c-dub
Newbie
[FONT="]I have just inherited a very nice Leica IIIf with 50mm F:2.0 Summitar lens. I have no experience with old rangefinders (and not terribly much photo experience in general) but I’m excited to start learning.[/FONT]
[FONT="]I think there might be something wrong with this camera, though: at some shutter speeds, when I press the shutter release, I hear a very quiet click – and if I hold the shutter release down for a few seconds, and then let it up, I hear a very short whirr and a louder, more substantial click. This doesn’t happen at every shutter speed, though: at 1/200 at faster, I get what seems to me to be a “normal” click, but at all the slower shutter speeds (with the exception of 1/50) I get the two clicks: one when I press the shutter release, and another when I release it.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Can anyone tell me what’s going on? Is that normal? I’ve run a couple of rolls of film through the camera, but I haven’t developed them yet; I’m not sure I should bother, if it’s clear something is wrong.[/FONT]
[FONT="]I think there might be something wrong with this camera, though: at some shutter speeds, when I press the shutter release, I hear a very quiet click – and if I hold the shutter release down for a few seconds, and then let it up, I hear a very short whirr and a louder, more substantial click. This doesn’t happen at every shutter speed, though: at 1/200 at faster, I get what seems to me to be a “normal” click, but at all the slower shutter speeds (with the exception of 1/50) I get the two clicks: one when I press the shutter release, and another when I release it.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Can anyone tell me what’s going on? Is that normal? I’ve run a couple of rolls of film through the camera, but I haven’t developed them yet; I’m not sure I should bother, if it’s clear something is wrong.[/FONT]
The camera needs a CLA (Clean, Lube, Adjust). It is a mechanical camera, and is almost 60 years old. The lubricants dry up. Youxin Ye in the US is very reasonable and quick, has done my two Leica IIIf's. Other shops such as Essex, KEH, Golden Touch and others do fine work as well. Budget $90 to $150 depending where you go for a CLA.
On the rolls shot: those that you hear the two clicks on are probably over-exposed from the shutter "hanging". Those shot at higher speeds might be Okay.
On the rolls shot: those that you hear the two clicks on are probably over-exposed from the shutter "hanging". Those shot at higher speeds might be Okay.
martin_t
Established
It probably does need a CLA but you might check and make
sure the slow speed dial on the front is set to either 25 or
30 whenever using normal speeds.
sure the slow speed dial on the front is set to either 25 or
30 whenever using normal speeds.
Youxin is in China for a month, unfortunately. 
Steve M.
Veteran
Here's a link to an online manual.
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_if_iif_iiif/leica_if_iif_iiif.htm
It's free to download, but Dick asks if people download his manuals they would give him a $3.00 donation if they find it useful. He has an amazing amount of manuals. It's certainly worth $3.00, considering what they cost in printed form.
You may not have the slow speeds set correctly, as martin suggested. You can always take the lens off, fire the shutter (w/ no film in the camera of course), and watch how it's acting through the lens hole. If you were able to load a couple of rolls of film in it, congratulations. They are not the easiest cameras to load film in.
http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/leica_if_iif_iiif/leica_if_iif_iiif.htm
It's free to download, but Dick asks if people download his manuals they would give him a $3.00 donation if they find it useful. He has an amazing amount of manuals. It's certainly worth $3.00, considering what they cost in printed form.
You may not have the slow speeds set correctly, as martin suggested. You can always take the lens off, fire the shutter (w/ no film in the camera of course), and watch how it's acting through the lens hole. If you were able to load a couple of rolls of film in it, congratulations. They are not the easiest cameras to load film in.
c-dub
Newbie
stuck
stuck
Thanks for the great advice, everyone. The shutter is sticking: I removed the lens and saw that it hangs up with about 1/4" of film exposed, and only finishes its travel when I let up on the shutter release. So, I've started getting quotes for a CLA from a few different shops.
Thanks again for the help! I appreciate it very much.
stuck
Thanks for the great advice, everyone. The shutter is sticking: I removed the lens and saw that it hangs up with about 1/4" of film exposed, and only finishes its travel when I let up on the shutter release. So, I've started getting quotes for a CLA from a few different shops.
Thanks again for the help! I appreciate it very much.