anjoca76
Well-known
DAG is one of the best there is--he's always done terrific work for me--but for a simple CLA on a Barnack, I would recommend Youxin. He is cheaper and quicker turnaround.
Help/Thoughts on IIIc
- Thread starter JonWNC
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DAG is one of the best there is--he's always done terrific work for me--but for a simple CLA on a Barnack, I would recommend Youxin. He is cheaper and quicker turnaround.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
To expect an ebay Leica iiic to be functional with zero work at that price including a properly working Summitar is EXTREMELY optimistic. I have 2 iiic's and when they are right and sorted out there isn't a better film camera out there. Its a fact of life that a 70 year old camera and lens that's never been serviced will need.....er...servicing. So expect that in this camera and lens or move to something contemporary.
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goamules
Well-known
Yes, that's my point. Maybe I wasn't clear - ebay cameras are risky too. So I wouldn't pay $350 for one. But when you can buy a working, CLA'd camera from sellers that give you a guarantee for that price, why pay the same price for an unknown? On Ebay or from Granny you know it's going to need $100-200 worth of work when you get it. Paying high retail for an unknown camera is like going to a car lot and paying MSRP or higher because the salesman tells you to. Some people do. I don't.
JonWNC
Established
Thanks again for all the insight into this. Most of the sentiments reflect what I tell customers and friends about vintage VW purchases. Same thoughts, just different item.
I don't really "need" to buy it. I recently picked up a Rolleiflex, and it has re-inspired me to get back in to film photography. I like vintage things, and have always lusted after a Leica, I could never afford one though. I'd go to camera stores or see one dangling around someone's neck and wish I could get one someday. Fast forward a few years (ok, maybe more than a few) and now the vintage ones I seem to be drawn to are "more affordable" to me, so I think I'd like to take the jump into something I would really appreciate, rather than going back to using my beater Nikormat which is basically worthless. My frend had a Russian Leica copy and that was fun to use.
As to the one I found for sale: The guy still has it, and I had planned on making a special trip to go see it (about an hour from my house). I had to reschedule and am going to try to combine that trip with some business I have in the same city. If it is something I want to pursue, I definitely plan to offer less and see where it goes.
Again, I really appreciate the info regarding a purchase price level and figuring in the repairs/tune-up it will certainly need. This has been a factor I have really been going over in my head a lot.
I did ask about other things he may have for the Leica, but he said he has none. He does have some "other camera stuff" and mentioned "old Kodak" a lot. And if it comes down to it, I will do the leaving the phone number thing. He has my number already, as we have been in phone contact a few times.
Thanks again.
Jon
I don't really "need" to buy it. I recently picked up a Rolleiflex, and it has re-inspired me to get back in to film photography. I like vintage things, and have always lusted after a Leica, I could never afford one though. I'd go to camera stores or see one dangling around someone's neck and wish I could get one someday. Fast forward a few years (ok, maybe more than a few) and now the vintage ones I seem to be drawn to are "more affordable" to me, so I think I'd like to take the jump into something I would really appreciate, rather than going back to using my beater Nikormat which is basically worthless. My frend had a Russian Leica copy and that was fun to use.
As to the one I found for sale: The guy still has it, and I had planned on making a special trip to go see it (about an hour from my house). I had to reschedule and am going to try to combine that trip with some business I have in the same city. If it is something I want to pursue, I definitely plan to offer less and see where it goes.
Again, I really appreciate the info regarding a purchase price level and figuring in the repairs/tune-up it will certainly need. This has been a factor I have really been going over in my head a lot.
I did ask about other things he may have for the Leica, but he said he has none. He does have some "other camera stuff" and mentioned "old Kodak" a lot. And if it comes down to it, I will do the leaving the phone number thing. He has my number already, as we have been in phone contact a few times.
Thanks again.
Jon
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Buying used gear is always somewhat of a "blind date"... you are never certain of how things will turn-out.
About 5 years ago, I acquired an "ugly" 1934 Leica III with peeling chrome on top of the RF housing, and a Komura f:3.5/ 35mm lens (black scalloped focus ring), I believe it was $150 from eBay.
Turns-out it had a sticker inside from a NY camera dealer, indicating it had had a CLA in the mid-1970's. It seemed to work well, and has become my "daily driver" LTM, and I have shot a couple hundred rolls of film with it.
My first Leica, was a cosmetically beautiful 1951 IIIf black dial, with a nice collapsible Summicron. This outfit was purchased from a well-known and respected collectible camera dealer. It cost somewhere around $700 in 2007 ( yeah, I probably paid too much... 🙄 )
At any rate, I shot a few rolls with the IIIf, and it seemd to work very well. Then I began to notice issues with what I thought was lens-flare, and began to suspect that my wonderful Summicron lens was the culprit...
After a few more rolls of film, with different lenses, it became evident that the "flare" was not from the lens... it was from holes in the shutter curtains, which were beginning to disintegrate... 🙁
Turns-out, the curtain material available to Leica for several years after the war was not as good as the pre-war material, and these curtains don't last as long.
So, in the greater cosmic casino that is "collecting old stuff", one "low bet" turned-out very well for me, and the other "high bet", not so much. ( I do not begrudge the dealer that sold me the IIIf - it was seemingly in excellent functional condition when I received it, and cosmetically it is still gorgeous... it just needs a CLA and new shutter curtains, so that adds $200-$300 to the $700 I already have invested in it... "more than it is worth".))
It is a safe expectation that ANY mechanical camera is going to need a CLA (cleaning, lubrication, adjustment) to function properly.
So, budget accordingly. If a camera is being advertised as "recent CLA", ask for the receipt as proof.
Generally speaking, the Leica IIIc is a good and reliable model: die-cast body, top shutter speed of 1/1000, generally reliable shutter curtains.
Good luck in your quest !
Luddite Frank
About 5 years ago, I acquired an "ugly" 1934 Leica III with peeling chrome on top of the RF housing, and a Komura f:3.5/ 35mm lens (black scalloped focus ring), I believe it was $150 from eBay.
Turns-out it had a sticker inside from a NY camera dealer, indicating it had had a CLA in the mid-1970's. It seemed to work well, and has become my "daily driver" LTM, and I have shot a couple hundred rolls of film with it.
My first Leica, was a cosmetically beautiful 1951 IIIf black dial, with a nice collapsible Summicron. This outfit was purchased from a well-known and respected collectible camera dealer. It cost somewhere around $700 in 2007 ( yeah, I probably paid too much... 🙄 )
At any rate, I shot a few rolls with the IIIf, and it seemd to work very well. Then I began to notice issues with what I thought was lens-flare, and began to suspect that my wonderful Summicron lens was the culprit...
After a few more rolls of film, with different lenses, it became evident that the "flare" was not from the lens... it was from holes in the shutter curtains, which were beginning to disintegrate... 🙁
Turns-out, the curtain material available to Leica for several years after the war was not as good as the pre-war material, and these curtains don't last as long.
So, in the greater cosmic casino that is "collecting old stuff", one "low bet" turned-out very well for me, and the other "high bet", not so much. ( I do not begrudge the dealer that sold me the IIIf - it was seemingly in excellent functional condition when I received it, and cosmetically it is still gorgeous... it just needs a CLA and new shutter curtains, so that adds $200-$300 to the $700 I already have invested in it... "more than it is worth".))
It is a safe expectation that ANY mechanical camera is going to need a CLA (cleaning, lubrication, adjustment) to function properly.
So, budget accordingly. If a camera is being advertised as "recent CLA", ask for the receipt as proof.
Generally speaking, the Leica IIIc is a good and reliable model: die-cast body, top shutter speed of 1/1000, generally reliable shutter curtains.
Good luck in your quest !
Luddite Frank
JonWNC
Established
Well, I was a 'victim' of the snooze-you-lose reality. I was unable to get there to look at it sooner than I had planned, and yesterday when I called back to set up a time to go (was going to be this afternoon), the guy said it had been sold and that he received a lot of calls on it. I am a little bummed out over it, but on the other hand, there will be more in the future.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and insights.
Thanks again for all the thoughts and insights.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
There will be more. Check the classifieds on this forum. Very nice IIIx come up often, and I think you could do worse than an RFF member for honest transaction.
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