Diy Cla.

[Ko.Fe.]

I want to get IIF model or IIIF. Where are some, on e-bay, really non-expensive ones.
With slow, inaccurate shutter speeds and some with bad curtains.

I used to have and fully serviced by myself (including curtains replacement) of two Zorki.
I still have double-coated curtains material from Japan.

I enjoyed the small size and collapsible 50mm lens for no-rush style street photography.

Sold both FSU cameras, mostly because it was no dioptric correction, but RF, VF weren't the brightest ones.

Any one here, who has done DIY CLA for LTM Leicas?

 

[Scrambler]

If you have done curtain replacements on a Zorki I would expect you could do it on a IIF/ IIIF.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you have done curtain replacements on a Zorki I would expect you could do it on a IIF/ IIIF.

Sounds promising!
I narrowed it to IIF with 1/500 max. To keep it simple.

 

[dubya]

Backing up a model to a IIIc could actually simplify the repair somewhat, since there is no flash sync involved. Finding one in need of repair should be affordable.. maybe even more so than a II or IIIf, since they didn't make as many of those. The slow speeds escapement and related parts don't really add that much in the way of complications either.

Backing up even further means that the camera gets a tad bit smaller in two dimensions... that's never a bad thing and still not emptying the piggy bank for a user version, since the c is more popular in that regard. The build quality increased with the IIIc, I doubt the image quality did to the point that anyone would notice.

They're all great machines and none terribly more complicated than the other. I miss my '39 Standard the most... 🙁 ...one of the simplest and smallest.

All of this is moot if you chose the f's because you want to use flash ...

Good luck on the quest 🙂

Wade

 

[Particular]

I replaced curtains and the rf-mirror on a IIIc. It was a steep learning curve, especially aligning and adjusting the curtains and the timing. I doubt that a zorki is much easier, so if you have done that, I'm sure you will do fine with the a leica. There is also plenty of useful info scattered around the web.

 

[Frontman]

The old Leicas are actually easier to repair than FSU cameras, the parts fit better, and the hardware is of higher quality, and is easier to start. I often pick up old Leicas to tinker with. The slow speed escapements (if you get a III) are essily removed for cleaning, and will usually work properly after a bath in solvent and judicious lubrication.

Old Japanese rangefinder cameras are just as easy to fix, and some have improvements over Barnack Leicas, such as real film doors, and integrated viewfinders.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Thanks for replies!
Sold EOS3 on past Friday , which I purchased for curiosity one month ago. It was huge SLR.
Surpriselly, it was enough money to get IIf, RD 1/500. Was listed as "street user", within my price range.
Going to put new skin on it. Will open it, by same time, to see how it feels to me compare to Zorki.
Hope to get this IIf in my hands by the end of this week.