Leica IIIF anyone?

02Pilot · Nov 20, 2015

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 · Nov 20, 2015

summicron1 said:
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 · Nov 20, 2015

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 · Nov 20, 2015

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 · Nov 20, 2015

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) · Nov 20, 2015

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 · Nov 20, 2015

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

Sirius Glass · Nov 20, 2015

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

No clue why it loaded upside down.

ColColt said:
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 · Nov 20, 2015

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

frank · Nov 20, 2015

Thanks for the mental pictures guys!

Sirius Glass · Nov 20, 2015

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

Besk · Nov 20, 2015

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 · Nov 20, 2015

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) · Nov 20, 2015

Bob Eskridge said:
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 · Nov 21, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
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 · Nov 21, 2015

John Koehrer said:
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 · Nov 22, 2015

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.

Leica IIIF anyone?

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