Yep, this is a Contax G 28mm f2.8 Biogon mounted to a Leica IIIf. It's  rangefinder coupled down to 0.7m and has full manual aperture and focus control, and comes with an M-adapter. This is the first time we have seen one of these conversions and we're having fun with it :) ⁠

⁠The Contax G-Series lenses are among the sharpest on the market, and getting to use one on a classic 1950s LTM Leica seems almost impossible.

The Russar MR-2 20mm f5.6 is one of the widest and lightest lenses produced in Leica M39 "screw mount." Constructed with an aluminum barrel and small, deeply recessed glass elements, the Russar 20mm f5.6 is actually lighter than the dedicated 20mm viewfinder it is paired with. The lens is not rangefinder coupled, but the depth-of-field is so great that most scenes are entirely in focus -- this is truly the ultimate "f/8 and be there" lens. We found the image quality of the Russar MR-2  to be very impressive, with good sharpness and contrast accompanying the extreme angle of view. 

What do we have here?  Why, it is the Leica MBROO and EFGOO of course!

⁠Leica products of a certain age are known for their distinguishing code words.  Leitz implemented the five character codewords in 1928 because they were easier to translate via telegraph than product numbers.  Of course, once the use of telegraphs declined in around 1959, Leitz switched to five digit product numbers.  Before that transition, you had the MOOKY and the HESUM and the IGEMO (that last is the codeword for your Leica M3, by the way).  What you end up with is almost it own language, describing bits and bobs and various wonderful Leica gear.  It kind of reminds us of the modern company, What Three Words, which has mapped every 3 meter square of the world with three word grouping that, while supposedly random, can have a certain sense instilled in their assignations.  ⁠

⁠The MBROO, on the left there, is an aluminum ever-ready case for your valued Leica threadmount camera, up to the IIIf.  The u-shaped lever on the front clamps down and locks the top and bottom pieces together, sealing the camera in and protecting it from moisture.  Some call this a tropical case because it would be excellent for carrying that Leica around a humid jungle.⁠

⁠The EFGOO, meanwhile, is a high top ever-ready case designed to protect your Leica when it has an accessory viewfinder mounted.  Maybe your preferred focal length is the 35mm.  Early Leica viewfinders only showed framelines for 50mm lenses, so an extra viewfinder would be attached to the top of the camera.  The EFGOO left room for that viewfinder, while keeping the camera safe and instantly ready.⁠

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This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but our repair tech, Mike Knight, is a pretty prolific photographer himself. He doesn't share much of what he photographs, but he loves getting out with the cameras from his vast collection of equipment.

Mike essentially works six day weeks: three at Blue Moon Camera and three in his workshop repairing cameras.  He saves Sundays for himself and his own photographic wanderings.  He recently shared this image of his Leica IIIf out somewhere beautiful and we thought it nice to give a nod to the personal side of his passion for cameras. 

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Spiffy cameras and spiffier camera cases.  A Leica case designed to accommodate that wide angle kit of yours.  The early Leicas had viewfinders that only showed a 50mm frame of view.  If you wanted to use a wider angle lens, you stuck an auxiliary viewfinder atop the camera.  The problem was that your really nice standard Leica case wouldn't close if anything was mounted atop the camera.  Not the case with this...case.

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One day, this beautiful Leica IIIf came wandering into our shop on the shoulder of customer, Chris Broderdorp.  Normally, the camera itself would be attention-grabbing enough, but this one had something special going on that really caught our eye.  It started with the Nikkor 5cm f/1.4 mounted to the camera (a pairing not possible without a lens adapter) and that led us to the adapter itself.  We had never seen its make.  The adapter is pretty slick: solid brass, well machined, and has a focusing helical (these Nikon lenses lack focusing and rely on the camera body to provide that) that couples with the Leica's rangefinder for smooth and accurate focusing.  The whole kit was a thing of beauty.  Apparently, these adapters are made by a fellow named Amedeo.  Do a search for his name + lens adapter and you will find him quick enough.  He makes a variety of adapters for Contax, Nikon, and Leica rangefinders.  While we have only had our hands on this one adapter, we were impressed enough to share.

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