Constantinos Posted February 4, 2019 Share #1 Posted February 4, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey forumers, I am new into Leica photography. I own a Leica C which is a really nice point and shoot camera but I thought I would expand my horizons to the rangefinder cameras. I bought a Leica III which was sold by a reputable photography store online, but for some reason the camera has a shutter cable release nipple in the front. I have done some research and was not able to locate another photograph of a Leica III with the same feature. My question, was this an option at the time or was it added later in its life? Here are a couple of photos Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3678264'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 4, 2019 Posted February 4, 2019 Hi Constantinos, Take a look here Leica III with a twist?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Reini Posted February 4, 2019 Share #2 Posted February 4, 2019 vor 35 Minuten schrieb Constantinos: My question, was this an option at the time or was it added later in its life. I also have a few such ltm Leicas. The contacts are all different. Also inside the installation is different. So installed later. I am not shure, think at the most. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 4, 2019 Share #3 Posted February 4, 2019 It's just a flash synch some local mechanic shop installed, it was cheaper than sendig the camera to Leitz Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini Posted February 4, 2019 Share #4 Posted February 4, 2019 I would be interested to know where Leica mounted the flash syncs on the body and how they looked like? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 4, 2019 Share #5 Posted February 4, 2019 Leitz made the upgrade to the synchronized model and one had tompay the price difference. A non-Leitz-synchronisation on one of my cameras looked awful inside with some cooper sheet solderd on on shutter-roll to close the electric circle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini Posted February 4, 2019 Share #6 Posted February 4, 2019 I have copper sheets too. And a camera the wire was simply tapped flat. 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 4, 2019 Share #7 Posted February 4, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would not use a flash with such an old camera anyway,still a nice III with iconic Elmar Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted February 5, 2019 Share #8 Posted February 5, 2019 For pre-IIIc cameras, when adding flash sync Leitz used similar parts as IIIf have, flash contact has been added on top cover, at the back, under the accessory shoe. In order to accommodate internal contacts top cover must was been replaced, with contact numbers engraved. Leitz synced cameras have accessory shoe a bit higher than on non sync cameras. Internal contacts in Leitz flash conversions have all contacts under the top cover while most of third party have contact added at the bottom, sometimes very primitive done. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironringer Posted February 6, 2019 Share #9 Posted February 6, 2019 Thank you Jerzy for this detailed "upgrade" information. Can owners of both "third party" and Leica flash synch modifications, share pictures of these internal changes? I always wondered how and where the flash synch contacts are added, in such tiny spaces. Miniature magicians ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 6, 2019 Share #10 Posted February 6, 2019 here we go, first three Leitz-factory modified, upgraded and synchronized ones: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! note the different position of the synch-contact at the rear dependig on the kind of rf-ocular, left and right ones got new to-plates, middle one the cheaper screwed-on sheet with the numbers of flasbulbs Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! note the different position of the synch-contact at the rear dependig on the kind of rf-ocular, left and right ones got new to-plates, middle one the cheaper screwed-on sheet with the numbers of flasbulbs ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3679517'>More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 6, 2019 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2019 second a otherwise fine black/nickel III with non-factory mounted synchon-contact coming out at the front, you can see the cable running through the bottom Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3679519'>More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 6, 2019 Share #12 Posted February 6, 2019 last the relicts of a battered postwar III non-factory synchronized, you see the hole in the front for the plug already missing and some diagonal rought cutout in the cast chassis Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! as I used parts of the still usable shutter I had to drill out the bottom screw of the shutter-curtain-roll as some sheet of cooper was soldered on that (as I already mentioned) Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! as I used parts of the still usable shutter I had to drill out the bottom screw of the shutter-curtain-roll as some sheet of cooper was soldered on that (as I already mentioned) ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3679522'>More sharing options...
Reini Posted February 6, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 6, 2019 (edited) Original Hot Shoe Leica IIIG. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leica Standard retro fitted. Canon IIIA retrofitted contact. Similar to retro-fitted Leica flash contacts.The contact with the flash is closed until the wire in the notch is free Edited February 6, 2019 by Reini Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leica Standard retro fitted. Canon IIIA retrofitted contact. Similar to retro-fitted Leica flash contacts. The contact with the flash is closed until the wire in the notch is free ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3679540'>More sharing options...
thomas_schertel Posted February 6, 2019 Share #14 Posted February 6, 2019 (edited) Some quick shots on my kitchen table: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! IIIc factory converted IIIa converted 40 jears ago by Mr Reinhardt IIIb with Geiss Synchronizer Yours sincerely Thomas Edited February 6, 2019 by thomas_schertel Bild doppelt Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! IIIc factory converted IIIa converted 40 jears ago by Mr Reinhardt IIIb with Geiss Synchronizer Yours sincerely Thomas ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/294008-leica-iii-with-a-twist/?do=findComment&comment=3679648'>More sharing options...
jerzy Posted February 7, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) some pictures and information about flash sync conversions by Leitz, due to the size of pdf i had to split into 2 parts Flash sync by Leitz part 1.pdf Edited February 7, 2019 by jerzy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted February 7, 2019 Share #16 Posted February 7, 2019 sorry, 3 parts, here part 2Flash sync by Leitz part 2.pdf 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted February 7, 2019 Share #17 Posted February 7, 2019 Flash sync by Leitz part 3.pdf 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 7, 2019 Share #18 Posted February 7, 2019 The upgrade from the non-synchronised IIIc to the variable synchronised IIIf was probably one of the commonest upgrades done by factory in the early 1950's. My red blinds 1941 IIIc was factory upgraded with sync to a IIIf by Leica. A synchronised Model III must be a rather rarer beast. I had my father's IIIa synchronised by Wallace Heaton. We had a long debate where I tried to persuade him to have X sync but he insisted on having M sync so he could carry on using his Bilora bulb flash, rather than the Mecablitz 102 he had given me some years before and I had replaced with a larger Prinz electronic flash. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 7, 2019 Share #19 Posted February 7, 2019 vor 10 Minuten schrieb wlaidlaw: A synchronised Model III must be a rather rarer beast. .. Leica didn‘t offer sychronising a III without „updating“ it to a IIIa, which meant it got the 1/1000 instead of 1/500 as shortest shutter time together with the synchronization. So there may be quite a number of original Leica III which ended as IIIa syn. The price for the update of a III to a IIIa was only 22,- DM in 1954; for an update to a IIIa syn you hade to pay 87,- DM - quite a big difference at this time, though most users went for synchronization as using flash was the great thing at this time. The IIIa syn models from the 50s are no real „upgrades“ in the sense that they used the original camera and added some parts. In practice they were new built - only maintaining the original number. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted February 7, 2019 Share #20 Posted February 7, 2019 2 hours ago, UliWer said: Leica didn‘t offer sychronising a III without „updating“ it to a IIIa, which meant it got the 1/1000 instead of 1/500 as shortest shutter time together with the synchronization. So there may be quite a number of original Leica III which ended as IIIa syn. The price for the update of a III to a IIIa was only 22,- DM in 1954; for an update to a IIIa syn you hade to pay 87,- DM - quite a big difference at this time, though most users went for synchronization as using flash was the great thing at this time. The IIIa syn models from the 50s are no real „upgrades“ in the sense that they used the original camera and added some parts. In practice they were new built - only maintaining the original number. My IIIc "Stepper" to IIIf upgrade, I am fairly sure, has re-used the original top plate, with the flash sync numbers on a screwed on plate. Others have posted similar upgrades on "Stepper" cameras. In that it still has (or had) very elderly and totally rotten red blinds, I would guess that most of the shutter mechanism would be original as well. In the 1950's, I don't think red blinds were regarded as anything special and if required, would have been replaced with black blinds. My IIIa is currently away having a new set of red blinds put in and this is the last set this repairer has. Apparently the Nobby Sparrow red blinds proved unsatisfactory in use and Nobby recommended I did not use them, even if I located a set. He no longer sells them. Wilson Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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