Possibly My Favorite Rangefinder? Konica IIIA

Colorado CJ · Nov 20, 2017

I just picked up an immaculate Konica IIIA. I've been looking for one for some time. Either they were pretty beat up, or price plus shipping was too high. I finally found one in excellent condition and it arrived Saturday.

It looks GREAT, but there was a problem. Shutter speeds were all over the place. Yesterday I took the lens assembly and shutter apart for a thorough cleaning. What surprised me when I took it apart, was that I found an extra leaf in the shutter. There were six shutter leaves with only room for five. Two shutter leaves must have been stuck together when this one was built at the factory.

After a good few hours of soaking in naptha, the shutter assembly was as clean as new. After putting everything back together, now all the shutter speeds are accurate.

For a camera this old, it is in like new condition. I wonder if that extra shutter leaf made this camera not work correctly so it was relegated to a shelf some where. It certainly looks like it didn't get much use.

And yes, the rangefinder is HUGE, BRIGHT and a pleasure to look through.

I've loaded it up with some film and will be shooting a roll or two today. I'll post back once I get some shots with it.

Oh, and this one has the nice 50mm 1.8 Hexanon lens.

What a beauty. Probably one of the nicest looking rangefinders I've seen.

Konica IIIA by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIA 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIA 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

macfred · Nov 20, 2017

Your Konica IIIA is a beauty - I have a III with the Hexanon 48mm f/2 from 1956 - love it !!

Konica IIIMFX - Rangefinder 1956 by Andreas, on Flickr

Helios 1984 · Nov 20, 2017

The Konica IIIA is equipped with a Seikosha-MXL leaf shutter, same as my Topcon 35-L. The 6th blades is there to secure the others, it goes at the same spot as the 1st blade you installed but on top.

Ko.Fe. · Nov 20, 2017

Both are lovely! I like they have focus lever.

Colorado CJ · Nov 20, 2017

Helios 1984 said:
The Konica IIIA is equipped with a Seikosha-MXL leaf shutter, same as my Topcon 35-L. The 6th blades is there to secure the others, it goes at the same spot as the 1st blade you installed but on top.

That's good to know. Looks like I'll be breaking it down again and adding the additional leaf.

Helios 1984 · Nov 20, 2017

Colorado CJ said:
That's good to know. Looks like I'll be breaking it down again and adding the additional leaf.

Have fun

Ps: Beautifull camera.

GRHazelton · Nov 20, 2017

I also have a Konica IIIa. Love it! The viewfinder is fabulous, 1 to 1 and parallax and field change correction. Leica doesn't have the field change correction! My ever ready case is pretty rough, but it protected the camera which is virtually pristine.

Chrismat · Nov 20, 2017

They are beautiful cameras. I had one once, I'd like to get another one some day.

hashtagquack · Nov 20, 2017

Absolutely agree, a fantastically underrated RF. Have one with the 50mm F1.8 and adore it and I'm sure you will too! Attached a photo below taken with the iiiA. Apologies for the low quality. Couldnt figure out what the max file upload limit was so have resorted to attaching a screenshot which seems to have done the trick.

Out of curiosity OP were you able to locate the RF adjustment screw under the top plate. I had assumed it was accessible under the cover next to the viewfinder on the rear however the screw that is beneath that cover doesnt appear to be accessible, at least on my copy...

rgeorge911 · Nov 20, 2017

Lovely beast! I have the later Konica S16, and am always amazed at the color and sharpness it produces.

Trask · Nov 20, 2017

I've got the IIIa with 1.8 lens -- it's probably the quietest camera I own, especially after I sent it to Greg Weber for a CLA. I also asked him to de-link the f/stop and shutter speed rings so they could move independently without have to pull a ring backwards to manually de-link -- I always needed to take the camera from my eye to visually determine what I was moving or not moving. The black plastic frame on the rear viewfinder window is missing, but that's not a problem. Attached is a photo of downtown Riyadh at night, and another of me peeking at the lens to really make sure it was operating -- that's how quiet it is!

Colorado CJ · Nov 20, 2017

Well, I shot a short roll of some expired Fuji Superia 100 I use when I test cameras.

I also took it back apart and installed the sixth shutter leaf.

Loaded up some Tech Pan to shoot tomorrow.

I might have some photos to share tomorrow evening if I end up developing them.

Kodachromeguy · Nov 21, 2017

That IIIA: what a gorgeous camera. What does the big lever next to the lens do? Is it to cock the shutter and wind the film??

GRHazelton · Nov 21, 2017

Kodachromeguy said:
That IIIA: what a gorgeous camera. What does the big lever next to the lens do? Is it to cock the shutter and wind the film??

Yep! Also makes a good conversational icebreaker. The sheer mass of the cameras makes it a good skullbreaker, should self-defense be needed. I scored the original lens cap ;with my IIIa, would love to find the original lens hood. Ah well, the "joys" of collecting. Do know that I collect only users, no shelf queens.

Lee Rust · Nov 21, 2017

I recently picked up a Konica III and am surprised to find that the front winder works really well. There's no need to shift your grip between shots.

macfred · Nov 21, 2017

A few photographs with my Konica III ...

Citroën HY - rolling snackbar - 4 by Andreas, on Flickr

untitled (re-uploaded = for the sake of completeness) by Andreas, on Flickr

Portrait Josef by Andreas, on Flickr

Over the rooftops by Andreas, on Flickr

Rest in Peace - Hoesch (Dortmund - Hörde) by Andreas, on Flickr

fly fishing - no.2 by Andreas, on Flickr

Veneer by Andreas, on Flickr

Helios 1984 · Nov 21, 2017

macfred said:
A few photographs with my Konica III ...

Rest in Peace - Hoesch (Dortmund - Hörde) by Andreas, on Flickr

This one has a Charles Sheeler wave.

TheRook · Nov 21, 2017

The Konica IIIA certainly is an attractive camera, but it doesn't really look very comfortable to hold and handle... an unusual amount of protruding edges, corners and pins on that thing.

John Wiegerink · Nov 25, 2017

I owned a Konica III and IIIA w/meter, but liked the III better. I used to have an ad for the Konica III and it was a close-up of the front of the camera and its gorgeous 48mm f2 lens. I believe thee ad read "The lens alone is worth the price" and they were right. When you pick one of these up you think "wow" this thing is built and feels "Leica" quality. Very nice cameras!

John Wiegerink · Nov 25, 2017

TheRook said:
The Konica IIIA certainly is an attractive camera, but it doesn't really look very comfortable to hold and handle... an unusual amount of protruding edges, corners and pins on that thing.

Much better than you think. Cocking lever falls in place just perfect as does the focus knob. I do wish the focus knob were just a little larger, but it is fine the way it is.

AgX · Nov 25, 2017

I was completely unaware of this model.
Most interesting I find details as the design of the transport lever and the rewind crank.

Though I may question its ergonomics: the change between advancing and focusing.

GRHazelton · Nov 25, 2017

AgX said:
I was completely unaware of this model.
Most interesting I find details as the design of the transport lever and the rewind crank.

Though I may question its ergonomics: the change between advancing and focusing.

The IIIa's ergonomics are surpassed by those of the Voigtlander Vitessa L. With the Vitessa the right thumb focuses with a wheel on the back panel and the right index finger - or another finger of your choice! - actuates the shutter with a button in the usual place. Film advance is via a plunger on the left of the top plate. Very convenient! But I gather that repairs on the plunger mechanism are a horror show. As is rangefinder work.... And why does it have a fully removable back? One more thing to juggle! While the Vitessa L does have a parallax compensating viewfinder, the IIIa's surpasses it, as it does virtually any other RF camera. I own both, and would part with neither.

Colorado CJ · Nov 25, 2017

Yup, I have both the Vitessa L and this new IIIa.

I'm not sure which I like better yet. Both are jewel-like in their quality and design. Both have EXCELLENT lenses (I have the Ultron 50mm F2 on the Vitessa L).

I won't be parting with either.

Colorado CJ · Nov 25, 2017

I shot a short roll of Technical Pan through the camera to test it out. Last night I developed the Tech Pan in Rodinal at 1:150 for 7 minutes. Tech Pan has to be the flattest film in existence, it is so easy to scan.

As you can see from the photos, it looks like the camera works just right. That lens is also extremely sharp!

Anyway here are the scans. I didn't have to touch the contrast, it was perfect right from the straight scan. I scan my B&W in color and use the color adjustment dropper to give a little sepia look to the negative. Tech Pan has to be one of my favorite films, grainless, sharp and just the right contrast. I'm going to be unhappy when I run out of this bulk roll.

Konica IIIa Test 1 - Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIa Test 2 - Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIa Test 3 - Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIa Test 4 - Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIa Test 5 - Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Konica IIIa Test 6- Technical Pan by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

darinwc · Nov 25, 2017

Lovely shots. Konica did make rock solid cameras. I have a Konica I, ii, and III.
Very interesting to see the progression.

The one thing I don't care for on the iii/iiia, is the force required to press the lever. It is a double stroke, and a fairly long stroke. There must be a strong return spring. Shooting through a roll quickly must cause some finger cramps.

Possibly My Favorite Rangefinder? Konica IIIA

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