I only ‘returned to film’ last summer. The last time I really enjoyed photography before then was in the late ‘90s; mostly with medium format TLRs. My film photography rebirth has been a complete revelation to me and I now know what will keep me active and inspired when I eventually retire – something that has been weighing on my mind for some time.
The camera
Since my return, I have gravitated back to medium format, indulging a couple of long-held desires for particular brands and modes. What I lacked though was a ‘take anywhere camera’, and that’s where this beautiful old Leica comes in. My timing has been perfect as this little gem arrived in my hands just before the start of the coronavirus lockdown. It has come out with me wherever I’ve gone on my ‘lockdown exercises’ over the last couple of months; whether walking or cycling. This is not a gear review – others are much better qualified for those and I haven’t shot enough other cameras to give a reasonable balanced view. What I will say though is that I am very happy with the results so far. That said, the real joy for me is in the operation – it feels so beautiful in my hand and is just a constant delight to use.
The lens
As my Instagram will attest, I have a fairly eclectic approach, enjoying street, landscape, macro and more. In particular, I have found that I love photographing the buildings of my adopted home town, Sheffield. I am a firm believer that, wherever you live, there is ample subject material for any photographer, and I much prefer seeing people’s unique environs than yet another image of the Taj Mahal or the Brooklyn Bridge. During the lockdown, I have been determined to carry on taking pictures and this roll is fairly typical of my output recently – woods, parks and streets!
This interest in architecture has led me to seek out a wider angle of view. The Leica has given me that opportunity and this little Voigtlander 21mm is a great addition to my older glass. Some people might regard it as sacrilege to pair a 1950s body with a modern lens but I like using it and enjoy the results!
The film
When shooting B&W, I usually use HP5 or Tri-X; both iso 400, but I decided it was time for some Ilford FP4 Plus for a change. Only trouble was I immediately forgot! I have never experimented with pushing or pulling film so it was a complete accident when I eventually did. I shot the roll on a couple of ‘consecutive social distancing’ walks around my neighbourhood, entirely using sunny-16 metering. I don’t yet develop my own film (another plan for retirement) but the lab that I use (filmdev.co.uk) was very happy to process, compensating for my schoolboy mistake.
The results
I really wasn’t expecting much, but what I got back the following week was full of contrast and strong tones. The lens is sharp and really does capture everything I could want in the frame, and has definitely given me another string to my bow. It’s quite hard sharing a whole roll; experiments and mistakes included, but I hope that the results show people what a surprisingly attractive city Sheffield is, and that these old cameras really should be used and not just put on display.
Finally, and not for the first time, they prove to me the importance of serendipity in film photography, and the unexpected pleasures the odd mistake can bring…
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Soloman khan on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 03/07/2020
Solly.
Comment posted: 03/07/2020
Bruno Chalifour on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 03/07/2020
Stala Gavrielides on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 03/07/2020
Many thanks,
Stala
Sroyon on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 04/07/2020
The Barnack Leicas really reflect the 35mm ethos, don't they. I don't own one, but they are beautiful, well-made, truly compact cameras. They make even the M cameras (which are svelte compared to most SLRs) look bulky by comparison. Such good design.
I had the Voigtländer 25mm f/4, which is a similar design and construction to yours. I eventually sold it because I don't gel with that focal length – I prefer wider (20–21mm) or narrower (28mm). But it was so tiny and precise that I literally laughed out loud when I first took it out of the box, and it made me smile every time I put it on my camera. It was well-constructed and tack-sharp. You may know this already, but your lens, like the famous Leitz Super-Angulon from the late 1950s, is a symmetrical design (unlike the 21mm f/1.8 for M-mount which is a retrofocus design). Symmetrical wide-angle designs are only possible for rangefinders (due to the short back-focal distance) and not for SLRs; it enables brighter optics, and better aberration-correction with fewer lens elements.
Oh, and nice photos ;)
Castelli Daniel on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 13/07/2020
I really enjoyed these photos. Being a VW guy, my favorite is the Bug.
I’d love to get a 3G, but my life is complicated enough without adding another Leica.
We were in the UK in the summer of 2017, visiting our daughter who was enrolled in a letterpress class in London. I took the 21mm Voigtlander (M mount) along. We spent a day at Brighton and I shot the pier silly with it. Had a blast, but I sold it because it really didn’t fit into my daily work. But, I’d encourage anyone doing travel, landscape/cityscape/seascape to give the focal length a try. Lot’s of fun.
Bryan Costin on 36 Frames / A Whole Roll with a Leica iiif, Voigtlander Color Skopar 21mm f/4 ltm & Ilford FP4 Plus (metered at iso 400) – By Duncan Gruer
Comment posted: 17/08/2020