Help identify this model / movement?

[wbarker]

The pictured Leica was given to me by my father and has been lost since the 1970's and was recently found in a basement clean up. I am curious which model this is. I am a Nikon user (sorry for that) and have little knowledge of Leicas. It is not a range finder. There is a serial numer engragved on top #5255xx. The lens is not a Zeiss lens. The shown lens is 50 mm Cannon Lens. l also have a 100 mm Cannon lens. Both are screw in mounts.

Most importantly, where can I take this vintage camera to have it cleaned and restored. The shutter is working.

THanks for any help.

.

[harryzet]

its a leica IIIf

[wbarker]

Originally Posted by harryzet

its a leica IIIf

Do you have background on when this Leica was produced? I really don't know how old it is, but it was handed down to me in the 70's. It needs some work done and hopefully the Forum will have some guidance on who can do this type work. I called Leica USA, but they don't have parts or much info to share.

Bill

[Irishimage]

Hi Bill

It's a 1950 IIIf Red dial Leica rangefinder.

Have 2 myself around the same year .. it's a great user camera .. compact .. quiet . and a joy to use ...
Best of luck with it ..

Noel

[luigi bertolotti]

Leica IIIf, as said above... a nice camera to use. I'm not American, but if you plan to have a good clean & restore, in USA there is a name on which one can surely trust for this kind of cameras : Don Goldberg: surf a little and you'll surely find how to contact him.

[stephanvdz]

and the lens is the canon version (copy or improved ;-) of the zeiss sonnar lens...

btw don't be confused : Leica = leitz lenses... Zeiss lenses = contax = zeiss ikon... the companies have nothing in common... even if zeiss did produce lenses in leica mount (mainly to respond to military demand during the war).

[thrid]

take a look here for repair shops

: :LHSA : : Independent Camera Repair Facilities

[wbarker]

I am confused by the red vs black dial identification. From what I see there are no red numbers on my camera body. Perhaps my photo is misleading. I assume the red numbers surround and are below the shutter speed selector?

Unfortunately the range finder mechanisms did not survive its long stay in a workshop. The camera was lost for 40 years or so as I noted. I think this one was produced in 1950-51 according to the serial number. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks for any direction. I am a novice with this Leica.

Here is the top view again.

Bill

[earleygallery]

Yes the 'red dial' refers to the numbers around the base of the shutter speed dial (they are for flash sync to cope with various types of bulb flash or electronic flashguns).

The rangefinder may just need cleaning (the camera looks pretty dirty!) or at worst the mirror within the rangefinder need replacing.

Take it in for a CLA.

[lars_bergquist]

The 'red dial' is the one under the shutter speed dial. It served to set the 'head start' of the flash synch to fit the specific flash lamps you were using, so that they were up to full power when the shutter started rolling. That way you could use shutter speeds up to 1/200. Zero setting is equivalent to X-synch. It is indexed in milliseconds.

The earlier 'black dial' IIIf had a shutter that was slightly heavier and with a slower running speed.

The old man from the Age of Flashpowder

[wbarker]

Thanks everyone for your replies and information. I have sent my IIIf to DAG Camera Repair for a thorough CLA and repair. They are very helpful in answering my questions. I look forward to getting it back into service after going missing for 40 years.

Bill

[steed]

before you declare the rangefinder dead, did you make sure that you were looking through the correct window and that you were not covering the rangefinder window on the right side of the camera? Good luck-you're going to love using this camera
John W

[brianv]

I've had the "beamsplitter" replaced in both of my Leica IIIf's and two IIIa's. Youxin Ye did this job, and "CLA'd" the cameras back to good working condition. The cost was very reasonable.

I could not tell if the Canon lens was an "F1.5" or "F1.8" from the photo's. Both are excellent lenses. The F1.5 lens is a "Sonnar" copy, the F1.8 is a "Planar" formula lens.