Gave in today and picked up a IIIf

[RallyFan]

Thanks everyone. I just came back from shooting a test roll. Need to swing by my local store and grab some developer so I can see what I got.

It was an absolute pleasure to use. Loading was not as much of a chore as I originally thought. Rewinding...unexpectedly long but that doesn't bother me in the least. I haven't used a meterless camera in quite some time, so I brought my digital with me as a guide. I was a little suprised by how close my 'best guesses' were.

A few people mentioned viewfinders. I am in need of a 35 viewfinder, does anyone have any recommendations for one that covers both 35 and 50? I believe those are probably the only two lenses I'd use. I have a 90 as well, but I'm not much a fan of that focal length (though I enjoy using it on my Sony NEX). I may look into something in the 21mm focal length in the future, but I'd probably want a separate finder for that.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have never used an external VF for my Barnacks and have never had any trouble, assuming they are close to spec. Of course I'm old enough to remember when they were being sold new so they are old friends by now.

 

[FrankS]

You can get a zoom or multi focal length finder but they are huge. Best to get separate 35 and 50mm finders. I have and highly recommend the CV metal finders.

 

[raid]

The camera looks awesome. Congratulations for seeing the beauty in such a classic camera.

 

[Orbiter]

That was a nice price on a great camera. The film loading took me a while to get used to, but with practice it's not a big deal. I keep an imarect finder on mine for the parallax correction and don't find the arrangement cumbersome, others do. Have thought about getting an M every time I use the IIIf I love it even more. Just occurred to me, in the long run it might safe you money....

 

[summar]

My father's IIIf was the camera on which I learned photography. I inherited it and still use it with the collapsible Elmar 50/3.5 as my carry-everywhere compact camera. Perhaps you all may find this strange, but it's also my favorite camera to use with flash. The slow 1/30-sec. synch speed lets me capture the ambient light I like, and the magnified rangefinder makes it easy to focus in dim surroundings.

 

[dave lackey]

Summar, which flash do you use on the IIIF?

 

[Vics]

That's just beautiful! The quintessential Leica.

 

[helen.HH]

Lucky you finding a Treasure...Enjoy !

 

[NeeZee]

I like using flash with my IIIf, too. The red dial version syncs up to 1/50 of a second. You can use any flash with a manual and/or aperture automatic mode and a sync chord connection. The Leitz CTOOM flash bracket (metal version) is a great accesory if the hot shoe is already taken by an external viewfinder (it's also one of the very few Leica accessories collectors don't seem to care for, which means it can be bought rather cheap on ebay). Before you use flash with the IIIf make sure it syncs correctly: just remove the bottom and put a piece of white paper where you normally put the film. then remove the lens and fire the flash against the curtains. If you see a complete white frame, the sync works at the respective shutter speed. For sync at 1/50th move the flash sync dial (around the shutter speed dial) to position '20' and for 1/25th and longer to position '0'. That's about it.