Leica IIIf

[Buggy Buggy]

Hi guys,

I hope you can help me on this. I love this thread and I love the rangfinders you guys owns.
I recently spotted some Leica IIIf and IIIg in good condition and the cost is from SGD 800 to SGD 1200 body only. I like the chrome mechanical body and the chrome lenses and it is driving me nuts! :sweatsm:
Understand that these are screw mount cameras and are able to accept similar Nikons and Canon screw mount lenses and even the newer Voitlander lenses.
I have some spare cash and would seriously like to get 1. To keep and to play with it a little.
As I know nothing about these cameras, can someone tell me if the prices are alright and will it be a problem getting lenses for these vintage cameras and what should I look out for when buying such cameras?
Thank you for your replies.

 

[The Dry Box]

The price quoted is fair for the IIIg. There are some places that will quote you 1.5k.

You prolly knows to check the condition of the shutter speed already. You also need to check the rangefinders and viewfinder if they are in good condition(good, if pristine expect to pay a premuim). Over the years, dust will get into the glasses and you may need to send them for further service.

Check the slower speed dials and exercise them a little to check for consistencies.

To check the shutter curtain, open up the base door and insert a white namecard under the curtain to check for any damages. Check once unwind, and once wind.

That should be enough. These are really nice cameras, so have fun with them.

 

[dankwan]

Hi guys,

I hope you can help me on this. I love this thread and I love the rangfinders you guys owns.
I recently spotted some Leica IIIf and IIIg in good condition and the cost is from SGD 800 to SGD 1200 body only. I like the chrome mechanical body and the chrome lenses and it is driving me nuts! :sweatsm:
Understand that these are screw mount cameras and are able to accept similar Nikons and Canon screw mount lenses and even the newer Voitlander lenses.
I have some spare cash and would seriously like to get 1. To keep and to play with it a little.
As I know nothing about these cameras, can someone tell me if the prices are alright and will it be a problem getting lenses for these vintage cameras and what should I look out for when buying such cameras?
Thank you for your replies.

the price is of course dependent on the condition, FYI the iiif should be cheaper than the iiig. At 1.2K it should be quite a good piece.

plenty of screw mount lenses around, you just have to search, summars, summitars, elmars and loads of japanese ones like fujinon. nikkor etc. Note that these lenses are completely different in character from modern lenses. Loads of guys like me have not found any issues in finding screw mount lenses in singapore. ebay is another good resource naturally

I would have you note that shooting with a iiif or iiig is a bit of a steep learning curve, there are many, many more steps that with lets say, a more modern leica like the m3, with the iiif/iiig, you will have to use the diopter vf to focus, then move over the the vf to frame, wind the film first before setting speed and speeds below 1/30 have a separate dial (on the front of the camera). the diopter vf is super small, vf patch is faint so I normally end up, zone or hyper focusing to preserve my sanity.

its no as fast or as intuitive as with the Ms, you really need to slow down your processes. Street, if you have good light, it should be ok, however for selective focusing and DM, its a bit difficult as framing and focus are different view ports.

Oh yes...and mounting film, you will have to taper the initial 4" of the film leader...so if you plan to shoot a lot of rolls, you will have to prepare in advance.

what to look out for when purchasing? usual, make sure the speeds are all working, no major dings and dents, RF patch is still ok...etc etc

hope this helps

 

[blacvios]

A video is worth ten thousand words, enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53OLlGIPMU0

,,,

 

[Buggy Buggy]

Hi The Dry box, dankwan and blacvios,

Thank you all for your advise and the video clips is a good help!
It really looks interesting and very challenging using these RF cameras. Will surely post some photos if and once I get my hands on one! Thank you again and have a good day! :sweatsm:

 

[raytoei]

I had a lot of fun with a user IIIC, I loaded it with a Industar-50-Rigid and had a blast. One of the most memorable picture was Uma of Hooters. Because it was a user IIIC, I didn't really care where I put it or how I used it, it was simply a fun camera.

With the IIIF, I found myself not using it enough, it was well taken-care of and I didn't want to use it all that much for fear of scratching it. Funnily, I didn't pay too much for the IIIF, but my psychological disposition affected me and it sat in the dry box for the longest time. Same for the M4. Nice camera but unused.I sold them off recently. Hope the owner use them more often that I ever did.

I am shooting more with a user M2 (a frankenstein M2 that only a mother could love).

raytoei

 

[hookonclassic]

Hello Buggy Buggy, welcome to the forum...notice this is your first post...

Before I am able to share with you some of my Barnack's love affair...:bsmilie:...there are many people in this forum like roundg...gommy...wongsan...etc...have plenty of Barnack's love to share too...:lovegrin:...master Dankwan call Leica screw mount camera "Pocket Rocket"...

Have you shoot with RF?
Have you tried this Leica screw mount camera before?

There are many models of Leica screw mount camera and I prefer the pre-WWII LTM with interchangeable standardized "O" lens, slim height and rangefinder coupled version:
Leica II (Model D) - (1932 to 1948)
1/20 to 1/500 sec shutter speed, first rangefinder coupled Leica, without dioptre correction, available in black paint with chrome/nickel fittings and chrome with chrome fittings
Leica III (Model F) - (1933 to 1939)
1 sec to 1/500 sec shutter speed, rangefinder coupled, with dioptre correction, available in black paint with chrome/nickel fittings and chrome with chrome fittings
Leica IIIa (Model G) - (1935 to 1948)
1 sec to 1/1000 sec shutter speed, rangefinder coupled, with dioptre correction, available mainly in chrome with chrome fittings
Leica IIIb (Model G) - (1938 - 1946)
1 sec to 1/1000 sec shutter speed, rangefinder coupled, with dioptre correction shifted to below rewind button, first Leica LTM camera with rangefinder and viewfinder eyepiece adjacent to each other, increase in height by 1mm, available mainly in chrome with chrome fittings
Leica IIIc (pre-war, war time and post war, 1940 to 1951)
1 sec to 1/1000 sec shutter speed, rangefinder coupled, dioptre correction below rewind button, rangefinder and viewfinder eyepiece adjacent to each other, Leica first die cast shell and shutter crate construction, increase in length by 3mm from IIIb, available in interesting variation vulcanite (grey vulcanite, black vulcanite, black sharkskin) and colors...chrome and Leica first grey paint...some are winterized with "K" ball-race shutter bearings

 

[ZoomP]

the price is of course dependent on the condition, FYI the iiif should be cheaper than the iiig. At 1.2K it should be quite a good piece.

plenty of screw mount lenses around, you just have to search, summars, summitars, elmars and loads of japanese ones like fujinon. nikkor etc. Note that these lenses are completely different in character from modern lenses. Loads of guys like me have not found any issues in finding screw mount lenses in singapore. ebay is another good resource naturally

I would have you note that shooting with a iiif or iiig is a bit of a steep learning curve, there are many, many more steps that with lets say, a more modern leica like the m3, with the iiif/iiig, you will have to use the diopter vf to focus, then move over the the vf to frame, wind the film first before setting speed and speeds below 1/30 have a separate dial (on the front of the camera). the diopter vf is super small, vf patch is faint so I normally end up, zone or hyper focusing to preserve my sanity.

its no as fast or as intuitive as with the Ms, you really need to slow down your processes. Street, if you have good light, it should be ok, however for selective focusing and DM, its a bit difficult as framing and focus are different view ports.

Oh yes...and mounting film, you will have to taper the initial 4" of the film leader...so if you plan to shoot a lot of rolls, you will have to prepare in advance.

what to look out for when purchasing? usual, make sure the speeds are all working, no major dings and dents, RF patch is still ok...etc etc

hope this helps

But it's damn bloody fun!!! I noticed if I am shooting different subject at the same distance. The IIIG is faster as I don't really need to adjust my RF. One quick glance noted it's sharp and I shoot.

 

[Buggy Buggy]

Hi raytoei and hookonclassic,

Thank for sharing with me your experience and knowledge of these cameras. Yes this is my first post here and I have very little experience using RF cameras, only tried some non-interchangable lens RF.
I like these cameras and it seems the older it is, the nicer it gets! :sweatsm:
Looking at the cameras from the users here especially the few you mentioned is really a joy, really poisoning :sweat:
I hope I can get 1 real soon and will surely post some photos. Old is Gold! :bsmilie:

 

[hookonclassic]

OLD IS GOLD...:bsmilie:...:lovegrin:

1935 Leica III & Rolleiflex Old Standard (Type 3)

 

[Buggy Buggy]

OLD IS GOLD...:bsmilie:...:lovegrin:

1935 Leica III & Rolleiflex Old Standard (Type 3)

Wahhhh POISON!!!! :sweat:

 

[hookonclassic]

Getting screw mount lenses are not difficult at all...they are even modern lenses from Leica Japan and Voigtlander (Cosina) in LTM

Playing LTM is cheaper than M series in general...you can get a Leica IIIa with an 50mm f3.5 collapsible Elmar for around USD300 to USD 550 (depending on condition) in eBay...

Plenty of vintage old LTM lenses...German or Japanese... full of style and characters...fun to explore...

These characters are flaws of the lens design in modern days term where the modern design eliminated...but some know how to use these old lenses to express their artistic style...

You need to experience it yourself to know each lenses characteristic...that alone should keep you enthusiastic to shoot more...

 

[hookonclassic]

If you are going after collection...recommend you these books...

Leica collector's guide by Dennis Laney (Hoves collectors books)

Leica An Illustrated History by James L. Lager (Lager limited edition)
Volume I - Cameras
Volume II - Lenses
Volume III - Accessories

Should be available from ground floor photography book store at Funan Centre.

 

[Buggy Buggy]

Hi hookonclassic,

Thank you for your advise, these are all very useful for non experience users like me.
Will head down to Funan when i have the time, pocket not deep enough so would just like to get one to play around with. The books will be good, can't get the real cameras but able to drool at the photos everyday. ;p

 

[dankwan]

Hi hookonclassic,

Thank you for your advise, these are all very useful for non experience users like me.
Will head down to Funan when i have the time, pocket not deep enough so would just like to get one to play around with. The books will be good, can't get the real cameras but able to drool at the photos everyday. ;p

Hi buggy you may want to consider the not as vintage nikon rfs s range with the spectular Nikkor 50/1.4, won't burn a hole in your pocket and pretty much the same shooting experience as the iii series, a little simpler though...

 

[hookonclassic]

Hi guys,

I have some spare cash and would seriously like to get 1. To keep and to play with it a little.

A IIIa or IIIc is is commonly available and relatively cheap...contrary to general mind set that all Leica are expensive...not true...

 

[Srono]

The "sharkskin" IIIc is nice to have

 

[hookonclassic]

The "sharkskin" IIIc is nice to have

+1

When buying IIIc just need to make sure the chrome plating is good...lots of bad chroming process during that period...

 

[Buggy Buggy]

Hi hookonclassic, Srono and dankwan,

Thank you again for the advise, i checked ebay a short while ago and there are alot of choices for all these vintage cameras from different manufacturers. But will need to be careful though since I am not seeing the actual cameras just photos. Will take my time and hunt for a good bargain. ;p :sweatsm:

 

[dankwan]

Hi hookonclassic, Srono and dankwan,

Thank you again for the advise, i checked ebay a short while ago and there are so many choices for all these vintage cameras from different manufacturers. But will need to be careful though since I am not seeing the actual cameras just photos. Will take my time and hunt for a good bargain. ;p :sweatsm:

if you want to play around with one, please join us for one of the RFSG outings, let me know and i'll bring the iiif. Best you play with one before you buy it