Inherited a IIIf - Couple of questions

[katlis]

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So my wife inherited a Leica IIIf with Summitar 50mm 1.2 lens. Now I'm a Canon DSLR kind of guy, but this camera is pretty neat, I've always been interested in Leica's. No clue if it works... wondering if I should have it looked at, or just sell it. What's an easy test to see if it's working or not? If I do sell, how much would something like this go for (I have the leather case & manual too)?

 

Thanks for the help!

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[UliWer]

You find many informations about the IIIf and using it here:

 

LEICA IIIf

[chris_livsey]

So my wife inherited a Leica IIIf with Summitar 50mm 1.2 lens. Now I'm a Canon DSLR kind of guy, but this camera is pretty neat, I've always been interested in Leica's. No clue if it works... wondering if I should have it looked at, or just sell it. What's an easy test to see if it's working or not? If I do sell, how much would something like this go for (I have the leather case & manual too)?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

An easy test is put a film in Use a c41 film for local processing.

 

Maybe no so easy actually, read about loading first

 

As to "go for" see this sticky.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/78771-inherited-leica-trying-find-valuation.html#post821302

[pico]

You won't get much for it if you sell it. If it still works, use it. In my experience, that lens fogged up over time. My wife has her Father's III and we use it to take pictures of our older relatives. It won't resolve facial lines.

[Xmas]

Hi

 

They are nice cameras people like HCB and Eugene Smith used them.

The lens can fog but that would only need a trip to repair person, to clean internally.

It needs the barn door hood, for open scenes, and optimal performance.

The rubberized fabric in the shutter can become brittle again the repair man can replace.

To use the camera you need to carry a small pair of scissors (Swiss army knife style), to trim the film leader from its normal appearance to its pre 1970 appearance.

Otherwise it is a real Leica.

You need a dev tank and real monochrome film...

 

Noel

[earleygallery]

If you're near a Leica dealer I'm sure if you take it along they'll give it a quick once over and show you the basics of how to load and use it.