OK people, so far we know that we can "talk the big talk" but can we justify this talk with something TANGIBLE?

I'm going to start us off. When my chromes get back next week I'll post an image that I think has a funny story behind it. Just to wet the appetite, it deals with some squatters that I found in my backyard the other day. I burnt two rolls of chromes on them and tried out some improvisation techniques to see what kind of effects could be accomplished. Maybe that will give us something "novel" to talk about.

Anyone else willing to step up to bat on this?

Respectfully,

John.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002

Answers

I'm thinking about doing in a new black paint Leica IIIF now that I got it back from DAG repair. After all you're definitely in business when no one else has a black paint screw mount Leica :)

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.

To address the actual subject of the thread: I feel kind of at a loss because I have a scanner but no intention whatsoever of using it. I *don't* do darkroom, digital or otherwise. If I can get someone locally to post something, I will.

To address the OT issue of creating a lucrative enterprise based on the notion that no one has a black-paint LTM, I wouldn't start spending those contemplated riches just quite yet. There were no factory-produced black *IIIf's*, to my knowledge, but plenty of black LTM's do exist. And from the collectors' standpoint there is a heap of difference between a black-paint Leica and a Leica painted black.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

To John and Alfie...huh??

-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

OK, John, I'm confused. Are you looking for a particular category of photograph, or just Leica image posts in general? "Red Dot Diaries" suggests images on the erotic side, but I suspect your back-yard squatters were of the four-legged variety, and well-behaved.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), January 20, 2002.

Is that a 90 Summicron in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 20, 2002.

Ralph,

I was just being my usual sarcastic self. But please, if you have an image that has a compelling story behind it then share with the rest of us. I see Mr. Dixon has already embraced the concept (not that its anything new to him I might add...).

Thanks Mike,

My provocative image should be up in about 5 days.

Alfred, if you want to post an IMAGE of a black IIIf then your more than welcome... but please, no wild stories about ancient eye candy.

Cheers,

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

BTW:

Ralph, those backyard squatters were NOT 4 legged. They had distinctly 2 legs and were actually quite rowdy. They attracted quite a bit of attention from our neighbor's 4 legged "friend to man" as well.

Does that wet the appetite yet?

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

Alfie. There are plenty of black paint SM Leicas. All model A, B, and C Leicas were finished in black paint on brass. Most model D (aka II) Leicas and some E (standard) and F (model III) were made in black made. Know thy Leica history!

Jay. Actually, there are some genuine factory made Leica IIIf and IIIg cameras finished in black paint. Two types of such cameras exist:

1) A small number of black paint IIIf and IIIg cameras were issued for the Swedish army during the 1950s. These cameras had the famous "three crown" symbol engraved. As if this weren't enough, these cameras were equipped with black paint Elmar 50/2.8 lenses. These cameras are rare birds. Think $ 20,000-25,000 if you can find one.

2) There are a number of earlier black paint models which were factory converted by Leitz to IIIf, resulting in a "black paint" IIIf. The long establish policy of Leitz in offering to upgrade earlier model to later model SM cameras may seem unusual to the uninitiated, but it is part of Leica history.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 20, 2002.

Alfie, is that the real you? - after yesterday's impersonator I cannot be sure who's who anymore!

John, as you see from the posts above it is technically impossible to ask a load of Leica buffs NOT ot talk about equipment :)

BTW "Rare Cameras" in London had one of those Swedish LTM's a few years ago but........(you see- impossible!)....please post your pics and I will be happy to comment :)

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 21, 2002.

giles:

where in london is "rare cameras"? never heard of that institution.

stefan

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 21, 2002.

Stefan - I think you mean Classic Cameras in London.

Not sure of the address but you could get it from directory enquiries. They advertise in Amateur Photographer each week.

-- Tony Brookes (gdz00@lineone.net), January 21, 2002.

Stefan, Rare Cameras are gone now! You know the British Museum collection of classic shops in W1? Rare Cameras was a London Branch of the Vienna Leica shop, they had a huge collection of incredibly rare Leica stuff but they went bust!

Originally there was Jessops Classic (still there), Rare Cameras and Classic Collection (with a Leica franchise inside).

Now there is (still) Jessops Classic, York Cameras (EOS/Nikon - took over part of Rare's shop), and The Classic Camera (be wary!). Briefly I believe Rare's boss re-started as Museum Cameras but that's gone too - he may now be something to do with Aperture Photographic (Museum Street).

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 21, 2002.

Eliot: I've read and seen the black Swedish Crown IIIg but never heard of the IIIf. According to Laney the IIIg was issued to the Swedish army in 1960, several years after the IIIf went out of production. Please let me know your source, I'd be very interested to read about the black IIIF.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), January 21, 2002.

I already knew that there were other models of black paint screw mount cameras! :) I was just kidding about redoing mine. Geewhiz, can't anyone distinguish between humor and the actual facts? :)

By the way, you do not see people using black screw mount cameras at all :(... I probably in real life wouldn't repaint my chrome Leica IIIF actually :)

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), January 21, 2002.

John, You're a moron.

-- Peter Heller (Peterh36@btopenworld.com), January 21, 2002.

Jay. Indeed Leica supplied black paint If IIIf and IIIg cameras to to Swedish military. Black paint IIIf cameras (which did not have the three crowns) were issued from SN 822,901 to SN 823,000 by Leitz Wetzlar (equipped w/ black paint 50/3.5 Elmar) in 1956.

The black paint IIIg cameras (which did have the three crowns) were issued from SN 987,901-988,025 and supplied with 50/2.8 Elmar and 35/3.5 Summaron. There was also a specially modified black paint If supplied to the Swedish military.

Lager shows a picture of an original Leitz Wetzlar black paint IIIf camera fitted with 50/3.5 black paint Elmar (p. 98, LEICA, An Illustrated History, Volume I: Cameras).

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 21, 2002.