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Best III?


bill

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I'm contemplating a small but perfectly formed Christmas present to myself. A Leica III. Not knowing much about these beasties, a IIIf appears to be the best compromise between usability and price (IIIgs appear to go for silly money).

 

What should I be aware of/look out for, besides the obvious (need for a service, tapering shutter speeds, etc)?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Guest Bernd Banken

Hi Bill,

 

just yesterday I got a IIIG from a friend who want's to know whether it will run or not. I'm not a Leica-geek, so I searched in the net to get some information about this model. It's the last of the screw-mount models and the best due to split image viewfinder etc.

 

I'll put the link to a (german) site in which all different models are described and think that there is a similar in english.

 

http://www.lausch.com/leica3g.htm

 

Today the first roll of film will be shot, to put the film into the camera was some kind of zen-stuff.....

 

Rgds

Bernd

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Hi Bill, not much response to this is there?

 

My first Leica was a IIIC and 50mm Summar. I liked it at the time but much prefered the M2 I later bought. However, since you're buying for fun this won't be an issue for you :-)

 

I think you'd be happy with either a IIIC or IIIF, be aware that some of the IIIC's have poor chrome covering due to the circumstances under which they were made.

 

Ffordes have a number of IIIF's in stock at the moment, might be worth giving them a look.

 

IIIG's seem to have been dropping in price a bit recently, but they're still more expensive than the others, last of the breed and all that, coupled with some innovations compared to the earlier cameras.

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A late IIIc will have good chrome, earlier ones as steve said are poorly chromed, but then a IIIc with chrome peeling off here and there does have a certain charm. A reasonably good IIIc can be picked up for little money simply due to the fact that there were over 100000 produced and are still widely available.

If it's for pure fun, I would go for a Leica standard, no viewfinder or rangefinder (can be bought as extras though). The Standard, especially the black ones are beautiful and can be had relatively cheap too.

Check out http://www.leicashop.at they always have a large number of III's in stock, and their a good firm to deal with, they have good quality stuff.

A IIIF red dial with an is probably the best bet they are relatively up to date and are well manufactured and definitely are cheaper than the IIIG.

As for lenses this is a matter of personal taste, VC lenses will fit nicely, are cheap and engineered up to todays standards, but when photographing with a III in my perception you should also make use of a period lens, if B&W your thing look out for a nice Elmar 50 3,5 there are lot's of them around and can be picked up cheap, but must look for a nice one for most a fogged, fungused and scratched, but there are nice ones to be had.

 

take a look at stephen Gandy's sit cameraquest.com he has a lot of information on screw mount leicas as well.

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Hi Bill,

 

I got a IIIf courtesy of a good friend from the Forum.

 

It is a great little camera with its tiny 50mm lens. It goes for around US$500 or less for a good sample. There are so many of them in circulation, you are bound to find a good one.

 

When you purchase this little gem, check all the shutter speed - especially the slow ones (below 1/30 seconds). Most of these cameras' split prism in the viewfinder may have yellowed due to age and deterioration of the glue. Replacement part costs about US$25-35. Another part to look out for is sticky or bristle shutter cloth. Replacement part costs about US$30-50.

 

Once you attached your CV 15mm lens, this gem turns into an excellent superwide camera.

 

Good luck with your hunt. Please tell us how you goes with this Christmas plan.

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Thanks for the responses, chaps. This is definitely a fun thing, and will sit alongside my M7, etc. I'd intend to use it only with 400CN or similar, and estimate exposure at all times. A 3.5 Elmar is a logical choice - the collapsible nature of this lens makes this a "pocket prospect" after all.

 

I have two CV screw mount lenses - the 15 and the 75, both of which I use with my M. It hasn't escaped me that a nice III will form a suitable second body, especially for the 15.

 

Keep 'em coming...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Look for bright, clear viewfinder, and good rangefinder double-image, and give preference to cameras which have had their shutter curtains replaced at some point, because rubberized silk was never meant to last forever. If the shutter seems a bit wrinkled, like something's come unglued, it's a safe bet it's time to replace the shutter. Otherwise, an overhaul + shutter replacement (but not viewfinder rebuild) was about $300 the last time I had this work done.

 

I'd like a IIIf RD ST because the added self timer lever looks good, but the regular IIIc, IIIf, and the earlier, smaller IIIa all look good to me.

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Hi Bill,

 

First let me declare and interest: as IIIf owner I'm biased.

 

I would love a IIIg for the improvements in the view finder but I have to say the IIIf is more beautiful, and more pure, as a result of its classic looks. The f was one of the most numerous of the III range so it's easier to find a good example - hence the silly prices g's often go for.

 

I haven't heard of any known particular problems, all the usual caveats for second-hand purchases apply, and yes you're right it would be recommended to get a CLA.

 

If you've not used one before you might be surprised at how small and vague the view finder is - and remember it doesn't have parallax correction - but you might be pleasantly surprised at how good the range finder is. I think it is easier to use than my M6's. I've got a little accessory orange filter for one of the view finder windows and it increases the focussing ease. Sadly one can't get a similar improvement for the M.

 

It sounds like a very nice Chrissy present to oneself - go for it :)

 

Funnily enough Jessops Classic in Pied Bull Yard have a battered (and hence cheap) M2 and I was thinking along similar lines myself.

 

cheers

 

Michael

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Bill,

 

I also use a lllf and would agree with Michael's comments. I have seen some lllg's advertised recently at substantially lower prices than one would expect but the really nice ones are still holding their value it seems.

 

The benefits of the lllg are a single viewfinder/rangefinder, brigtline frames for 50mm & 90mm and paralax correction, and uses standard shutter speeds. However, it is more expensive, and its larger and not as 'pure' in design terms IMO as the lllf.

 

The earlier cameras are also worth considering but the lllf had a more reliable shutter mechanism and a stronger body construction. I think it is the best 'user' in overall terms and yes coupled with a 3.5 Elmar its a design classic. I just bought a late 2.8 Elmar and it doesn't look quite right, apart from being heavier and bulkier.

 

The viewfinder is vague, there are a few quirky features and you have to focus and frame with different viewfinders, but I love using mine.

 

Go for a nice condition lllf, a late - coated or Red Scale - Elmar. Of course it will work excellently with your wide VC lenses (I use a 25mm on mine also).

 

I will PM you with some info on actual cameras for sale etc.

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The benefits of the lllg are a single viewfinder/rangefinder, ...

 

It would have been nice if IIIg's had a single viewfinder/rangefinder (a la M3), but unfortunately this is not the case. IIIg's have the same dual viewfinder system that IIIf's have, only that it's a brightline finder with parallax compensation showing 50mm and 90mm brightlines (well, the latter ones are actually just four little triangles at the corners).

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

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Bill

 

A lot of people like the lllf Red dial D/A (that's the one with the self timer) one thing to watch, is the shutter speed in two senses:

 

1) The older they get the more likely some of the shutter speeds will drag due to the need for a CLA

 

2) The second is what shutter speeds are available - from memory I think the earlier ones are non - ASA, which means you will have to compensate to match with a modern meter - I'm not sure which model numbers or models changed or when.

 

Ps. Not that a man of your calibre would be worried about meters....!!!!

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I believe shutter speeds on all IIIf's ever made are 1s, 1/2s, 1/5s, 1/10s, 1/15s, 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/75s, 1/100s, 1/200s, 1/500s and 1/1000s. Don't blame me if I am wrong, as I do not have a IIIf at hand right now :)

 

It was the IIIg that had the still current row of shutter speeds.

 

Andy

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Hi,

 

Andy´s answer is only correct as far as the red dial IIIf´s are concerned. The earlier IIIf´s with

the black dial had ... 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200...

You will notice the difference, black dial has only 1/60 which is more practical to me compared to 1/50, 1/75 with the red dial shutters.

When using neg film the non ASA timings are not so important but it´s a different story with slide film and a good shutter, one has to compensate for the slower shutterspeeds, e.g. 1/100 instead of 1/125, close the aperture 1/4 stop more!

 

Cheers

 

Joachim

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Its even worse if you use the lllf with an earlier Elmar with the odd aperture range!! All part of the fun though and I've not had any problems with exposure on slide or negs. The shutter speeds will mostly be 'approximate' on these older cameras anyway, just as an older car won't deliver its full bhp!

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