Used to be my favorite camera

[lesged]

NOTE:

There was a mistake made here. I had no intention of starting a new thread. I didn't click on 'new topic", but somehow when I made a reply to Dean's post in the thread,  What's Your *One* Favorite Camera?  , a new thread was created. Sorry!  

Dean,

The Leica IIf and Summitar was my prime camera and lens that I used from 1955 to 1968. I had the red dial model. Is yours red or black?  

The red dial superceded the black with improved or expanded flash synch speeds, IIRC.

As you can see earlier in this thread, I have supplanted the VC Bessa-R for the Leica IIf, but I still use a Summitar (my 4th one)

[Dean Williams]

Hi Les;
Mine is a red dial.  Such a nice camera.  I don't know why any kind of RF camera was made after these.

[lesged]

Dean,

I agree about the wonderful build and feel of the IIf and IIIf. I did buy a IIIf black dial with a Summitar from Mike Elek, about 3-4 years ago. I was having trouble using the rangefinder and bottom loading which was so easy in my 20s-40s, became a problem in my 80s, even with the dedicated Leitz leader cutter.

I sensed Mike had sellers regret and I gave it back to him, but kept his VC Bessa-R, with 35/2.5 pancake Skopar, which he bought in Hong Kong when he worked there. It was the other half of a terrific package deal he made when some unexpected money came like manna from Europe from the sale of several of my photos.

Mike has given me many classic cameras through the years, so I'm glad he has the IIf back. The Bessa-R has a great rf/vf/multi finder and loads from the back.