Leica Screw Mount Conversions - Show Yours

[Penny Lane]

I see now! I'll post a clearer shot of the top. The light is gone & I don't want to go build a 'set-up' (ahem) right now, but I'll get those shots tomorrow.

I have to confess though that I've no further true data beyond the block of serial numbers in which this camera fits having been sent off between 1948 & 1951. It's just over a third way into its block of 9,999 numbers, so it might very well be a '49 instead of a '48...

Derk

[Penny Lane]

The promised photo is here: http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-8UCFFZJL.jpg

I've also looked more closely at the release guard. It seems indeed to have been cut off; the top edge has no chrome and there are what look like 'trial marks' on the guard from when the saw didn't take.

Derk

[Dralowid]

I can't remember if I have shown this one before, but I have been using it recently and it really is a delight.

Michael

[Dralowid]

Sorry folks, but I have indeed repeated myself.

Something to do with age...

Michael

[philipus]

Hi Michael
I absolutely don't mind - that is a beautiful camera! It is in amazing condition.
cheers
philip

[jose medina]

HI,
great conversion! How did you do? how does-it work now?
thank you
José from Paris

Originally Posted by charjohncarter

Not a very aggresive conversion, and I have shown it before, but Super-Takumars on a IIIf:

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Originally Posted by jose medina

HI,
great conversion! How did you do? how does-it work now?
thank you
José from Paris

Guess this is not what this thread is about: Upgraded camera bodies by Leica

[mgilbuena]

Did they ever convert IIF into IIIF? I have a Leica serial #451878 with a slow speed dial, but the serial number suggests this is a IIF model.

[Dralowid]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1907303972...#ht_788wt_1010

No connection etc...

Despite the base plate a nice camera for those interested in conversions, very late s/n for a black III...right now I haven't the money!!!

Michael

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Originally Posted by Dralowid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1907303972...#ht_788wt_1010

No connection etc...

Despite the base plate a nice camera for those interested in conversions, very late s/n for a black III...right now I haven't the money!!!

Michael

tnx already on wish list

[HuubL]

In the 50's Leica offered conversion of a III to IIIa Syn. Two questions: (1) Is the 1/1000 s shutter speed really that fast or is it still 1/500. And (2) How many of these conversions were made, (roughly), and were more done in black or in chrome? Ooops, that's actually three questions...

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by HuubL

questions

As a rule black cameras were converted to black and chrome cameras to chrome. There are of course exceptions.
The 1/1000 was really a higher speed than the 1/500, it was usually around 1/700. Today it is hard for repairmen to make the 1/1000 faster than the 1/500; the material is really too old.
How many conversions were made, is not known. There are quite a lot of them around. At Leitz there was a special production line for them.

Erik.

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

The 1/1000 was really a higher speed than the 1/500, it was usually around 1/700. Today it is hard for repairmen to make the 1/1000 faster than the 1/500; the material is really too old.
Erik.

To be more specific. If the camera has very worn springs, all the higher speeds are out, not only the 1/1000 sec. However most camera's, even the old ones, will work at between 1/700 and 1/1000 sec (sometimes even higher) since the speeds are dependent on the slit width in combination with the tension of both springs. So the 1/1000 sec was added by changing the shutter dials register, that is the brass dial with the round holes underneath the selector shaft. The upgraded leicas got a speed dial with one hole extra next to the hole for the 1/500 sec which made it possible to obtain a slit width of 1mm.
However there were cameras with an extra hole in their speed dial like the NKDV FED, but had a restiction built in the shutter speed selector shaft in order to prevent the use of the 1/1000 sec. So if needed these camera's could easily be built as a FED S or rebuilt as a FED S which had the 1/1000 sec speed. I'm not sure whether this was also the case with later Barnacks that eventually only got a top speed of 1/500 sec, lets say the ones being built as from the introduction of the IIIa - the first Barnack I think with a top speed of 1/1000 sec.

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by Ron (Netherlands)

So the 1/1000 sec was added by changing the shutter dials register, that is the brass dial with the round holes underneath the selector shaft. The upgraded leicas got a speed dial with one hole extra next to the hole for the 1/500 sec which made it possible to obtain a slit width of 1mm.

This part was called "perforated setting disk" or "Lochstellscheibe". In my original Leitz parts book from 1964 it was on all models the same, I, II, III, IIIa and IIIa syn. Part number was 42 480 132.

Erik.

[trevor432990]

Hi all ... my first post here and the first time I've owned a Leica since I became interested in photography 40+ years ago.

After overcoming my fear of being sold a fake version I've bought the following pictured camera which I'm pretty convinced is the real thing although I had some reservations to begin with as I wasn't aware then that factory conversions took place.

From my subsequent research and serial number 81803 checking I think it is a 1932 Leica II which has been converted to a Leica IIIa with flash sync being also added at some point.

It came with a 50mm Elmar f3.5 number 264753 which was made in 1935 if my reference source is accurate.

I'd be interested to hear from you if you think my conclusions are correct and I'd also like to know if you believe the conversions add or subtract to the value of the camera. Thanks in advance.

Trevor

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by trevor432990

From my subsequent research and serial number 81803 checking I think it is a 1932 Leica II which has been converted to a Leica IIIa with flash sync being also added at some point.

To me it looks like the real thing too. It has the earlier glossy accessory-shoe. The engraving of the word "Leica" is however quite weird. Can you make a close-up shot of that part?

Erik.

[trevor432990]

Here you go Erik. In what way is it weird?

Trevor

[Erik van Straten]

This engraving looks very odd to my eyes. There is no ball on the i in the word "Leica". The L of the word "Leica" is too big, as is the D.R.P. engraving.
"Ernst Leitz Wetzlar" looks more convincing.
Maybe the conversion is done by another Werkstatt. The camera itself looks genuine.

Erik.

[trevor432990]

OK thanks for confirming it looks genuine Erik. What do you think about conversions effect on value? If I came to sell it in the future should I advertise it as a Leica II or Leica IIIa Syn ?

Trevor

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by trevor432990

If I came to sell it in the future should I advertise it as a Leica II or Leica IIIa Syn ?

Trevor

No, you should advertise it as a Leica II converted into a Leica IIIa with a third party synch added.
A bit strange is the fact that the camera is in chrome, but the original Leica II was black. Usually converted cameras kept their original color.
I have no idea of it's value.

Erik.

[HuubL]

I've checked the engravings on a number of my old Barnacks and they are mostly all very similar but different from yours. The large L has a subtly different style, the staff of the "a" in Leica is too long. What Erik said, no dot on the i. The no sign seems incorrect, there should be a small lying line below a round o, the D in D.R.P. is too fat. In my camera's it is slimmer on the top than on the bottom. The middle horizontal line of the "E" in Ernst is too low, etc. The fonts are all more or less different from those of my Barnacks. I guess the engraving is not done by Leica, but the top housing looks correct though with the proper window frames and all. All in all an interesting conversion.

[trevor432990]

Thanks Erik and Huubl for some very interesting comments. My question about value was more general really I just wanted to know if anyone thought a converted Leica was less/more/equal in value to a non-converted model that's all?

Trevor

P.S. Huubl there is a small punched dot on a sketchy line under the 'o' already and looking at the 'E' under a magnifying glass I can see there is an impression slightly higher in the middle line but the engraver missed it so I guess that the engraver was new to the job or something so it's a bit unique I guess for the good or bad?

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Originally Posted by trevor432990

My question about value was more general really I just wanted to know if anyone thought a converted Leica was less/more/equal in value to a non-converted model that's all?

The ones I have seen on Ebay were valued higher and sold for higher prices than the regular Barnack Leica's although near mint early Barnack Leica's (mostly the ones with nickel fittings) do fetch higher prices. Further, the Leica factory conversions done after WWII provided the camera's with a somewhat bigger topcover (they provided room for the synchronized flash). So if yours is a conversion, it might be done before that period.

[trevor432990]

Originally Posted by Ron (Netherlands)

The ones I have seen on Ebay were valued higher and sold for higher prices than the regular Barnack Leica's although near mint early Barnack Leica's (mostly the ones with nickel fittings) do fetch higher prices. Further, the Leica factory conversions done after WWII provided the camera's with a somewhat bigger topcover (they provided room for the synchronized flash). So if yours is a conversion, it might be done before that period.

Thanks for the info Ron. Glad to hear conversions might be more valuable (fingers crossed) but I'm not sure if mine has nickel fittings although the film counter/rewind knob etc all look similar to the lens which definitely is nickel. Will have to try and find an old electronic flash which might work with the camera now.

Trevor

[Stuart John]

Here's mine. I believe according to the serial it was a 1938 Leica II that was converted to a IIIa sync. The chrome is slightly duller on the new rangefinder housing.



The elmar has the old sequence of numbers, the serial also lists as 1938.
I've wanted a Barnack for sometime and finally found one in my local camera store. The last one they had was over a year ago but I missed it as I was away on vacation. The camera is currently loaded with TriX that I will finish tomorrow and develop in the evening.