Black Paint Leica III

[Crazy Fedya]

Hello, Everybody!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!

I am interested in black paint screwmount Leica. I saw Leica III in decent brassed condition for $350. Is that a good deal?
Everything works fine, finder is clean, speeds are Ok. One tiny indent on top plate.

 

[johannielscom]

Sounds good to me, Sam!

Make sure the RF patch is nice and contrasty and if it isn't, make the seller lower the price. Youxin Ye can fix the RF contrast by installing a new beam splitter mirror for not too much.

Also make sure there is a take-up spool included!

Post some shots once you have secured it!

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Take up spool is included, RF patch is nice and contrasty, will post shots of it, once secured.😉

 

[Luddite Frank]

I assume that price is for the body-only ?

Assuming the shutter curtains are light-tight, all speeds function and are relatively close to their mark, and the amount of brassing does not exceed the amount of paint, $350 is probably a fair price, though not a "Steal"...


I have two 1933 black III's, both in decent "lightly brassed" condition and I like them quite a bit.

My workhorse Barnack though, is an "ugly" 1934 chrome III...

Now to find a "perfect" Summar... 🙄

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Yes, it is for body only. I didn't want to pay too much, since I want a black camera only for the looks of it. It has "light" brassing and one small dent. Curtains seem to be light tight, and shutter seems to operate correctly. Shutter collar is missing, and film advance knob seems to be on a little crooked. I think it can benefit from CLA, because , even though it runs better than my FED1, but not quite as smooth as my Zorki 1. 😉
I think I will pull the trigger on it though.

 

[Luddite Frank]

The majority of these I have seen on e-bay and at various on-line camera retailers seem to be missing the shutter release collar...

Perhaps they were easily lost when removed to fit a cable-release to use the slow speeds on a tripod ?

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Probably. Also, I read somewhere, that a lot of times, shutter collars from FSU cameras were used.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Ok, so I took a plunge and got it together with 1950's coated version of 50mm chrome Elmar, that had dented namering. I ran a roll of film through it, and it came out good. I got banding at 1/500, and when really cold, shutter is really sluggish. I will post some pics within next 30 min.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Here we go. Firstly, the culprit:

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Now some results. Gate is not that sharp due to camera shake.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Sweet camera! Looks like a little shutter drag on the result images though. But nothing too bad. 🙂



I bought a black paint Leica III once...but it got lost in the mail 🙁
I still want one...

 

[johannielscom]

Was wondering, just yesterday, what had become of that plan with the III. But forgot to post to this thread.

Nice camera, love the strap on it, that looks real nice!

Happy shooting!

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Thank You for your comments.
I made the strap myself. If there is shutter drag, it is due to colder weather.
I like it very much, but I think it needs CLA to work smoother. Right now it is on par with my Zorki I, but it is smoothest Zorki I have played with.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I know what you mean. None of my FSU cameras beat my Leicas in smoothness, but I like using them equally as much. A bit like workhorses and thoroughbreds.

Concerning the drag: If you were using 1/500th, you could try shooting at a slower shutter speed.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Actually, I only shot one frame at 1/500, and it shows banding. The rest of them are 1/125, 1/250 and 1/60. I think it is flare, and not shutter drag in these images, since sun was just outside of frame. I looked at other images from the same roll, and I don't see it there. Or, maybe I am not that picky. 😉

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Also, i forgot to mention, this is my first Leica.