Monochrom
Well-known
Hi, the sync dial doesn´t interfere with the speed dial, but it might have dirt or dust or old grease that is getting in the way of the dial. Any friction will lower your marked speeds.
You can lift the dial and blow compressed air or lighter fluid between both dials.
Highway 61
Revisited
So this was exactly what I had thought of.
The IIIc and the IIIf are pretty identical cameras so loading either a IIIc or a IIIf relies on the same process (cutting the film leader at 45° with scissors on about 10cm length before securing the end of the film leader on the take-up spool and dropping the film cartridge and the take-up spool into the camera).
I don't know why some people might want to say that the IIIc is easier to load than the IIIf, because it's all the same thing.
mcfingon
Western Australia
The IIIF I own is harder to load than the IIIC I own. They should be the same, but I just re-tested with the same film in both cameras and they are not. Hopefully, it's not that way for all IIIF's and IIIC's.
Highway 61
Revisited
Old cameras prone to tear the film sprocket holes out suffer from old grime around the film rewind shaft, in general. Thus, too much friction, and too much force needed to wind the film.
Ah, and there is nothing like any IIIF and IIIC cameras made by Leica, period. There is the III model F which was made in the 1930's, then the IIIc released during the war, then the IIIf (and the last breed, the IIIg) several years after the war was gone.
Ah, and there is nothing like any IIIF and IIIC cameras made by Leica, period. There is the III model F which was made in the 1930's, then the IIIc released during the war, then the IIIf (and the last breed, the IIIg) several years after the war was gone.
mcfingon
Western Australia
Thanks for the tip Highway 61. I will follow up to see if that is the problem. There must be something dragging somewhere. I have just ordered a 1933 model III (F) so it will be interesting to see how that one loads!
Vincent.G
Well-known
Mine is a 1955 IIIf RD ST. It's my first LTM camera and I am pleasantly surprised how small and light it feels in my hands. The operation is much smoother than I thought. A joy to use despite having to fiddle with more dials and levers compared to a M camera.
The loading and unloading of film is quite similar to my M2 so I find it easy to adapt. The film leader trimming is easy to do - I just count back 13 sprocket holes and cut. No templates needed.
The loading and unloading of film is quite similar to my M2 so I find it easy to adapt. The film leader trimming is easy to do - I just count back 13 sprocket holes and cut. No templates needed.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I love the old black and nickel I, II and III Leicas to death, but technically they are inferior to the IIIc. The running speed of the shutter of the IIIc is slightly faster so the exposing slit between the shutter curtains can be broader and is thus more precise. The 1/500 speed of the old black and nickel Leicas is a bit of wishful thinking, but the 1/1000 of the IIIc really works (within a margin of 1/3 f-stop).
Erik.
mcfingon
Western Australia
I can confirm you were dead right with the grime around the film rewind shaft Highway 61. I dismantled, cleaned and relubricated that part and the IIIf now winds and shoots beautifully. Thanks heaps! It's amazing that the camera has had the shutter curtains replaced but no-one thought to clean that shaft. Maybe you have to specifically say I'm going to put film in the camera and use it
I'm looking forward to the 1933 III with anticipation now. The patina of age on the nickel and black paint is lovely. The first thing I'll check is the rewind shaft!