Leica III...True ore false?

[ToniP]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello to all forum friends,
I have been passionate about collecting cameras since I was a boy and for a few months I have been starting to look at Leica screw-type cameras (I have already bought a Leica IIIg in absolutely mint condition). A few days ago, a friend of mine showed me a camera of his that looks like a Leica III (even from the serial number), but I am truly an alien in the Leica world. So I'm not even able to understand if it's a real Leica III or a fake Zorki/Fed copy. Can you help me better understand the history of this camera? I hope the attached photographs are more than sufficient.
Toni

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!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[UliWer]

I don‘t notice anything which looks as if it was no original Leica III (from 1935). You may find some basic information about the differences here:

https://www.fedka.com/jay/index_files/Page367.htm

The fakes based on the Zorki and FED cameras usually have no long shutter times.

 

[Anbaric]

I don't see anything suspicious either - looks like a genuine 1935 III as suggested above.

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Leica_III_(model_F)

Here's another good site on spotting the fakes (it's not https, so you'll have to copy and paste the link):

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-213.html

The Summar lens is from 1938:

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Summar_f%3D_5_cm_1:2

Here is a contemporary instruction manual (it's for a IIIa, which differs only in having a higher top shutter speed):

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_iiia.pdf

Edited May 16, 2024 by Anbaric

[ToniP]

Thank you, you are a real mine of information...and I realize how little I know about the world of screw-type Leicas.

The links are also very interesting, although unfortunately the site reported by UliWer is missing some images.

My initial doubts began when I looked at the leather case (it seems rather rough and with irregular stitching and even the lens shell is stitched with the slanted logo).

The rangefinder frame should be (along with the shutter button and slow speed dial) one of the important factors in distinguishing copies from originals...

[Anbaric]

The case has certainly seen better days! It might have been repaired by an amateur at some point, and I wouldn't trust the strap. That viewfinder surround (the rangefinder has a separate window on these models) is the first thing I look at. On most of the fakes, it's really obviously different when viewed from the top. I don't think I've seen a 'convincing' fake with a slow speed dial either. Some later Soviet cameras like the Zorki 3 had them, but had quite different rangefinder covers to the Leica. Earlier Soviet cameras with this feature that more closely resemble the Leica are rare and worth more in their original condition. With time and trouble a faker could add anything, of course, but they usually just want a quick return with minimum effort. The traditional final test is to take the lens off and look at the rangefinder cam follower, circular on a real Leica, but there's no real doubt about this camera.

Edited May 16, 2024 by Anbaric

[dpitt]

I would not mind the case. It is not as handy as a modern half case anyway. If your are going to use this one for real it is worth an investment. Test if it still works, but it probably needs a good CLA after all this time.
Be careful when you load this Leica III. You need to cut the fil roll before inserting, otherwise you are in risk of damaging both the film and worse the inner works of your camera...

I think this also applies to loading the IIIG

The Summar is a fine lens, with lots of character wide open. It was the pre-war "Summilux", F2.0 was very fast before the war.
There are LTM to M adapters if you want to use it on a modern Leica M digital or film. You can also adapt it to all kinds of mirrorless camera's including the Leica SL series.

 

 

Edited May 16, 2024 by dpitt

[Anbaric]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

It's important to trim the leader of a modern film, but rather than biting the leader with your teeth as in the video (!) I'd suggest using scissors (or a knife and cutting template), leaving about 23 sprocket holes 'unpaired', making sure you cut cleanly between rather than across sprocket holes (one of the sprocket holes in the video looks like it might have become damaged in the process, which could cause problems), and rounding off the corner. The later IIIf manual has a very clear description of the loading process (from p27) and there's a picture of how the leader should look after trimming (p29):

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_if_iif_iiif.pdf

[ToniP]

You are a real goldmine of information !!!

[jc_braconi]

A good one, thanks to Ever Ready Case.