In the Beginning
It all started with a Konica Autoreflex T2 I dug out of a closet at my grandmother's. I was 16, and I had signed up for a summer photography class and needed a 35mm SLR. This was right before those sorts of classes all switched to digital. The camera had belonged to my grandmother's late, second husband, who passed before I was born (he was a wonderful person, and I really wish I had gotten to know him in person, rather than through left behind artifacts and stories). That camera got me through 2 of these summer classes, and 2 other classes during the regular schoolyear. I learned all the basics and more with that camera!
Finding my Groove
A few years after highschool, I ended up getting a really cheap Nikon FG-20, once the T2 started having
issues. While the Konica had shutter-priority auto-exposure, this Nikon had aperture-priority. This encouraged me shoot wide-open
a lot more, falling into the cliche of out-of-focus backgrounds, chasing "bokeh" before I had even heard that word.
Later, I upgraded to a black Nikon FE2 (and gifted the FG-20 to a friend's little brother).
It had a higher top shutter speed of 1/4000 (over the T2 and FG-20's 1/1000) of a second, and it also
felt much more robust. These Nikons, along with a small assortment of vintage Nikon Ai (not that kind of AI) and Ai-S lenses,
were what I shot on for most of my 20's.
Trying Something New
Of course, I wanted to try out different things. What about medium format? What about instant film?
What about... a rangefinder? If all you want is excellent results on film, just stick to an SLR. There are so many great
options for cheap! For the love of your wallet, don't try a rangefinder, not even once! I figured I'd be fine,
I would be the exception, I'd shoot on a rangefinder for cheap and never be tempted to spend more than a couple hundred bucks
on a camera or lens.
What's the cheapest way to get into a rangefinder system? LTM, or Leica Thread Mount
(also called screw mount or M39), a standard from the very inception of 35mm film photography. But, instead of trying to tackle
an ancient camera from the 1930's, I picked up a Voigtlander Bessa R, produced by Cosina in 2000.
And what's cheaper than vintage Leica lenses or even Voigtlander's own lenses?
Old Soviet lenses! I found a Jupiter 8 (50/f2) for $50 and an Industar 61 LD (55/f2.8) for $20. Both of these
can get decently sharp images when stopped down, and interesting "character" (soft edges, chromatic abberation, coma, and pronounced
vignetting) when wide open.
My experience with this camera also coincided with my discovery and interest in street photography.
It was an absolute thrill to shoot with this camera. The rangefinder focusing really clicked with me, and I loved the form-factor
of the camera itself.
However, I also ended up gifting this camera, this time to encourage an old highschool friend to try out a rangefinder.
Back to the Future
After giving away the Bessa, I decided to upgrade my SLR, since I was already pretty invested in
Nikon lenses. I sold my FE2 and got an F3, Nikon's last manual-focus flagship camera. And what a wonderful camera it was!
The F3 was extremely well made, featured a truly superb metering system (exposure is actually more exact in automatic
modes, since it can adjust shutter speeds in between full stops, great for slide film), and it also looks fantastic,
having been designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the designer of the DeLorean!
I really thought I'd be shooting this beast, along with my favorite 35/f1.4 Ai lens, well into my old age
(and I probably could have)... but something unexpected and incredible happened.
A Dream Come True
My grandfather on my mother's side, Papa, had always been an enthusiastic supporter of my photography
efforts, being the first one to ever buy a print from me when I was 16. He had been a photojournalist
in Texas and shared the joy of making images. He was also the warmest and kindest person I (and pretty much anyone who met him)
have ever known!
For Christmas, right before I turned 30, Papa gifted me his Leica M3, along with a
complete compliment of lenses! I could hardly believe it! Of course, I had been dreaming for years about shooting
with a Leica M body, and then out of the blue, one of the very best cameras every made dropped into my lap! Using this camera
was not only a sublime experience (so smooth, so precise), but each shot was tied to a generational legacy of
photography and to a man I admired immensely!
Obviously, not every shot out of that camera, in my hands, turns out to be gold, but every time I pick
it up, it brings a loving glow to my heart. There is a certain level of hype to Leica, as every street photography
nerd knows, but for me there's so much more to it. This particular Leica is a strong tie to family history.
What's Next?
With its remarkable durability (and repairability), I could no doubt keep running film through the M3
for as long I could pick it up! However, once my grandfather passed in 2020, I started to get more and more nervous
about bringing the M3 out with me. I know, I know, a camera is meant to shoot photos, not sit on a shelf! The thing's
built like a tank, but I'm more concerned about someone stealing it. Though an M3 is replacable, this M3, my
grandfather's camera, is not.
I need to have something that I can carry around, out in public, that won't make me quite so anxious.
That said, I'm absolutely hooked on the rangefinder form-factor, and I've got a handful of M-mount lenses I'd like to use.
So, as I retire the M3 for safe keeping, what will take its place in my camera bag?
Well... I've ordered something to fill that
role, and no it's not a brand-new Leica M-A (I wish). You'll just have to keep an eye out for my initial review to
find out!
