Leica IIIF anyone?

[02Pilot]

If you just trim the leaders in advance, it's simple and requires no tricks. Slip the tip of the leader into the take-up spool and slide the whole thing into the camera. Wind the rewind knob backward until you feel tension, then look inside to make sure the sprocket wheel has engaged the film properly. Lock the bottom plate on and you're done.

 

[James Page]

the leica lenses made in the 50s will not perform on an optical bench as well as modern lenses.

However, since you do not take pictures on an optical bench, you can use those lenses with complete confidence that your images will have the same qualities that made Leica famous. They are wonderful lenses, usually very compact, well-made, a delight to use.

Well said. You may also think about the VC 35 2.5 in ltm, which I use and love on my iiif and iiig. Very modern high contrast rendering, very sharp, compact, excellent value. As for a 50, a good copy of a jupiter 8, properly shimmed, is an excellent option.

 

[ColColt]

I guess you have to be a true aficionado of the legend of Leica to enjoy a camera like this. I do love the looks and history but what a pain it seems to load and operate and there's no film advance lever like we're all use to. I'd rather stick to the M versions for the simplicity.

 

[Jon Buffington]

I picked up a IIIf BD w/ summitar this summer. A one owner camera bought by a US serviceman after WWII in Europe. I am really enjoying this thing and even used it for a few rolls of B&W at a wedding I shot a month or so ago. It is a joy to handle and fills my fancy while I await my CL overhaul.

hp5+, iiif, hc110 dil H, scan

triX, iiif, hc110, scan (both with summitar)

 

[frank]

Film loading IS more fiddly than on rear door cameras but unless you're doing it while running for cover in a war zone, it doesn't really matter. Most of us still use manual exposure and focus cameras when fully auto ones are available. That's about the size of the difference.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I have a IIIf, M2 and MP. The M's certainly have their benefits over the III but the smaller size and 30% less weight just makes the III better camera to carry under some circumstances. Certainly much more pocketable with the collapsable Summitar.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[frank]

Agree with Richard. The screw mount bodies beg for a collapsible 50mm lens to take advantage of their main strength: compactness.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My screw mount poison comes in the form of a llla.

No clue why it loaded upside down.

How about this...straightened it up a bit.

image by David Fincher, on Flickr

Much better. I do not have to be upside down in the chair.

 

[ColColt]

I got a "crick" in my neck trying to view it! It sure is a nice one.

 

[frank]

Thanks for the mental pictures guys!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Think nothing of it, we did not need to think to come up with those mental pictures. We are mental.

 

[Besk]

The IIIf RD is my travel camera. I use it with a Voigtlander 28/3.5 and either a 50/3.5 Elmar or Voigtlander 50/2.5. Light, compact and quiet.
Spent 2 1/2 weeks in Eastern Europe this summer with it.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Has anyone used the numbered flash dial on their Leica? Although I've never used flash in any of my photography, somehow this little ring dial is cool. There's no reason it couldn't be used for fill flash.

Anyone use the self timer and slow speeds? I look for opportunities to use those features.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

The IIIf RD is my travel camera. I use it with a Voigtlander 28/3.5 and either a 50/3.5 Elmar or Voigtlander 50/2.5. Light, compact and quiet.
Spent 2 1/2 weeks in Eastern Europe this summer with it.

Any photos to share?

 

[John Koehrer]

Has anyone used the numbered flash dial on their Leica? Although I've never used flash in any of my photography, somehow this little ring dial is cool. There's no reason it couldn't be used for fill flash.

Anyone use the self timer and slow speeds? I look for opportunities to use those features.

Actually there is, The dial is to set the delay for flash so early or late would give you a partial frame.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Actually there is, The dial is to set the delay for flash so early or late would give you a partial frame.

So, as long as the shutter is fully open (I assume 1/30 or slower), then I can use flash, right? What determines the number on the red/black dial to use? Is it for "FP" flash only?

I guess you can tell I've never used flash in 50 years...

 

[tessar]

I use electronic flash with my black-dial IIIf all the time. According to the official chart, the sync-delay on a black-dial IIIf should be set at 2; on a red-dial IIIf, set at 20.