Leica IIIf - nothing stays in the cold shoe.

[Captain Slack]

I’ve had my Leica IIIf for awhile and I want to use it with a 35mm Summaron lens. Haven’t been able to so far because any VF (or flash) I put in the accessory shoe just falls out when I tilt the camera. The shoe itself is a bit worn, but I don’t why it isn’t holding anything in place. Any ideas on what I should do? I could use some electrical tape, but that looks rather tacky on such a nice camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

As you suspected the shoe is worn. Consider putting on a thin piece of plastic on the underside of the flanges or on the two worn pads. See if the two pads have springs that can have padding added underneath.

 

[KN4SMF]

Take it off and do a wee bit of bending on either it or the 2 springs, as you study it to formulate your needed course of action . It would't take much. No big deal.

 

[BAC1967]

You could replace it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mint-Leica...722622?hash=item3d90587a3e:g:IVwAAOSwnVBdGUDV

 

[Captain Slack]

You could replace it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mint-Leica...722622?hash=item3d90587a3e:g:IVwAAOSwnVBdGUDV

Oh, thank you! This is probably the way to go.

Now let’s see if I can get the screws out without stripping them.

 

[removed account4]

Oh, thank you! This is probably the way to go.

Now let’s see if I can get the screws out without stripping them.

Overman >>> getting your camera ready for XDAY I see!

Praise BOB !
inSlack
J

 

[AgX]

Now let’s see if I can get the screws out without stripping them.

Getting/making perfectly fitting screwdrivers is the first endeavour of the budding camera repairer...

 

[KN4SMF]

I cringe to think about it. Working on cameras is way more than getting a dollar store set of small screwdrivers.

 

[__Brian]

I find Wiha screwdrivers to be very good, have never broken one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wiha-26090...743397&hash=item4d3b99b0e6:g:p20AAOSweuxWTiN9

It might be worthwhile to clean around the screws with alcohol or nail polish remover on a QTip before unscrewing. Dirt and grime can act as glue.

 

[guangong]

I simply insert a thin piece of paper along with the finder to keep it in place whenever I use it. Haven’t lost a finder yet. Even use 50mm finder on sm cameras unless going ultra compact. Leitz accessory bracket never as refined as the Zeiss when these cameras were new, but then Leicas were a lot less expensive than Contaxes.
Removing bracket to adjust seems to be a bit of overkill.
Whatever you choose to do, you will enjoy your lense.

 

[mshchem]

I simply insert a thin piece of paper along with the finder to keep it in place whenever I use it. Haven’t lost a finder yet. Even use 50mm finder on sm cameras unless going ultra compact. Leitz accessory bracket never as refined as the Zeiss when these cameras were new, but then Leicas were a lot less expensive than Contaxes.
Removing bracket to adjust seems to be a bit of overkill.
Whatever you choose to do, you will enjoy your lense.

+1 I've used thin plastic shims as well.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Getting/making perfectly fitting screwdrivers is the first endeavour of the budding camera repairer...

Exactly.
And in this instance realising that there is a spring missing or damaged in the shoe will help too.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I cringe to think about it. Working on cameras is way more than getting a dollar store set of small screwdrivers.

There are infinite ways to botch a project.
Most of them are illustrated on yootoob.
There is very little anent turnscrews (on yootoob).

 

[StepheKoontz]

I find Wiha screwdrivers to be very good, have never broken one.

I bought a set of these before I started working on my nicer cameras. They are great!

 

[AgX]

Problem with the Wiha ones is that the blade models often do not fit good enough slits of slit screws found at cameras. The same for other makes.

 

[John Koehrer]

Micro-tools carries JIS crosspoint screwdriver blades but the Canon in question isn't likely to have any
crosspoint screws.

 

[tezzasmall]

The following set of screwdrivers were recommended to myself and I got myself a set. They are EXCELLENT and a great investment!!!

Previous screws on cameras that I had tried to turn using 'watchmaker' screwdrivers without success, turned first time with these.

I and others highly recommend them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bessel-VES...024&pg=2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Terry S