I came to find out more about this particular camera, body, and lens combination that I have been looking into for about a year, usually when I go into stores, I have a little bit of a reserve for purchasing as well as dealing with people. But from the second, I came into the San Francisco location. I was only greeted extremely well, but they allowed me to really play around with the camera body features and walking you through what would be the best ideal use for my day-to-day currently not eventually where I think I may want to be.
I chose this over though Leica M11 due to it’s sturdy build and simple UI - with all the previous formats such as XPan and classic 6x6 from other Hasselblad cameras, it was like getting an all in one for me.
It definitely moves slower but for a medium format it’s quick. The autofocus is sharp and the internal storage helps alot.
Class act by the staff and whole of camera rest and solid purchase I do not look back on with anything but happiness.
Comfortable and effective.
As advertised! Looks works well for me.
Having used Leica M film and digital bodies for over 20 years, I can say the EV1 has a place in my bag alongside the others. It feels like an M, and I set exposure like an M, but I can view so much more through the built-in EVF. After only a week, I can see some settings that will make certain photography so much easier than with the rangefinder. Especially the 21, 24, and 28mm lenses, as well as the long side on the 75mm, 90mm, and 135mm. That doesn't mean the standard focal lengths don't work; they work fine. I may be able to focus a 35 and 50mm lens faster in some situations with the rangefinder, but I cannot preview the image and see where I might be blowing highlights, so it really just depends. This is a great addition, and I'm happy Leica added it to the M line. The image I uploaded was taken with the WATE 16-18-21mm lens, at 18mm, f/8.
Superb condition. Maybe even better than described. This is a great lens and I was very happy to find this particular copy at such a great price! The shipping was lightening fast and the lens was securely packaged. Looking forward to getting this one out in the field
Always a little dicey buying something used, no? Particularly at this price. But Camera West’s process is solid and ratings reliable. You know what you’re buying when you buy it, and they deliver quickly.
Thank you so much Kelly! Hope you're enjoying the SL3-P and this lens. Let us know if you ever need any help. Cheers!
Every thing is very good i love this len thank you camara west
I love how Camera West San Francisco rate their gears. Precise and right on point. The 45p lens renders beautifully. It is small and slow but it gives you that painterly feeling. It is an awesome lens for food and street photography. Though not in the same league as the new V lenses when it comes to fast focusing. Ever had that girl in class? She is not the prettiest but there is just something about her that makes you go crazy. That is this lens! It is not the fastest, newest but this thing renders beautifully. The shutter reminds me of the 28p or 38v, you can barely hear it.
I love this camera, it’s exactly what I was looking for. I did a lot of research before buying the Q3, and it fits my photography needs perfectly.
The Leica Store San Francisco made the experience even better. Everyone there was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and welcoming:)
For how I shoot this lens is perfect. Adapted on the SL3 I am constantly shocked at how this lens renders. Incredible.
Camera came well-packed and in better condition than described.
This was the first time I'd visited the San Francisco Camera West location, and I'm happy to leave a five-star review for the service I received. My M11's sensor needed cleaning, and getting that done during a morning visit to the shop on Maiden Lane was fast and easy. Thanks!
It was a wonderful experience. Factual, helpful , zero over promises. Will definitely go back for more .
The SL 16-35 is a great lens with wonderful sharpness and coloration. It is designed specifically for Leica SL camera bodies and this becomes apparent as you explore the lens. For a different look you can use the M-Adapter L and the M 16-18-21 to get different perspective. Both lenses Do fine work on an SL camera body. As a personal preference I enjoy using M glass on the SL: However I would never wish to be able to use SL lenses on an M series camera
This is truly a fantastic camera. The images are remarkable. Great build quality, fast and accurate auto focus, intuitive to use. I am very happy with my purchase.
Very glad I was able to acquire this Demi EE17. I immediately put a new Wein MRB625 battery and film in it (Ferrania P33) and began an exhaustive 72-exposure test. I tried all shutter speeds and apertures manually, all lighting conditions in auto-exposure mode, a series of minimum-focus tests, and a flash shot with the Canon J-3 unit and an AG-1 bulb. It worked perfectly as described! (Minimum focus turns out to be 2 feet 6 inches from focal plane.)
There is a filter factor adjustment lever on the lens barrel that goes from 1x to 2x to 4x, increasing exposure 1 or 2 stops to compensate for the light reduction caused by a filter. This could also be used when the subject is very strongly backlit and there is not enough fill lighting to compensate. I didn't use any filters on any of that first roll, so I kept the lever at 1x.
For the test roll, I ignored the zone-focus indicator in the viewfinder. This shows a needle moving behind three images: a portrait, a group of 3 people, and a mountain. As you move the focus lever, the needle indicates roughly how far away the lens is focused. This allows the photographer to quickly focus, check exposure correctness in Auto mode, and press the shutter release button. But I chose not to do zone-focus and instead estimated (or measured) subject distances and set focus using the focus scale on the lens barrel. After developing the film, I see that because of the 30mm lens' depth of field - even at maximum aperture of f/1.7 - I could have used zone-focus and gotten good results whenever stopped down to f/2.8 or smaller.
The lens has very good contrast and crispness - even wide open at f/1.7. I'm very impressed by its image quality, and it is fast enough to be used in relatively dim light. There seems to be very little lens flare from bright lights in backgrounds or from specular reflections off shiny objects. A point worth noting is that because of the lens' relatively short 30mm focal length, it is possible to hand-hold the camera at 1/30 quite easily. The rule of thumb for casual hand-holding without camera-motion blur is "the inverse of the focal length," which is 1/30th of a second for this lens. With practice and a little bracing of elbows on a table or when sitting down and after exhaling, you could probably hand--hold this camera at its longest timed shutter speed of 1/8 and still get decent results. (There is also a B setting for use with a tripod - and also a built-in self-timer.)
The meter is accurate within its range from EV4.5 to EV17. This roughly translates to 1/8 sec at f/2 to 1/500 sec at f/16 with 100 ASA film. It seems like the Canon engineers kept the meter's range in mind when they designed the camera's shutter mechanism, because the shutter speeds range from 1/8 to 1/500.
Canon made the Demi EE17 model from May 1966 to April 1967. I still have my parents' EE17, which has a lower serial number than the one I purchased, so I'm assuming theirs was made in 1966. Something in the winding mechanism stopped working, likely from decades of disuse. The one I purchased has a much higher serial number, so it was probably made late in the production run. I'll call mine a 1967.
So why did I buy a half-frame camera from 60 years ago? Because I still remember using it on one of our trips to Hawaii, probably in 1967, and taking a photo that hooked me on photography. It was just a vertical black-and-white shot of the roots of a banyan tree in a park somewhere. But there was something about the shot - a combination of exposure, film grain, depth of field, and composition - that made me want to keep taking pictures. So yes, there's some sentimental value at play here. (And come to think of it, the 4-perforation 24mm x 18mm frame size is exactly the same as used during the silent era of motion pictures.)
Incidentally, the focus levers of mine and my parents' have the same level of resistance. I remember that it was always like that. So if you come upon another one and add it to the Camera West stable, don't worry if the focus lever requires about as much effort as the shutter speed collar.
(I've attached shots I took after leaving Camera West with the Demi EE17. Maiden Lane, Heart at Union Square, Bourbon Bar at the St. Francis, Chandelier at the St. Francis.)
Incredible service, great communication, answered all my questions, packaged camera beautifully. Great price and in very good condition! Excellent experience
I recently bought this camera, and I have been learning how to benefit from all that it offers. Maggie was helpful and explained the camera. There was no pressure to buy, and I am happy with my purchase. I love the size and weight and the clear view finder.
Like the lens. Took a few images and everything seems to be working.
This is what CW does so well! A beautiful pre-owned, bright clear finder at a fraction of the new price!
The helpfulness of the staff, the quality and value of the item purchased, the whole experience really, would definitely make me a returning customer! Thank you Alex and team for a really great purchasing experience!
Remarkable value in a sharp and realistic lens. Lightweight, small, and does nice closeups while staying sharp at infinity.
