The Leica IIc | A Forgotten Gem
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- #leica #leicaiic #classicleica
The Leica IIc | A Forgotten Gem
In this video, I talk about the Leica IIc and share my experience and impressions of the classic 35mm range finder. I spent about a month using the Leica IIc and had many positive surprises and not so great experiences as well.
This camera was given to me on loan by Walter's Camera Repair to try. Walter's Camera Repair not only fixes film and digital cameras, but they also post process film for an affordable rate as well. Here's their website: www.walterscamerarepairs.com
Camera Used:
Leica IIc
Lens Used:
Jupiter 50mm f2
The film stocks used in this video are:
Fuji Superia 400
Kodak Portra 160
About this channel:
Here on my channel I explore 35mm film photography, street photography, portrait photography, cheap photography, bts photography, black and white photography, cheap dslr cameras, color negative film photography, medium format photography, medium format cameras, 120mm film photography, and photography improvement, much more.
I'm also team Olympus Om-1 and Om-4 at the moment. However, I still use and explore other cameras. Street photography cameras are my jam, but medium format cameras like the Pentax 67 are quickly climbing the scale.
I hope you'll join me on my photo journey 'Subscribe' to my channel. - Krátké a kreslené filmy
I found my iic on craigslist....free! case, remote, spools and...original receipt! Also..the woman gave me cases of 16mm and 35mm Kodak motion film rolls! She worked for them! Yes...I was quite pleased! I begged her to keep the camera, it was her grandfathers...she said take it! I treasure it, the curtain is perforated, but it works perfectly.
After loading start advancing the film while observing film and sprockets for correct alignment from below before you attach and close the baseplate - do this properly and you can squeeze a few extra frames from each roll.
You can also make sure the film is properly loaded by ensuring that the end of the film hits the stop on the take-up spool before you insert it in the camera. The checks you mention (looking at the dials on the top, but not marking the film from the front, which wastes a shot) are a good way to feel confident that you have done this properly.
I have recently picked up a iic and I can confirm the leader issue! Yesterday the film jammed and I didn't realise for half the day!!!! Stoooooopid! A lesson hard learnt.
Mine has a Jupiter 53mm and 28mm which I bought separately. I have been stopped several times by people wanting to talk about it. Never had that before. My first Leica and hopefully not my last.
Excellent! I'm sure this will be your first of many Leica cameras. They're just one of those camera systems that hook you. Good luck with the IIC. I feel your pain on the loading issues. ✌️
Now that you know how to use it you should carry on using it. You will get much quicker with it if you continue. Thanks for the video.
It's so weird seeing stuff that I was taught "when I was your age" that has been forgotten as the first film age receded, to be rediscovered now in the second film epoch. To confirm that your film is advancing: After your first blind shot (so that now the sprockets should be properly engaged on both sides) go to your rewind knob, engage it (in the case of a pre-M4 Leica) and take up the slack. Don't pull so hard you tear the sprocket holes, just take up the slack. Now, when you advance the film the first time, leave a finger lightly on the rewind knob. You'll feel the knob turning as the film is pulled out of the cassette. Then disengage the knob or fold in the crank. Or, if something goes wrong, which is a real possibility on a camera like this one, you won't feel the film move. This is why M Leicas and Nikons, and every 35mm film camera since, let you see the sprockets engage on at least one side before you close the back. But still, I was taught to do the rewind knob test on every roll of film I ever loaded. And I did. And now I do again.
This is great advice. I wish I’d had this advice beforehand, but info on older cameras like this is limited on the internet. Thank you.
keep rocking......Talya Adams....interesting video...from to end.
Gorgeous camera Talya! Excellent Quality photo's. It doesn't show its age at all. Thanks. Peace!!
I really like the photos of your model, with the head cut off. Very fashion editorial.
Thanks so much! Yeah, all things considered I'm happy with the portraits too. Wish, I could have a do-over though.
Also, the more and more you use this camera, or any camera for that matter, the faster you'll get and the more intuitive it will become !! Even loading. I've given up on a bunch of cameras...but sorta wish I hadn't and I would've just spent more time growing with it and learning more and more ways to know the beast at hand. All in all, wonderful video (as usual) and such such a great camera.
Those Barnacks are interesting but having to cut the leader and no framelines seems like a PITA... It goes to show how revolutionary the M3/M2 where, they still feel modern even though they're coming up on 70 years old.
That Jupiter looks amazing btw.
Totally agree with you here. Looking forward to trying the M3/M2 in the future.
such a handsome camera
I would focus first, then compose or just use zone focusing and only compose.
Great video, and the shots!! Incredible! :)
Thanks a lot! And I'm glad you enjoyed this one.
great video Talya! images look really good!
Thanks man!
Loved the images anyway! Great video.
Thank you!
Loved your candid opinion on this. Beautiful camera but I'd probably agree that it wasn't for me...
these scans are looking super clean :) nice
I think so too! And will continue going to Walter's.
I have to agree with most of what you said! I have a Leica IIIF - a very similar camera. The film loading issue was maddening for me - my 2nd and 5th rolls failed to engage, leaving me a bit frustrated. My tip: after loading and advancing the film twice, take the rewind knob and take up the tension on the film. If you feel resistance, stop and proceed to shoot, keeping an eye to see if that knob rotates as well. If by the second shot it isn’t, there is a good chance that the film has slipped off of the take up spool, and you will have to open the camera and try again. BTW, the Jupiter 8 is my favorite lens for the camera! Oh, and as to the other issue - I focus on the area that I want in focus, and then compose. It’s much faster, and accomplishes the same thing. I also zone focus when doing street shooting!
Great tip on making sure the film is on the spool! Thanks.
Great video & photos, nice camera, ...a bit tricky to use
Great vid! These little cameras really sing when you use a wide angle and pre zone focus. I use a Voigtlander 21mm f4 and shoot f8 or f11 and set focused to about 6feet, this way EVERYTHING from like 2ft to infinity is in fairly sharp focus so you SOLVE the annoying focus/frame issue. The Voigt has an nice external viewfinder that goes in the coldshoe and it makes it VERY easy to just lift the camera frame and shoot. Keep the vids coming, good pics as always.
Thanks for watching and for tip w/the wider lens. Looking forward to getting my hands on another Leica body and trying this method out.
Your first shot where you cut off the head of you model, I think it is still a super nice pic
You can actually load the film without cutting by opening the shutter at bulb and push it up with ur fingers. Definitely not any more efficient than cutting it before hand but in circumstances you cant cut on the go, you can do this.
Thanks for the tip!
You can avoid all the problems with loading film if you use a film trimming template. The original Leica templates are expensive on eBay, so you can either look for a more reasonably priced copy or make one yourself using one of the sets of instructions you can easily find online.
I wish I'd known about this template when I had the camera. It would've saved me film. 😂As for the making sure the film was firmly in the spool I did my best here, but still ran into trouble. One instance, the film broke in half with film still in the take up spool. This camera was just really tricky for me to handle. I don't like failing though, so I may have to borrow it again and spend more time with it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@TalyaAdams Talya, There are plenty of these cameras around. You may want to get one later, when you feel you’ve got enough time to experiment. They’re really solid and can produce beautiful images.
Focus -- then compose.
Sucks losing film at this time of age of film for prices 2020 😖 great video and photos! 👍🏼
Thanks for watching!
Loved these shots! I just bought a Voglander 127 film camera with a Leica lens, that was my cheap way to get into the system. It's crazy how expensive Leicas are. Also I will definitely have to check out Walters. Do you know if they work on motion picture film cameras as well? I have a 16mm I need to have looked at. Great content as usual can't wait to see more
Glad you enjoyed the video. Walter's definitely works on 16mm picture cameras. They were just showing me a few last week. Can never go wrong with this shop.
Are those beautiful muted colors from the glass? Or from something in post?
All I did in post was add contrast. I give the credit to the glass on this one.
@@TalyaAdams so nice! Way to go you, and to the glass as well
I guess you have just discovered the reason for its low production numbers and short run, by the standards of the day that is, three years is a digital cameras lifespan!
I have always liked the idea of shooting with a vintage Leica, but then, is the juice worth the squeeze?
I live the portrait images, even the 'creative crop' images work. The image quality is all down to the film stock and the glass, so that lens on a more modern Leica screw-mount maybe the way forward. Afterall, those of us that shoot medium and large format are use to the faff and the process, that is part of the appeal.
Hello, I really enjoyed your video ! Well explained, very good job ! The Jupiter lens gives lovely images ! I just purchased a Leica iic + an Elmar 3.5 5cm lens on Ebay and waiting for the delivery. I have the time and the patience ! So, I am very gratefull for all your good advices. My questions : Did you use a lightmeter or the F16 rule ? Which ISO/ASA film do you prefer in this camera ? Take care, Greatings, Roger, Antwerp, little Belgium ;-)
Hi! Glad you liked this video. I used an external light meter when I used this camera. Sunny 16 would've been fine too. If I still had this camera, I'd probably shoot a 400 ASA film stock for flexibility.
Lecias have always been a pain in the ass to load
They are so expensive
The early Barnack Leica cameras are the cheapest way to get into the system. They’re about $400-$600. But yeah expensive brand.
"Cheap Leica" system. It appears you get what you pay for with having to do all of that extra work just to put film in it. Even your "bad" shots are still interesting.