful accessories still available. Motor drives, macro kit, etc.
I imagine it would hold it's value quite well too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315217187229?itmmeta=01...
Built like a tank, nice and heavy so it's easier to hold steady. Lots of useful accessories still available. Motor drives, macro kit, etc.
I imagine it would hold it's value quite well too.
satans worm said:
Canon AE1 and a 50mm prime, its the default starter camera for film users.
Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
The AE1 is shutter priority or manual- it can’t be used as aperture priority although I agree it’s a great film camera. Just sold mine - it was one of the first in the country as my dad brought it back from Japan.Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
Edited by craig1912 on Thursday 14th March 22:22
craig1912 said:
satans worm said:
Canon AE1 and a 50mm prime, its the default starter camera for film users.
Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
The AE1 is shutter priority or manual- it can’t be used as aperture priority although I agree it’s a great film camera. Just sold mine - it was one of the first in the country as my dad brought it back from Japan.Built in light meter will allow her to shoot aperture or shutter priority, apart form that fully manual.
Edited by craig1912 on Thursday 14th March 22:22
Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
satans worm said:
Thats interesting, i never used one but i know it had a light meter and seems to be the de facto beginners camera now a days.
Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
The AE-1 was one of the first shutter priority cameras and completely electronic in that it wouldn’t work without a battery. The A-1 was the first to have shutter and aperture priority and program mode.Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
Most cameras at the time (Olympus, Pentax etc) were aperture priority.
You are correct in that it had a built in “light meter” and is a great first film camera.
gareth h said:
This used to belong to my FIL and has sat in the draw for some time, my daughter has started to take an interest in film photography and I’d like to get it serviced / operational, any advice on where / who I should be talking to about it?
I have heard good things about Camerawork’s for servicing early Leica. They have menu pricing and a Leica I looks like it should come in at £222 for a service. I personally use Luton Cameras for repairs and servicing for my mechanical cameras, I’ve also used Aperture Photography in London for some Leica repairs and service.Leica I pricing varies a bit depending on year of manufacture (you can check against the serial number lists on the internet) condition plays a big part in value along with originality - the wind knob looks very bright, this period of Leica used Nickel plated parts.
Although straight forward to use, film loading is a pain in the backside so not great for learning with (unless you want to put someone off film photography!!).
As others have said, unless you want the money, put it away (in a display case perhaps) and buy one of the myriad of cheap, manual + Aperture Priority SLR’s on the market. Go for a big brand (for their time) such as Pentax, Canon, Minolta, Olympus or Nikon to benefit from the shear volume of lenses and accessories available.
Edited by seanyfez on Saturday 16th March 10:44
Pleased to see you're hanging onto it, as everyone is saying that camera is worth quite a lot of money.
If you don't have an interest in it as an object in itself sell it. Then use a small portion of the funds to buy a 70's manual SLR with a couple of lenses, a much better bet as camera.
Beautiful as old cameras like your Leica are, if you try to use it as an everyday camera you will find it frustrating. A bit like trying to use a hand crank start car as a daily driver.
If you don't have an interest in it as an object in itself sell it. Then use a small portion of the funds to buy a 70's manual SLR with a couple of lenses, a much better bet as camera.
Beautiful as old cameras like your Leica are, if you try to use it as an everyday camera you will find it frustrating. A bit like trying to use a hand crank start car as a daily driver.
Edited by Steve_H80 on Sunday 17th March 08:35
satans worm said:
Thats interesting, i never used one but i know it had a light meter and seems to be the de facto beginners camera now a days.
Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
I had an X700 for donkey's years. My second and last SLR lovely piece of kit.Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
seanyfez said:
I have heard good things about Camerawork’s for servicing early Leica. They have menu pricing and a Leica I looks like it should come in at £222 for a service. I personally use Luton Cameras for repairs and servicing for my mechanical cameras, I’ve also used Aperture Photography in London for some Leica repairs and service.
Leica I pricing varies a bit depending on year of manufacture (you can check against the serial number lists on the internet) condition plays a big part in value along with originality - the wind knob looks very bright, this period of Leica used Nickel plated parts.
Although straight forward to use, film loading is a pain in the backside so not great for learning with (unless you want to put someone off film photography!!).
As others have said, unless you want the money, put it away (in a display case perhaps) and buy one of the myriad of cheap, manual + Aperture Priority SLR’s on the market. Go for a big brand (for their time) such as Pentax, Canon, Minolta, Olympus or Nikon to benefit from the shear volume of lenses and accessories available.
I've also seen Cameraworks recommended on a pro group I'm on. No experience myself however.Leica I pricing varies a bit depending on year of manufacture (you can check against the serial number lists on the internet) condition plays a big part in value along with originality - the wind knob looks very bright, this period of Leica used Nickel plated parts.
Although straight forward to use, film loading is a pain in the backside so not great for learning with (unless you want to put someone off film photography!!).
As others have said, unless you want the money, put it away (in a display case perhaps) and buy one of the myriad of cheap, manual + Aperture Priority SLR’s on the market. Go for a big brand (for their time) such as Pentax, Canon, Minolta, Olympus or Nikon to benefit from the shear volume of lenses and accessories available.
Edited by seanyfez on Saturday 16th March 10:44
People always say Leica loading is troublesome, but I never had a problem. It is fiddlier than a regular SLR, but not difficult. My first films were on a Pentax or EOS850, but I was regularly shooting film on my grandmother's M4 very soon after starting out.
craig1912 said:
satans worm said:
Thats interesting, i never used one but i know it had a light meter and seems to be the de facto beginners camera now a days.
Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
The AE-1 was one of the first shutter priority cameras and completely electronic in that it wouldn’t work without a battery. The A-1 was the first to have shutter and aperture priority and program mode.Its an odd remission, i grew up with a Minolta X300, which had aperture priority but always wished it was a X700 with the cool dials on top.
Most cameras at the time (Olympus, Pentax etc) were aperture priority.
You are correct in that it had a built in “light meter” and is a great first film camera.
tog said:
I've also seen Cameraworks recommended on a pro group I'm on. No experience myself however.
People always say Leica loading is troublesome, but I never had a problem. It is fiddlier than a regular SLR, but not difficult. My first films were on a Pentax or EOS850, but I was regularly shooting film on my grandmother's M4 very soon after starting out.
Film loading in the M cameras is pretty straight forward as you say - they have a flap that opens to give you some access to the film. The screw mount cameras (such as the OP’s) require a bit more patience and trimming of the film leader ideally - your only access is via the base and removal of the take up spool. Not particularly difficult but if you are learning with a film camera I wouldn’t recommend a screw mount Leica as the starting point.People always say Leica loading is troublesome, but I never had a problem. It is fiddlier than a regular SLR, but not difficult. My first films were on a Pentax or EOS850, but I was regularly shooting film on my grandmother's M4 very soon after starting out.
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