I just got a Leica IIIa-a few questions

kshapero

kshapero

South Florida Man
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How to set film speed? I use 400 ISO.
Can't seem to lock the Summar lens barrel when I extend it, any ideas?
Where to get a CLA if needed?
The kit is in near mint condition.😀:dance:
 
Hi Akiva,

There is no way, or need, to set film speed - there is no inbuilt meter. Sunny-16 or a handheld meter is the way to go.

The Summar should lock. Make sure it is *fully* extended - turn it back and forth about half a turn either way when extended - it may be that you are either not turning far enough or you are hitting the detents instead of extending fully. Lock should be about a 30-degree turn.

I'll leave our American friends to advise on a CLA - there's no point in my advising you on UK repairers.

Regards,

Bill
 
I answered your question about film speed in your other thread, but re the Summar it should extend and then rotate. When it has rotated it will no longer collapse. Mine has arrows on the barrel to show how this works.

First you line up the longitudinal arrow with the mark on the base of the lens. Then you can pull the lens all the way out and rotate it as shown by the lateral arrow. Does that make any sense?

For a CLA, since you're in the states you have quite a few options. Look up Sherry Krauter, DAG and Youxin Ye. You know, for a near mint kit you got an exceptional deal.

Matthew
 
Matthew Allen said:
I answered your question about film speed in your other thread, but re the Summar it should extend and then rotate. When it has rotated it will no longer collapse. Mine has arrows on the barrel to show how this works.

First you line up the longitudinal arrow with the mark on the base of the lens. Then you can pull the lens all the way out and rotate it as shown by the lateral arrow. Does that make any sense?

For a CLA, since you're in the states you have quite a few options. Look up Sherry Krauter, DAG and Youxin Ye. You know, for a near mint kit you got an exceptional deal.

Matthew
Click to expand...
I did what you said with the lens. When I go to adjust F-stop, the lens rotates a little. Is that normal? Does not seem to affect the result.
 
Ideally that shouldn't happen but a slightly sticky aperture or slightly loose barrel can easily cause it. On my Summitar the aperture is quite stiff and you have to make a real effort not to rotate the whole lens sometimes. Of course, servicing by a qualified repairman would stop this happening.

My Summar on the other hand has a very free and smooth aperture and the lens barrel stays properly locked. All that really matters is that the lens is fully extended when you got to take pictures. Could you see the arrows I mentioned? They form an L shape on the barrel (viewed from roughly above the lens as it is mounted) and if the lens is properly extended and locked then the mark on the base of the lens should be a little bit past the lower 'tip' of the L. This is a little hard to explain with words.

Matthew
 
Matthew Allen said:
Ideally that shouldn't happen but a slightly sticky aperture or slightly loose barrel can easily cause it. On my Summitar the aperture is quite stiff and you have to make a real effort not to rotate the whole lens sometimes. Of course, servicing by a qualified repairman would stop this happening.

My Summar on the other hand has a very free and smooth aperture and the lens barrel stays properly locked. All that really matters is that the lens is fully extended when you got to take pictures. Could you see the arrows I mentioned? They form an L shape on the barrel (viewed from roughly above the lens as it is mounted) and if the lens is properly extended and locked then the mark on the base of the lens should be a little bit past the lower 'tip' of the L. This is a little hard to explain with words.

Matthew
Click to expand...
Yes i see the "L" but when I turn the aperture, the lens barrel moves from one end of the bottom of the "L" to the other end.
 
Have you tried holding the lens barrel and rotating the aperture? If it's in the condition you say it may not have been used much and stiffened over the decades.

Youxin Ye for your servicing needs.
 
Indeed, have you tried that? You do want to avoid accidentally collapsing the lens and you might well do this if you rotate the barrel too far. If it's going to be a problem, I would get the lens serviced now. If you can live with it, don't bother.

Matthew
 
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