cassel
Well-known
😎
Just picked up this cool little camera....you've probably heard about this one. It's a 1958 Japanese take on the Leica M3... minus the interchangeable lenses and the big sticker price. I got this from a seller in BC (just north of me). The camera arrived in the original leather case (not pictured)---the strap is brittle but the case itself is nice. Here's the camera:
The seller warned me that there was film in the camera... no way to tell the film speed- so I guessed 200 (that's what was on the indicator on the back of the case) -- and tried to shoot the rest of the roll outside in direct sunlight. The shutter was a bit sluggish at first and the "Rewind/Double Exposure" lever needed to be wiggled a bit to get the advance freed up. It got to about 23 or 24 on the counter-- then it stopped...end of the roll. I moved the lever to "R" and carefully rewound the film-- worked as expected. Here's what I found when I opened the back:😱😱
WOW ! C-22 process Kodacolor-X last made in 1976 or so! No wonder the shutter was sluggish... that's a long time. Probably won't bother to try and process it...not an easy/cheap/predictable task.
One of the reasons I was intrigued by the IIIC is the claim that it was made to accept the IXMOO film cassette from Leica. Is this true? YES:
Now what? Well, like I wrote- the shutter is sluggish... better after some exercise and it seems accurate at all speeds. Viewfinder is nice and clear with 4.5cm brightline frame. Rangefinder is dim- tough to see indoors- better outside but not good. Glass is clear. Focus seem accurate but stiff at the distant range. This thing needs exercise! Perhaps a basic CLA.
Just picked up this cool little camera....you've probably heard about this one. It's a 1958 Japanese take on the Leica M3... minus the interchangeable lenses and the big sticker price. I got this from a seller in BC (just north of me). The camera arrived in the original leather case (not pictured)---the strap is brittle but the case itself is nice. Here's the camera:
The seller warned me that there was film in the camera... no way to tell the film speed- so I guessed 200 (that's what was on the indicator on the back of the case) -- and tried to shoot the rest of the roll outside in direct sunlight. The shutter was a bit sluggish at first and the "Rewind/Double Exposure" lever needed to be wiggled a bit to get the advance freed up. It got to about 23 or 24 on the counter-- then it stopped...end of the roll. I moved the lever to "R" and carefully rewound the film-- worked as expected. Here's what I found when I opened the back:😱😱
WOW ! C-22 process Kodacolor-X last made in 1976 or so! No wonder the shutter was sluggish... that's a long time. Probably won't bother to try and process it...not an easy/cheap/predictable task.
One of the reasons I was intrigued by the IIIC is the claim that it was made to accept the IXMOO film cassette from Leica. Is this true? YES:
Now what? Well, like I wrote- the shutter is sluggish... better after some exercise and it seems accurate at all speeds. Viewfinder is nice and clear with 4.5cm brightline frame. Rangefinder is dim- tough to see indoors- better outside but not good. Glass is clear. Focus seem accurate but stiff at the distant range. This thing needs exercise! Perhaps a basic CLA.
