Leica IIIF

cliveh · Jun 1, 2023

Could someone enlighten me as to how the flash synchro dial works on this camera. It is the dial beneath the shutter speed dial, with numbers 0 - 20.

Mr Flibble · Jun 1, 2023

If I recall correctly:
It functions as the flash delay, there is a table in the manual for it, for specific bulbs and shutter speed combinations.
For electronic flashes it should be set to 0

Check Page 38:

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_if_iif_iiif.pdf

Ballinderry-Michael · Jun 1, 2023

Clive, this is part of page 437 of Andrew Matheson The Leica way, 6th ed., London 1963. It contains everything you should need to know.

cliveh · Jun 1, 2023

Ballinderry-Michael said:
Clive, this is part of page 437 of Andrew Matheson The Leica way, 6th ed., London 1963. It contains everything you should need to know.

Thanks Mr Flibble and Michael, I have the 7th ed of this book, but still don't understand how it works.

awty · Jun 1, 2023

Mr Flibble said:
If I recall correctly:
It functions as the flash delay, there is a table in the manual for it, for specific bulbs and shutter speed combinations.
For electronic flashes it should be set to 0

Check Page 38:

https://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_if_iif_iiif.pdf

Yes its just a delay for using different flash bulbs.

Ballinderry-Michael · Jun 2, 2023

I do very little flash; but I use the 1/25" and 0 setting and get my aperture from the individual flash manual. To be honest, I've never considered the "delay" aspect (but then I haven't used a Leica with flash bulbs, only electronic.)

Marcelo Paniagua · Jun 2, 2023

Remember this was used specifically for bulb flash. Those had a small delay to get to "full" brightnest, so to speak, thus it needed a certain adjustment between triggering the shutter and triggering the flash so your shutter exposed when the bulb was at the correct brightnest stage.

Don_ih · Jun 2, 2023

Using a flash is a good way to see that your shutter is not accurate - at least it was with my IIIf.

cliveh · Jun 2, 2023

But what do the numbers 0 to 20 stand for? Are they a delay in seconds?

Marcelo Paniagua · Jun 2, 2023

I could explain it but I think Ken Rockwell would do a better job at this:

Leica IIIf

Got to "The "f" in IIIf stands for flash" section

You could adjust the delay so you would have sync on different speeds. One day I may look for bulbs and try this.

Leica IIIf where wondeful cameras at its time (still are).

Marcelo

cliveh · Jun 2, 2023

Marcelo Paniagua said:
I could explain it but I think Ken Rockwell would do a better job at this:

Leica IIIf

Got to "The "f" in IIIf stands for flash" section

You could adjust the delay so you would have sync on different speeds. One day I may look for bulbs and try this.

Leica IIIf where wondeful cameras at its time (still are).

Marcelo

Thanks for that link and guess without reading a flashbulb box the numbers are meaningless.

JerseyDoug · Jun 2, 2023

cliveh said:
Thanks for that link and guess without reading a flashbulb box the numbers are meaningless.

No need to read a flashbulb box. The numbers in the X column of the table indicate the necessary setting when using a non-delayed electronic flash at the shutter speeds shown.

(Delayed electronic flashes were an early solution for use on cameras that only synchronized with flashbulbs otherwise. I've never seen one in real life.)

Marcelo Paniagua · Jun 2, 2023

I do have a Leica Flash CEYOO but never actually used a flash with the IIIf (even an electronic one). I guess it would be fun to try to use it just for the fun of it. I think I may have a bulb or two around.

Ballinderry-Michael · Jun 2, 2023

Clive, if you find the equivalent page to my photo in your edition of Matheson and then look at the previous page, you will see detailed tables for a lot of the bulbs current at that time. At the bottom of those tables is one for electronic flash units. Matheson gives four "classes"; but they are now superseded, basically because (if your IIIf has the red dial) you have just two options, 1/25 and 0 or 1/50 and 20. Set your camera with one of those options and let your electronic unit's instructions take care of the rest. If you still have bulbs and plan to use them, then of course there's rather a lot more to take into account; but the book may help.

and what Doug says in post 12. Marcelo, electronic flash with a IIIf is fun, I assure you!

Leica IIIF

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