Help identifying my Leica, please. (Photo included)

[charlesnic]

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14 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

Your camera looks in nice condition. You can download a user manual for the llla here https://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_iiia/leica_iiia.htm

I know it's not the same camera but much of the instructions will apply to the lll - note you have to trim the film leader to load it, so the film doesn't foul up with the sprockets near the top of the camera when you load the film.

Only set the shutter speed after you have wound on/cocked the shutter.

Hey,

Thanks for sharing the link. Yes it's in pretty good condition plus it's had a clean and service before I purchased it. Can't wait to see what my first roll comes out like.

I've read and printed a manual and now aware of trimming the first section of the roll. I've made a template to use for future film rolls. 

Thanks for the help and advice. 

[Anbaric]

Here's something else that might interest you, the Morgan and Lester Leica Manual, a full-length book on using the Leica. There are several editions on archive.org from the 1930s and later (the content varied from year to year):

https://archive.org/search.php?query=morgan+leica+manual

e.g.:

https://archive.org/details/leicamanualamanu028253mbp

The actual books are still easy to find and generally not expensive, and they contain a great deal of information from the experts of the time.

[charlesnic]

11 hours ago, Anbaric said:

Here's something else that might interest you, the Morgan and Lester Leica Manual, a full-length book on using the Leica. There are several editions on archive.org from the 1930s and later (the content varied from year to year):

https://archive.org/search.php?query=morgan+leica+manual

e.g.:

https://archive.org/details/leicamanualamanu028253mbp

The actual books are still easy to find and generally not expensive, and they contain a great deal of information from the experts of the time.

Anbaric, 

Thats amazing - I'll check online after work to see if I can find a second hand/used one. 

Do you have any hints or tips whilst using the Leica. My other cameras are a canon ae-1 programme and a Nikon F, along with a load of others that were my grandpa's from the 50s-80s. Although I've not had film in those yet. 

Thanks again. 

[charlesnic]

On 11/2/2022 at 12:41 AM, Anbaric said:

Here's something else that might interest you, the Morgan and Lester Leica Manual, a full-length book on using the Leica. There are several editions on archive.org from the 1930s and later (the content varied from year to year):

https://archive.org/search.php?query=morgan+leica+manual

e.g.:

https://archive.org/details/leicamanualamanu028253mbp

The actual books are still easy to find and generally not expensive, and they contain a great deal of information from the experts of the time.

Anbaric, 

Thats amazing - I'll check online after work to see if I can find a second hand/used one. 

Do you have any hints or tips whilst using the Leica. My other cameras are a canon ae-1 programme and a Nikon F, along with a load of others that were my grandpa's from the 50s-80s. Although I've not had film in those yet. 

Thanks again. 

[charlesnic]

Hello everyone, 

Thanks for all your help and contributions to my original post. Here is the reply I got from Leica in Germany...

 

"

Dear Mr. --------,

 

According to our experts, this is a Leica III f, the flash contact was installed later, but probably not in our workshop, possibly privately.

 

 

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards
---------------
Leica Camera AG
Customer Care                                                  

Produkt Support
Am Leitz-Park 5 / D-35578 Wetzlar"

 

Thanks again for all your help, happy snapping. 

[pedaes]

5 minutes ago, charlesnic said:

the flash contact

It is difficult to believe anyone would mutilate a top plate like that. No wonder Leica are quick to disown it.  

[Anbaric]

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2 hours ago, charlesnic said:

Anbaric, 

Thats amazing - I'll check online after work to see if I can find a second hand/used one. 

Do you have any hints or tips whilst using the Leica. My other cameras are a canon ae-1 programme and a Nikon F, along with a load of others that were my grandpa's from the 50s-80s. Although I've not had film in those yet. 

Thanks again. 

I particularly like the 12th edition from the early 50s, which covers the cameras up to the IIIf and has contributors like Ansel Adams and Alfred Eisenstaedt, but any edition is worth having, and it's nice to read one from the 30s when 35mm cameras were still new and exciting.

If this is your first meterless camera, it's a good idea to become familiar with the Sunny 16 rule as a starting point for setting exposures. A hand meter is of course very useful, or you can use a phone app like this one (accuracy will depend on your specific phone).

A III-series Leica is pretty nice to use once you've managed to load it. Switching between the rangefinder and viewfinder windows takes a little getting used to, but soon becomes second nature. Be careful you don't accidentally tilt your horizons with the small built-in viewfinder. Make sure any collapsible lens is fully extended and locked. The shutter curtain can be burnt if you allow the sun to focus on it, so put the lens cap on when you're not using it, especially if you leave if face-up when outside on a sunny day, but don't forget to take it off before you shoot! Vintage lenses may be more likely to flare, so it's worth getting hold of the correct hood and be careful about shooting into the light.

You probably already know that 'III f' in Leica's response means 'III (Model F)', which confusingly isn't the same as 'IIIf', the later model from the 50s. The third party flash sync socket may not be pretty, but removing it at this point would just leave a hole, and it is in any case part of the history of the camera.

[TomB_tx]

9 hours ago, Anbaric said:

I particularly like the 12th edition from the early 50s, which covers the cameras up to the IIIf and has contributors like Ansel Adams and Alfred Eisenstaedt, but any edition is worth having, and it's nice to read one from the 30s when 35mm cameras were still new and exciting.

I have that edition, named "The New Leica Manual" and it is an interesting read. Mine was bought by my uncle in the early '50s. and still has the dust cover, with "$5.00" as the price. Mine also came with the inserted reprint of the "Directions for using the Leitz 'Leica' Camera" - which was the manual for the original Leica A, and has a section on the Compur "B" model and darkroom accessories. It was included with the Morgan book when new. That's also worth the read! 

Edited November 3, 2022 by TomB_tx

[jankap]

On 11/3/2022 at 10:29 AM, charlesnic said:

Hello everyone, 

Thanks for all your help and contributions to my original post. Here is the reply I got from Leica in Germany...

 

"

Dear Mr. --------,

 

According to our experts, this is a Leica III f, the flash contact was installed later, but probably not in our workshop, possibly privately.

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards
---------------
Leica Camera AG
Customer Care                                                  

Produkt Support
Am Leitz-Park 5 / D-35578 Wetzlar"

 

Thanks again for all your help, happy snapping. 

No IIIf, I think. Remarkable answer to your letter.

[Anbaric]

2 hours ago, jankap said:

No IIIf, I think. Remarkable answer to your letter.

I suppose that gap between the 'III' and 'f' is significant - they meant III (also known as the Model F) rather than IIIf. The 'F' should be capitalised when it refers to the earlier camera, as the two naming systems are confusing enough already! In this nomenclature (which seems to have been how the models were usually differentiated in the US) the Leica II is a Model D and the IIIa is a Model G, etc.

 

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Edited November 4, 2022 by Anbaric

[oldwino]

3 hours ago, Anbaric said:

I suppose that gap between the 'III' and 'f' is significant - they meant III (also known as the Model F) rather than IIIf. The 'F' should be capitalised when it refers to the earlier camera, as the two naming systems are confusing enough already! In this nomenclature (which seems to have been how the models were usually differentiated in the US) the Leica II is a Model D and the IIIa is a Model G, etc.

 

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

That's a great ad! Makes me want to shoot my IIIa today.

[Pyrogallol]

I have a few copies of the manual, including a 1935 first edition.

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