My "new" Leica III F

[shep]

I am 64 years old. When I was 16, I was orphaned and living alone. I had been learning photography at a photo studio in El Paso, Texas. Eventually, the owner decided it would be better for me to live with his family. I became very close to them. I considered them my new and replacement family. On my 17th birthday, as I came out of the film processing room, the staff was gathered around and I was handed an almost mint condition Leica IIIF, black dial. It had a 50mm, f/1.8 Canon lens. I was so thrilled and happy I was almost in tears. That camera went everywhere with me. I was never without it. I eventually joined the U.S. Navy and sold it and bought a larger format camera, then sold that and so on. The Navy used Leica M-2 kits. I was designated a photojournalist and given two Halliberton cases of Leica R-1 equipment. That model was a disaster compared to the M series and Nikons of that era!

The III F launched my successful career as a photojournalist. I presently own a Nikon D-300 and am also thrilled with it. But I have recently had a longing for the camera which started my career and took me all over the world.

Via the internet, I found and bought a IIIF with a Canon lens. This is MY "time machine" to my youth and the great adventures I had.

John Sheppard -- San Diego, Calif.<img>

[Erik van Straten]

Hello mr. Sheppard,

Can you post some pictures you took in the fifties with your first IIIf with Canon lens? I'm sure everyone would love to see these as illustrations with your beautiful story.

regards,

Erik.

[cbretteville]

John,
Welcome here and welcome back!
- Carl

[martin]

Hello John,

that's a nice story.
You should write a novell and add some photos.

Hope you'll get a perfect IIIf,
if not, make some days holiday in Germany and visit the Leica company.

And of course, take a selfportrait with you and your "new" old Leica.

didn't you wrote you own a D300,
then don't hesitate.

very best greetings

[mikebidwell]

Hi there John

It must be something to do with our age!!! I'm also 64 and have had an interest in photography since I was 15. I have over the years had various cameras from my first SLR which was a Praktica FX2 up to the Nikon D300 I have currently. Well I always wanted a Leica in the early days but never could warrant buying one until a few months ago when I picked up a very nice IIIg and a month ago I got a IIIf in nearly mint condition. I think in my case I'd describe both aquisitions as perhaps trying to regain my youth.

Best wishes

Mike

[rubenkok]

Hi John,
Welcome to the forum !
What a great story.
Hope to see your pictures here soon.
All the best
Ruben

[shep]

After reading all the nice replies I have concluded I am not so crazy after all! LOL I gues I am have ANOTHER midlife crisis.

I received the camera today and am shooting ASA (whoops -- ISO) 400 to give it a quick test. The shutter speeds are probably slow. The one second seems slow. The camera was rated at a 9++. It certainly is that and more! It looks almost new. It was recently CLAed by DAG. The Canon lens is absolutely clean and totally clear. Now if I could only find a Bob Schwalberg camera strap.

Please advise me as to the filter size, lens cap, and lens shade for that Canon Serenar 1.9 lens...where I can buy it, etc. The lens collapses just like the Leica version.

How do I post here? I rarely post anything on web sites.

The Navy sent me to Leica School many years ago. It was taught by Walter Heun What a resource!!! A true gentleman of the old school. I learned more him on one hour than I did in years of fumbling around on my own or listening to some others! I understand he is still alive. God Bless Him!

SHEP in San Diego, CA

[Erik van Straten]

Excuses for my ignorance, but what is a Bob Schwalberg camera strap? I do know Bob Schwalberg, but I've never concluded that he has anything to do with camera straps.
Maybe you should have Peter Dechert's book on Canon rangefinders, altough it does not give very detailed information on Canon optics. Maybe you should try the Rangefinder Forum-site where Peter Dechert has his own coffee-corner.

Regards,

Erik.

[brianv]

There's something about the "first Camera" that just feels so "right". I've shot with Nikon SLR's for 30 years, and a Minolta Hi-Matic 9 since I was 11. Still have it, and it sits next to a Nikon SP and a Leica M3. All three get used. As do my IIIf's. A "demure" camera that has everything that you need.

[shep]

Well, I am totally bummed out! I seem to get an awful lot of disappointments these last few years! I find that the shutter speeds and shutter are messed up on the IIIF and that it will cost me a lot of money to have fixed.. I already spent $585 USD for this body and it should have been good to go --especially after it was supposedly CLAed by DAG a few months earlier. So I am returning the camera to the people I bought it from. I just cannot afford to spend any more money on this camera. I will NEVER buy sight unseen again. I have learn another of life's lessons 00 again. Seems like the older I get the dumber I get. Lord help me!

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by shep

Well, I am totally bummed out! I seem to get an awful lot of disappointments these last few years! I find that the shutter speeds and shutter are messed up on the IIIF and that it will cost me a lot of money to have fixed.. I already spent $585 USD for this body and it should have been good to go --especially after it was supposedly CLAed by DAG a few months earlier. So I am returning the camera to the people I bought it from. I just cannot afford to spend any more money on this camera. I will NEVER buy sight unseen again. I have learn another of life's lessons 00 again. Seems like the older I get the dumber I get. Lord help me!

Not a nice story, it seems, and I'm sorry for you, because IIIf is really a fine camera to use IF GOOD. If you can give back the camera and have your money back, so better. Regarding the "supposed" CLA by DAG, this could even be a seller's lie... DAG is a well known name in the Leica world, and the phrase "recently CLAed by DAG..." becomes a sort of warranty: if you have time, I'd anyway suggest you to write Don Goldberg and asking him, as a private info, if he has recently CLAed a IIIf s/n xxx.xxx...

[mikebidwell]

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

Not a nice story, it seems, and I'm sorry for you, because IIIf is really a fine camera to use IF GOOD. If you can give back the camera and have your money back, so better. Regarding the "supposed" CLA by DAG, this could even be a seller's lie... DAG is a well known name in the Leica world, and the phrase "recently CLAed by DAG..." becomes a sort of warranty: if you have time, I'd anyway suggest you to write Don Goldberg and asking him, as a private info, if he has recently CLAed a IIIf s/n xxx.xxx...

I've dealt with Don from here in the UK and you couldn't ask for a more genuine guy. As Luigi say's contact Don and if he's done work on your IIIf he will know. You have to be careful what and where you buy from as I've just found out. I sent my IIIf off to Malcolm Taylor for a CLA and it was surprising what he found wrong with it. I decided that because it was in a nearly mint condition it was worth spending the extra to put it right. Ok not what I expected but then at least I know now it will be fine for a good few years to come.

Best wishes

MikeB

[earleygallery]

Hopefully this bad experience won't put you off buying another lllf. I love mine and would never part with it.

Did you buy from someone on e bay? I do find that items will often be sold with a fault which the seller claims they were unaware of..............maybe the seller expected that the camera would just end up on a display shelf of some collector!

[brianv]

Best to buy from the camera forums, from enthusiasts. Finding these cameras in "neighborhood" camera shops is getting difficult. I've found more in "antique shops" than in camera stores of late.

You paid a premium for the camera, and it should have been perfect at that price.