Jon

Not seen a Ru with the dioptre correction like yours...

Noel

Here's my IIIF

My III (f)
 

I am loving my new to me III (f)
Just put a new Aki Skin on a Gordy's Strap and Loaded with Tri-X
Digital-Smigital:)

Trying out some new/old film in my Barnacks. New to me, at least since I haven't used them in a long time. I have the Leica IIIc loaded with Kodachrome 64 and the Zorki Standard has Tri-X. The finder in the second two pictures is a WINTU. A right angle finder. It has a little prism that swings down and works for focusing. And my Weston Master IV is back with a new cell and nicely calibrated. Forward, into the past!

DrLeoB, your IIIf ca. 1946 arouses curiosity. A prototype?

May as well introduce myself - just bought a Leica IIIf. Now that my Olympus OM-1 is living on its last batteries it seems like the last reason not to get one has gone - although I also have a digital camera for when you just need something to put in your pocket.

The camera will definitely be a shooter, and on the basis of the first roll of film seems to be working absolutely fine, although the rather scratched Summar will be getting replaced some time soon. I've been reading this place for a while before registering, and I look forward to learning a thing or two.

IIIc and IIIf
 

Introduction:
Michael Eric Berube, GoodPhotos.com/AnotherMaine.com

Long time LUGger. Shoot strictly digital for work now. RF for fun.
Sold my CL. Sold my M5. Sold my M4P. Sold my Bessa R & R2.
I don't really miss any of them.
I couldn't, however, bring myself to sell the battle worn and pitted, venerable IIIc.
I've also just acquired a very nice IIIf to also use with my Summarit 50mm/1.5 and my Elmar 9cm/4...

Update
 

OK. So I've found that I so prefer the IIIf that I DID part with the IIIc and traded the older body to a dear friend for a Rolleiflex MX-EVS type 2 (75/3.5 Schneider-K) that he wasn't using much. I've always wanted a Rollei and other than an old Ikon 6X9, I didn't have a medium format any more.

Also added a red dot to the IIIf, just for fun...(like I had previously to my old M5.)



I'll eventually add a 21/4 CV to the RF kit and go have even more fun with it.

IIIc
 

IIIc with Summitar 50/2.0, original EU36 UV filter and Barndoor Hood

IIf in almost perfect cosmetic condition except for a couple of scuff marks on the base plate.

GoodPhotos - mind if I ask what the red filter over the right rangefinder window is? Does it help with focussing? This is the IIIf above with the VC 50mm Color Skopar attached. I was sorely tempted by the f1.5 Nokton but was put off by the sheer size of it. Having taken a few test rolls I have the feeling I'll end up using the Skopar for colour and the Summar for B&W.

Leica?
 

GoodPhotos: Your fine cameras deserve at least one classic Leica lens.

Raid

Seabadger,

yes the little push-on orange cover (ORAKU or OKARU, depending on your camera model) is to assist in focussing. Because only one window is covered, you get a brighter central dot that give increased contrast which makes it easier to see when focus is achieved.

I had one and stupidly sold it with my IIIf, now I need one for my IIIc and II (Doh!)

John - many thanks. I may try to find one of these or possibly see if I can improvise something - from what you've said it's sounds as though they're rarities. I have the feeling the rangefinder (and shutter, for the slow speeds at least) would benefit from a service - should be able to get round to it within the next few months, I hope.

Seabadger,

DAG has both types (i.e. up to IIIb and IIIc onward) available at $25 each - a very good price for what is becoming a rarity. In the UK they are often £25 to £30 each. I need to order some other stuff from Don, and may well include one of these for my IIIc.

Here's my new 1939 Leica III with Summar 50/2.
It's seen some hard usage over the years but it still works perfectly. The top plate of this camera has a substantial amount of brassing but no damage. The rangefinder patch is still nice and contrasty and seems to be calibrated correctly.

I guess the old uncoated Summar that it carries right now wouldn't be worth shooting with these days? FWIW i'm gonna replace that with an Industar 61 for now.

This camera came from eBay-UK for £72 UKP + postage. A veritable bargain methinks and my introduction to a real life Leica. The only problem is that I now want a good condition IIIc or IIIf to shoot with!

Brassing? Looks like it encountered the business end of an orbital sander! :)

Wow! Bargain or what? I would love to have a Summar.

The brassing looks like some sort of chemical reaction - perhaps it was stood in a pool of vinegar for a few years?

A candidate for black paint, perhaps....

I think it gives it "character"

btw , Trawlerman - yes, the old uncoated summar is useless, send it to me for safe disposal ;)

Only joking, have a look around the forum for some excellent shots taken with uncoated lenses - there'll be plenty of life in the old dog yet :) give it a try - you might love it !

Peter,

Thanks for the comments. I'll have a look around for pics from a Summar. If it's still ok I might give it a run out sometime.

For now i'm happy just to have a Leica even if it does look a bit a dilapidated. :rolleyes:

My apologies for not answering sooner. I've been PhotoShopping weddings.
Yes, as John Nicely pointed out, the RF filter helps provide contrast for faster focusing. You CAN put it on either RF window giving you either an orange patch in a clear field or a clear patch in an orange field (as I have it.)

I found mine on the IIIf that I have now, but bought it for use on my IIIc before I bought the IIIf. Paid about $10.
:)

My Summarit is the greatest of classic Leitz glass as is my 9CM/4 Elmar!
:rolleyes:
I no longer have the M5 or the CV 25/4 that is mounted on it in that photo, though I may end up picking one of them OR the CV 21/4 again for wide use.

GoodPhotos - thanks.

John - is DAG a member / dealer on this site? Apologies to both of you for what may be daft questions but I'm still very much finding my way both with this site and with LTM Leicas.

Trawlerman - from my limited experience, I wouldn't get rid of the Summar without giving it a fair chance. Having put a few rolls through my IIIf with a Summar, I'm certainly going to keep the lens. It's not up to anything like modern standard lens quality in almost every way, but it has something about it when used for B&W wide open or so.

Seabadger,

I don't think DAG is a member here (bicbw), have a look at the DAG Camera website, on the LTM page here:
http://dagcamera.com/leica.htm

i have bought parts from Don and he does offer a really good service.

Here`s my Leica IIIC K Grey that`s just arrived in the mail today, many thanks to the "Doctor" for the opportunity to acquire this amazing and very historical Leica, one of only 500 that was delivered to the US Army in May 1945


More about this camera and the history of it in a separate thread coming soon.....