This is a long one. Be warned.

[Gatsby1923]

OK well I am not a huge 35mm shooter. I shoot mostly Large Format, but have always liked rangefinders. I have a few Russian ones and nearly bought a Bessa R last year. Well as fate would have it my 12 year old cousin was given a d*g*t@l “Leica” a few months ago… That did it… I wanted a “real” Leica…

Yes I am 27 and jealous of a kid’s camera brand…

Fast forward to the other week; Adorama had a IIIc W/ 50mm Elmar in E+… I ordered it but Sukos came up so it is still pending…

Bummed my IIIC was not here I was on the KEH website and saw a IIIf Black Dial body for $224… I did some Over Time and ordered it from KEH… It arrived this afternoon. For some thing listed as bargain it looks almost new (that’s why I LOVE KEH.)
Compared to my FED 3 or Zorki 4 it handles like a dream… Like the difference between an old Chevy and an Audi at 85 MPH… Tomorrow I will shoot my first roll of film with it. No Lietz Lenses yet but I have a nice Jupiter 12 and Leitz Universal Finder.

So I am as kiddy as a schoolboy

 

[zenrhino]

Yay for the new III, but my first thought was "Who on earth would buy a 12 year old a new Leica???"

 

[Gatsby1923]

... but my first thought was "Who on earth would buy a 12 year old a new Leica???"

A Lucky Kid...

That is what I first thought. But their low end digi isn't even close to an MP or M8 in price... Though my IIIf will outlast it by 50 years and cost less.

 

[eli griggs]

Nice camera, did KEH send a manual as well?
Post pics soon.

Eli

 

[removed account4]

pssst.
the leica is a panasonic

the leica is a leica

great work david!
i love keh too

-john

 

[mabman]

Good find. So far my success rate with KEH's bargain cameras is 50% - I bought 2 Pentax ME Supers (couldn't beat the price, figured why not have a spare), one of which works just fine out of the box, the other needed an extensive overhaul.

Not complaining though - it *was* clearly labeled as bargain, and even with a shutter and mode selector switch replacement it was still less than $200 (and now it's warrantied locally).

I also have a couple of FSU rangefinders, and would love to have an actual Leica - have to keep my eyes open at KEH I guess

 

[Gatsby1923]

I have had pretty good luck with Bargain items at KEH. I wish they had better photos though. I bought some Bargain lenses that where almost like new, some with minor wear and some that looked like they dropped off the back of a truck. The glass was never terrible but everything else looked worn. I have only purchased one other body from KEH that was bargain and that also was pretty good. AND unlike Ebay I can easily return some thing that I feel was not as described.

Keh didn’t send me the manual but I have it as a PDF file and I printed it up at work. If anyone needs a IIIf Manual I will send the PDF your way.

I still like my FSU Rangefinders but…. The Leica is a lot nicer.

 

[Woolliscroft]

I hope you enjoy it. I got a IIIa in a charity shop a couple of years ago for £15 (about $30). I really got it as an ornament as I didn't expect it to work properly at that price, but a check up at my local Leica dealer showed it to be light tight and with rangefinder and shutter speeds bang on, and it now gets a lot of use. I find my modern MP a lot faster to load, but otherwise its a little gem and fits perfectly in a coat pocket.

David.