After our recent road trip, which included a night at the Hotel Finlen in Butte, Montana, and a chance to photograph the window where Robert Frank made one of the 83 images included in his landmark book, The Americans, I became mildly obsessed with finding the same camera and lens combination that he used on his Guggenheim-sponsored cross country journey of 1955-56.
A story published by the Swiss Camera Museum got me started, supplying details, dates, and serial numbers.
Fairly quickly, I purchased a black-bodied Leica iii that, according to Red Dot Camera’s online research tool, was thought to have been made in 1934, the same year as Robert Frank’s camera. Wanting as much background as I could gather, I wrote to Leica, seeking additional information. They replied, telling me that mine was actually delivered to Berlin on July 31, 1933.
The 50mm f1.4 Nikkor lens required more patience, especially considering that they are not inexpensive —relatively-speaking — and the condition of online offerings varies widely.
In early August, I mentioned my search on a Leica III Facebook page, and a fellow member said he had noticed such a lens in a small camera repair shop called Vermont Camera Works . By that time, though, it had been several months since he had seen it, and he had no idea if it was still for sale. Google led me to the shop’s site, and I sent an email, expecting to hear that the lens was long gone.
Happily, it was still available. The proprietor said the lens had “cleaning marks,” so I requested photos.
When the pictures arrived, it looked good to my untrained eye and the price was right. “‘l’ll take it!,” I replied.
Initially, because the serial number on the lens I acquired was higher than the one used by Robert Frank, I incorrectly assumed that mine was made after his. I contacted a man named Roland in New Zealand. He manages a detailed database of Nikon serial numbers.
He replied, “Yours is the 189th 5cm f/1.4 lens made. The early series were mostly in Nikon S-mount but a fair number were also M39 (LTM) mount.”
It was manufactured in May of 1950, making it older than the lens I was originally looking for.
Beyond the Swiss Camera Museum’s site, I can find next to nothing describing the specifics of Robert Frank’s camera gear, and even less about his thoughts regarding it. He would certainly have found my recreation of his 1950s kit frivolous. I don’t mind. In his lifetime, he didn’t do much for the approval of others, even from those he admired.
“Black and white are the colors of photography.” – Robert Frank
In the past month, I have shot a few rolls of Ilford HP5+ with the new combination. After the first roll, I located a set of filters sold by Tim in Berkeley, and have been experimenting with yellow, red, and blue.
I’ve dropped a few test photos into an album on my Flickr account. Nothing great, so far, but I am happy with the capability of the lens and camera.
The Barnack Leicas — once you get the hang of them — are light & nimble, and a lot of fun to use.
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Ken Davis on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Stephen Hanka on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Gary Smith on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Dan on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
cmf on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Rollin Banderob on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Some posts around the net feel he also used a 35mm for the book - have to wonder if that was a Nippon Kogaku Nikkor too?
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
David Pauley on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Comment posted: 30/10/2025
Randy Castillo on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Jeffery Luhn on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
An interesting pursuit! Note I didn't say obsession. Perhaps that will follow, as you embark on the trans-continental shooting spree. That book greatly influenced me when I was a budding photographer for the Oakland Tribune in 1969. When I look at his work now, it still has the same inspiring effect. I hope you post more images from that camera.
Jeffery
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Scott Ferguson on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Thanks for this post, which led me to revisit The Americans, which is a stunning achievement. I'd love to see more of your photos and will check out Flickr.
I like shooting with vintage gear, but have kind of stayed with post WW2 era gear, with an M3 and lenses mostly ranging from the late 1940's to the early 1960's. I took a hard look at a Barnack iiif about a year ago, but couldn't get used to the tiny framing window on the double viewfinder, and struggled a bit with the controls. I didn't mind the fiddly loading, but I think I made some kind mistake with adjusting the tension on the film and lost more or less an entire roll.
Curious if/how you use a blue filter with b&w? I have an old Leica blue filter that I picked up in case I wanted it for color correction when shooting daylight film in tungsten light, but haven't really used it much. I'll often use a red or orange filter if the skies are particularly dramatic, and I like shooting portraits with a yellow/green filter, but haven't figured out a good use for a blue filter with b&w.
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Curtis Heikkinen on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Comment posted: 31/10/2025
Ibraar Hussain on Robert Frank’s Leica (Well, Close)
Comment posted: 02/11/2025
I've never used one of these (nor any Leica camera) before, for some reason I alwways drifted towards the Zeiss Ikon andf Contax lines, because they're cheaper! hehe
Comment posted: 02/11/2025