Accessory shoe on a IIIa - should it be sprung?

[rogerzilla]

I find it difficult to use an accessory VF on my IIIa because there is apparently no spring to keep it in place. Is this normal? My IIIc and IIf have springs (of different designs, but they work).

 

[jmcd]

What you have is normal for the IIIa. Versions on later cameras were improved, as you noted.

My IIIa shoe is oversized a bit, but by placing a small strip of blue painter's tape on the "insole" my finders hold snugly in place.

 

[FrankS]

Does your camera's hotshoe have split top rails which should push down on the shoe of an accessory and hold it in place?

 

[kully]

What jmcd said - they were not sprung.

For my IIIa (which was FrankS's a long time ago, if I remember right), I just pop in a little scrap of paper under the finder - problem solved.

 

[FrankS]

I remember that Kully. I bought that camera for the lens that came with it, a Nikkor 50f2. Sold the lens later too.

 

[rogerzilla]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think the IIIa is the best looking of the III series, but it has a couple of disadvantages as a "user", this being one of them. The other is the off-centre frames on the film (well covered in another thread).

 

[peterm1]

This is a bit of a disadvantage both ways. I have a 111a like this (love it but am selling to finance another aquisition) One thing I have found is that the lack of spring means it can be a bit loose with some accessory "feet" but also it can be a bit tight with others which as a result do not fit. Having springs means a bit more "give" so those shoes will accept a wider array of accessory feet sizes. But the 111a is lovely in proportions and quite good in function. Mine is clean clean clean, hardly appearing to have had use - which is unusual for these. Also it was clearly sent back to Leica at some stage of its life to be upgraded. It now has the 111f "collar" around the shutter speed dial (which is larger like the 111f) and a flash sync port. The collar allows you to set the delay on the flash firing designed for different chemical flashes which had different burn times. Also its standard Elmar 50 which has a 1936 serial number has been coated. All in all a great little camera. If by chance I hit my $A target (I have several things on sale) without selling this I will not be displeased.

 

[Rico]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think the IIIa is the best looking of the III series, ...

In terms of appearance, I almost completely agree except the IIIb is even a tiny bit more beautiful. 🙂 Together, they share those bevelled lines on the top deck - a design element unique in the Barnack realm. The diopter tab (shared with the wartime IIIc) is both pretty and easy to use. Note the spring-loaded shoe on the IIIb:

​

 

[rogerzilla]

I'm not sure about the siamesed RF and VF with its black (looks like plastic) surround. I agrees that the diopter compensation lever on the II-IIIa tends to get in the way if you actually use it, but I don't.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Are you using an Imarect (VIOOH) finder on your IIIa? If so, you can adjust the finder shoe itself to fit tighter in the camera shoe mount. One of the 'feet' on the shoe has a little split in it -- just stick a little knife in the split and gradually work it a bit wider. It will then fit tighter. Of course, if you're using a plastic finder, this suggestion probably won't help!

 

[David Hughes]

You naughty, naughty boys; IIIa's do not have accessory shoes but they do have accessory clips...

Regards, David