First time with a Barnack

[David Hughes]

Um, well, er...

Um, well, er...

I've been glancing at this thread on and off or a while and thought I ought to jump in with both feet and point out that both versions of the IIIC manual and a lot of others are available over the www.

Here's the first port of call for anyone:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_iiic.pdf (July 50 version) and

http://www.cameramanuals.org/leica_pdf/leica_iiic_02.pdf (Leitz NY version).

Mike Butkus' website has almost every manual published (well, most of them) and he asks a nominal donation for a download.

So go there, download the manual as a PDF and away you go.

And, on ebay there are dozens of books about the Leica range by Focal, Kisselbach etc. But the advantage of the PDF version is that you need only print out the page(s) needed.

As for the plastic card, in the back pocket, it's for pencil notes. Leica, FED, Zorki et all do them. They look like this:

The one on the left is Leica's and the other came with a Zorki.

Regards, David

PS I nearly forgot; when the Leica appeared a lot of small firms started their own range of accessories. So look around and you'll find film trimmers, cradles etc, etc. All a lot cheaper than the genuine article but working just as well. In the UK R G Lewis were a very good source of these bits and pieces.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I don't see any alignment problems, but how would you correct it? Is it that little grub screw on the bottom?

Yes, it's the little grub screw. No need to remove it completely, just loosen it enough so you can rotate the lens/VF inside the outer casing.
And then it is a matter of holding it in position while tightening the screw.

Two questions about the second "partisan" shot - what is the weapon, Sten possibly, or a copy? Second, which edge of IIIc is your leak? My non-stamped K has a small piece of shutter curtain glued on the crate below the slow speed dial - it's original, so I'm assuming it's there for a similar purpose.

The SMG is an original STEN Mk2 adapted to fire blanks only. As I recall we have about 4 in our 'French Resistance' group, as well as a BREN-gun and several Mauser K98K rifles.

And I am pretty certain my light leak originates from the slow speed dial light seal as well.

 

[john neal]

Thanks, Rick, I'm interested in the Sten, as I fired one once, many years ago. Horrible tool, compared to a H&K, but very effective at short range.

The area covered inside my IIIc is the small triangle immediately below the slow speed knob - if you slip the cover off you will easily see where I mean. It might be worth a small piece of shutter cloth to see if it helps.

 

[raid]

How do I identify the model for my black Standard? I forgot how to look at the speed dial and also the labeling.

 

[splitimageview]

Digitalintrigue, is it me or is the horizon on your SBOOI slightly off?

It appears to be ok, or close enough. 🙂 BTW the SBOOI is an incredible viewfinder. Puts even an M3 to shame...1:1 and seemingly brighter than life.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Oh, I agree completely. I bought one after reading the raving reviews that it got here. It's currently married to my Leica I.

John, thanks. I've been meaning to give the IIIc a clean, I'll look into patching the leak.

 

[john neal]

I would second the remark re the SBOOI - I bought one that coelacanth pointed out (Tamarkin Cameras - very easy to deal with & accurate description). It's amazingly good and is currently on my Leica 1.

I'm even thinking this could be the basis of my film kit for India next month - Summar + Summaron and maybe the CV 15. Hmmm......

Rick, there is a triangle below and to the left of the dial (as you look at the camera) once you have the shell off. It's covered completely on my example, and I made sure I replaced it when I serviced the shutter. It's sort of where the top part of a IIIf felt seal would sit (IYSWIM) - I wonder if it became a design "feature"? 😉

 

[coelacanth]

Oh boy, you guys cracked me.

I've been looking for a black II with strap lugs for a while. I love the idea of even smaller Barnack that accompanies my IIIf RD, but I really wanted strap lugs for daily carry.

I've been also looking for a Summar THANKS to Helen. 😛

I just found a nicely brassed but no dents, lug fitted II with Summar, all for pretty darn good price. As long as it comes in one piece, I'm willing to take some ebay description fluffs to a certain degree, and send the body off to Youxin for a nice bath anyway.

I am keeping my 1953 IIIf RD for good though! 🙂

 

[helen.HH]

Oh boy, you guys cracked me.

I've been also looking for a Summar THANKS to Helen. 😛

I am keeping my 1953 IIIf RD for good though! 🙂

hehehe, I have been SMITTEN too...with a painted black conversion
III /IIIf or as Erik says a IIIasyn
that I am Considering as a companion to Miss RD

Summars are just so Elegant in their 'LOOK' ...micro contrast Supreme
Don't know Why the screwmount/barnack Experience would be so Easy & Fun

Very HAPPY for you Sug...xoxo

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I hope Sug and Helen leave some Barnacks available for the rest of us in the future... 🙂 Congratulations!

Cheers,

Juan

 

[andreios]

And SUMMARs as well! The LTM canon lens for my "new" IIIc is already in the town, so there is hope for a nice barnack weekend in Prague as well.. 😎

I hope Sug and Helen leave some Barnacks available for the rest of us in the future... 🙂

 

[cnphoto]

have my main setup complete 🙂

IIIF BD, 50mm Summitar, 35mm Summaron, 105mm F2.5 Nikkor - and an I-22 on the way just because 🙂

now i'm trying to hunt down my dream Leica, a Leica I Model A (failing that a black paint standard w/ matching Elmar), but besides eBay (not really interested in buying off of eBay if I can help it) I'm not sure where to look to purchase online? I think this might take a while.

 

[Keith]

have my main setup complete 🙂

IIIF BD, 50mm Summitar, 35mm Summaron, 105mm F2.5 Nikkor - and an I-22 on the way just because 🙂

now i'm trying to hunt down my dream Leica, a Leica I Model A (failing that a black paint standard w/ matching Elmar), but besides eBay (not really interested in buying off of eBay if I can help it) I'm not sure where to look to purchase online? I think this might take a while.

Do you mean one of these? 😀

I bought this four years ago and it's the one camera I will truly never, never, ever part with ... someone will have to pry it from my cold dead etc etc! 😛

 

[maddoc]

have my main setup complete 🙂

IIIF BD, 50mm Summitar, 35mm Summaron, 105mm F2.5 Nikkor - and an I-22 on the way just because 🙂

Nice ! My first Barnack was also a IIIf BD w/ Summitar and later 3.5cm Summaron, 5cm Summarit and 9cm Elmar. 🙂

 

[Leica All Day]

Dang Keith....that camera is sweet

 

[coelacanth]

Dang is the word. That is one beautiful Barnack, Keith!

 

[cnphoto]

Do you mean one of these? 😀

*drool* yes! Exactly! Though I don't care about excessive brassing, I'm buying it to use daily 🙂

- maddoc; cool, my first Leica was a IIIc that i used quiet a bit but then sold and bought into M bodies ad a whole stack of lenses. I really should have just stuck with the IIIc in hindsight. But I did have some fun! These screw mount cameras are just more 'me'. This IIIf and a Model A would do me well for many years 🙂

 

[john neal]

Keith,

That's superb! I had a later (standardised) one with an 11 o'clock Elmar that I stupidly sold. Now I have to find a replacement without taking out a mortgage.

I also need to find a nice user II - if anyone has one for trade, I'm looking for a black II with 11 o'clock Elmar. I can offer a mint- III that has only had 3 owners from new. Yes, I could use the III, but it's a bit too nice to take out every day - original paint, original Elmar and bakelite cap, ERC etc, and receipt for when the 2nd owner bought it just before WWII.

My "daily" at the moment is a well brassed 1 and either a Summar or a CV25

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'm hoping to add a II to my collection as well. Preferably a black one 😉
But I'll need to get my finances in order first.

 

[Brian Legge]

The rangefinder magnification hooked me as well. My IIIcs rangefinder is in poor condition and could use work, yet I still find myself missing it when shooting other cameras.