S.H.
Picture taker
Pure Wetzlar : Leicaflex SL + 60 Macro / Fomapan 100 / Caffenol stand / printed in 24x30 RC with a Focotar 2.
s_zemliakov
Member
Hello everybody, I've got this Leica IIIa (supposedly), that came in a lot with other cameras, strange thing about it is the unusually high serial number,
the smaller shutter speeds dial if compared to other IIIa's, and the lack of 1/1000 speed.
Could anyone help me with identifying this anomaly?
Dralowid
Michael
Well, 1/500 and separate viewfinder and rangefinder make it a III. It certainly looks like a normal III.
The number, 628453 is apparently for a IIIf from 1952/1953 which it certainly isn't.
Change the 6 at the beginning of the serial number to a I and you get 128453 which is a chrome III from 1934 which is exactly what it looks like.
The number, 628453 is apparently for a IIIf from 1952/1953 which it certainly isn't.
Change the 6 at the beginning of the serial number to a I and you get 128453 which is a chrome III from 1934 which is exactly what it looks like.
nhchen
Nathan
There’s no little step where the viewfinder is, which makes me think it could be based on a Soviet copy.
s_zemliakov
Member
Just noticed this, I think you are right! Maybe the top got damaged at some point and someone replaced it with a Fed/Zorki one. Still the engraving looks not done too badly considering the quality of other Leica copies out there
s_zemliakov
Member
Another photo of this FrankenLeica, mounted the Industar to test it with some film.
Dralowid
Michael
I missed this in the first picture. The viewfinder frame does indeed look Russian but the viewfinder/rangefinder bezels look Leitz.
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
Also, the only Soviet camera to have a slow speed dial on the front was the Zorki 3, which - like all Zorkis - had the internal thread for a cable release, not the Leica/Nikon external thread.
It does look like someone's put a Zorki VF/RF cover onto an otherwise entirely Leitz-made camera and given it a very weird serial number. Very odd.
It does look like someone's put a Zorki VF/RF cover onto an otherwise entirely Leitz-made camera and given it a very weird serial number. Very odd.
Dralowid
Michael
and judging by the bow in the top cover beween the finder windows it didn't fit that well.
dab
Electromagnetic waves sensor
Got a nice Leica I from 1930 converted to IIf in 1952, according to Leica records. No other details available from the company records. It needs work, the shutter switch is slowly returns to normal position after firing the shutter.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Is it still Leica I size? I notice the blanking plate for the slow speeds which suggests a real IIf body but the rangefinder/viewfinder arrangement is clearly the II/III/IIIa version. I don’t know much about conversions so maybe I’m missing something obvious.
I have a black II from 1932 with a 1.5x dioptre which couldn’t be original. Leica’s only record has it going back to the factory in 1958 so I suppose that is when it was done but if so it is strange it didn't get the same treatment (it apparently got a lovely new bottom plate however).
dab
Electromagnetic waves sensor
It is definitely IIF size case with nickel parts from I. Same size as my chrome IIf from 1955 and it has rangefinder magnification.
Dralowid
Michael
This is known as a II syn (see factory price list at beginning of this thread)
As the years went by Leitz stopped manufacture of new ltm body shells without the slow speed dial location. Hence the blanking plate in its place similar to a IIf.
As the years went by Leitz stopped manufacture of new ltm body shells without the slow speed dial location. Hence the blanking plate in its place similar to a IIf.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
This is clearly not totally a factory conversion, it is 1490xx which makes it a chrome III but it is a black one; however I am more intrigued by the sockets. They are a dead short and I presume they are not coaxial; any idea what I may find underneath? Has anyone seen similar?
Phil
Phil
Attachments
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
My first thought is that it reminds me a bit of the connector for a CEYOO flash cable:
However, one of these pins is wider than the other to ensure it's not inserted the wrong way around. Doesn't seem like that's the case on your Leica III.
However, one of these pins is wider than the other to ensure it's not inserted the wrong way around. Doesn't seem like that's the case on your Leica III.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Are they not ASA flash connections?
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Yes a double plug was my thought, but how can there be a wrong way round if you are just shorting two pins? However as it is permanently shorted it’s obviously not working. I need to do a curtain change anyway (this is one in the queue before the Leotax) but I was wondering if I would disturb something I couldn't repair. I will probably just remove them and patch (badly). I’m pretty sure the black is a factory job though.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Thanks for the suggestion, I didn’t know these but it seems they were mainly used in the US. I looked them up and landed on:
It seems close but without measurements it’s tricky. I will measure mine.
Dralowid
Michael
I can't double check your serial number but it looks like it is black with nickel knobs and correct Woods metal style lettering. This really doesn't look like a conversion from chrome to me.
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Hi, I totally agree, but the number 149044 puts it in the 1935 chrome batch from 148951 to 149350 which confuses me. I haven’t written to Leica about this one as I try to space my requests. It came with an unnumbered 7 o’cock nickel 50mm lens but who knows if that is original. Both have “O”. To me it looks original black but pretty battered!
