Leica LTM Advice for a new Leica III owner?

[TheMapleLeafForever]

It should fit alright, but....
The EFGOO is designed for the wartime IIIc series and newer models.
The bodies of these cameras measure 5mm wider from strap lug to strap lug than the IIIa, due to the reinforced shutter crate design.

Thanks Rick. Are the straps separate from the EFGOO case or attached? I can't tell 100% from pictures I seen so far.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I don't have one, so can't really say. But from the images (on Worthpoint) it looks like the strap is just passed through the leather loops and can be removed from the case. (Unless there's something like a buckle at both ends of the strap that we can't see, preventing it from passing through the loops.)

 

[Richard G]

Welcome and congratulations. I'm impressed with the homework you've done on Erik's and Lynn's photos. Hope to see some of yours here too. Vivat RFF. We will need more new members like you.

 

[Dralowid]

I would be very wary of old leather cases, however good they may look

1) The straps break (obvious I know) as do the loops on the case

2) Storage in leather does nasty things to the surface of the camera, this can be particularly bad on black cameras (but then one assumes they have been in their cases for decades). Something to do with residues from the tanning process, moisture etc.

3) In extreme cases the rivets holding loops come apart.

EFGOO might be the one where the strap ends are riveted to the case.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Welcome and congratulations. I'm impressed with the homework you've done on Erik's and Lynn's photos. Hope to see some of yours here too. Vivat RFF. We will need more new members like you.

Thanks Richard!

I got four rolls to process and haven't been able to do so yet cause of COVID. It is quite amazing to be using a Leica 62 years older than me! Older than most of my grandparents actually.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

I would be very wary of old leather cases, however good they may look

1) The straps break (obvious I know) as do the loops on the case

2) Storage in leather does nasty things to the surface of the camera, this can be particularly bad on black cameras (but then one assumes they have been in their cases for decades). Something to do with residues from the tanning process, moisture etc.

3) In extreme cases the rivets holding loops come apart.

EFGOO might be the one where the strap ends are riveted to the case.

A very sage warning, thank you. I thought the same and initially got a half case made in China by Mr Zhou. But recently I have been attracted to the EFGOO cases again because they protect the lens as well. I wish someone made a modern equivalent!

 

[Dralowid]

Having said all that I have been known to use an old case but have the strap attached to camera and not case.

This is easier if you have an old 'short' camera and a newer 'long' case. Alternatively one can cut away a case to expose the camera lugs.

Old normal cases are cheap!

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Having said all that I have been known to use an old case but have the strap attached to camera and not case.

This is easier if you have an old 'short' camera and a newer 'long' case. Alternatively one can cut away a case to expose the camera lugs.

Old normal cases are cheap!

I was thinking about that. I wasn't going to trust the old straps in any case. I just wonder if it'd work for something like the EFGOO. Tamarkin has one on sale, I'll maybe ask about that.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Just got my Leica dated. It was delivered on March 31, 1937. Leica is unsure of the recipient's name since they cannot read the writing very well. Anyone have a clue?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Thanks Richard!

I got four rolls to process and haven't been able to do so yet cause of COVID. It is quite amazing to be using a Leica 62 years older than me! Older than most of my grandparents actually.

I have a 1928 Leica I that is older than my mother who is still with us, thank goodness. My mother is from 1929 and my Leica from 1928.

Erik.

 

[cassel]

No, there is no SBOOI equivalent from the 1930's. These mirrored finders seem to be a post war invention.

But there is the Zeiss Ikon 433/24. It is a bit dim, but it is the only prewar precursor of the Leitz bright line finders. There are different models. I have a black and nickel one with only one frame, 5cm. These were made for the Contax I and II. They fit the Leicas II and III, but setting the speed becomes very difficult then. You can focus without problems however.

Erik.

Erik-
Do you have any pictures of the 433/24 on a Leica II or III ? Do you think the shoe mounting screws could be altered/customized to be offset for a better fit on the Leica (not block the shutter speed dial)?
-Dave

 

[Erik van Straten]

Erik-
Do you have any pictures of the 433/24 on a Leica II or III ? Do you think the shoe mounting screws could be altered/customized to be offset for a better fit on the Leica (not block the shutter speed dial)?
-Dave

I don't think it is possible. Maybe you can find spacers, so the 433/24 is positioned higher. Maybe you can make something like that yourself. But I've never heard of it. Maybe there is a bracket for a flash that can be used. But I think it is easier and better to get a SBOOI.


Erik.

 

[cassel]

I don't think it is possible. Maybe you can find spacers, so the 433/24 is positioned higher. Maybe you can make something like that yourself. But I've never heard of it. Maybe there is a bracket for a flash that can be used. But I think it is easier and better to get a SBOOI.


Erik.

Makes sense... those black paint Zeiss finders are just so cool looking-
What if my existing SBOOI does NOT fit in the shoe of my new III ? It's TOO tight ...fits fine on my II 😡

And my VC 35mm brightline finder fits fine on the II and the III ...😱

Should I buy another SBOOI on the chance another one will work?

 

[Erik van Straten]

With a screwdriver you can bend out the shoe. Just a tiny little bit. Protect the shoe with a piece of innertube. Be very careful. If the shoe is too wide, put a piece of thin, but solid black plastic under the foot of the finder. The viewfinder then clamps itself.


Erik.

 

[cassel]

With a screwdriver you can bend out the shoe. Just a tiny little bit. Protect the shoe with a piece of innertube. Be very careful. If the shoe is too wide, put a piece of thin, but solid black plastic under the foot of the finder. The viewfinder then clamps itself.


Erik.

Makes me nervous😱 The finder starts to slide in just a few mm and then it is too tight -careful bending probably would work...

 

[Erik van Straten]

Put some grease on the foot, ballbearing grease. Then hold the camera firmly and push with two thumbs. Push the foot, not the finder.

Erik.

 

[TheMapleLeafForever]

Push the foot, not the finder.

Erik.

Always remember this. It will make things much easier.

 

[cassel]

Put some grease on the foot, ballbearing grease. Then hold the camera firmly and push with two thumbs. Push the foot, not the finder.

Erik.

Good idea - sitting on the couch now and careful mount and dismount of the 35mm VC finder and then trying the SBOOI seems to help and now the 5cm finder slides about half way before it's too tight...

I think I have some stable (non-wandering) turn-table grease around here somewhere😉

Looking very closely and comparing the shoe of the II versus the III - I can see that the III is ever-so-slightly crimped down/smaller/tighter.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Good idea - sitting on the couch now and careful mount and dismount of the 35mm VC finder and then trying the SBOOI seems to help and now the 5cm finder slides about half way before it's too tight...

I think I have some stable (non-wandering) turn-table grease around here somewhere😉

Looking very closely and comparing the shoe of the II versus the III - I can see that the III is ever-so-slightly crimped down/smaller/tighter.

Yes, they're all different, handmade. But finally it wil go. Good luck!


Erik.

 

[cassel]

Good idea - sitting on the couch now and careful mount and dismount of the 35mm VC finder and then trying the SBOOI seems to help and now the 5cm finder slides about half way before it's too tight...

I think I have some stable (non-wandering) turn-table grease around here somewhere😉

Looking very closely and comparing the shoe of the II versus the III - I can see that the III is ever-so-slightly crimped down/smaller/tighter.

Got IT!!!
Found that the folding handle of my finger-nail trimmers (!) fit perfectly in the shoe....VERY careful bend on each side and VOILA - it accepts the SBOOI perfectly now😎