Do I Love You Enough to Carry Scissors?

Leica CL + Summicron-C 40mm f2

It has been exactly a year since I was gifted the Leica IIIf. While I do use it, it is not as often as I thought I would be. And so I am coming to the sad realisation that it might not be the right camera for me, for everyday use.

On thinking about it over the past couple of weeks, it seems the issue is two-fold.

(1) Film loading is just a tad more quirky than I can routinely cope with. While each individual step of the process is manageable, it’s the cumulative effect. In particular, having to carry scissors everywhere I go, so as to trim the leader should I need to change film, just seems to be the tipping point for me. Seems like a relatively small thing in the scheme of things, but looking back that is how it’s been in practice. If loading film is an epic undertaking, then I do it less, and therefore shoot fewer rolls.

(2) The 1951 Summitar lens - while deliciously tactile and jewel-like - is limiting, considering the notoriously tricky light conditions in this corner of Ireland. While I do appreciate vintage lenses, the 1970s are a more suitable era for my use case scenario. For everyday use, I do need something that is a tad more contrasty than the Summitar - to compensate for the flat/ hazy light conditions we often have here.

I have decided to give it another few weeks, and in that time to make it a point of using it in a variety of circumstances. This will then enable me to decide whether to keep it, or return it to my husband {who will happily take it back}. The Leica iiif is too lovely, and too special, of a camera to only use sometimes. And while I do love it, that may not be enough.