Leica LTM iiig tinted VF

[lawnpotter]

I went to camera show today and looked at a Barnack, maybe leica iii, I am not sure. Anyhow, the finder was perfectly clear compared to my iiig which is dimmer. The previous owner CLAd it. Is it normal for the iiig to be tinted? Can I do any thing to make it brighter or is that just the way it is? Thanks

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Possibly the half-mirror (beam splitter) in the RF has degraded over time,

You can try to enhance the contrast between the RF images by using a OKARO filter over one of the RF windows(I hope that's the right one for later models, otherwise it is the ORAKO). Or you could put some colored transparent plastic over it yourself.

The only other alternative is having a new half-mirror installed.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks Mr fibble. But the RF is perfect. The view finder is tinted. this may be normal for the IIIG I dont know.

 

[roundg]

If u just compare the brightness of VF, yes, IIIG is dimmer than a III. Someone said that it's because IIIG need to show the BL frame in VF.

 

[lawnpotter]

That makes sense I guess but the Oly trip is much brighter and it has bright lines. Has anyone replaced the view finder? I bet its not possible eh?

 

[Mr_Flibble]

But the RF is perfect. The view finder is tinted.

Ah, my bad.

 

[john neal]

I have a Leica II that has a green tinted RF - I did wonder if it was some odd, early, version. turns out that it is more likely that someone cut up a yashica beam splitter to replace the failed Leitz one. It works well, as the contrast in the RF spot is enhanced - downside is that it's not so good in low light.

That wouldn't explain a tinted VF though - you did mean VF, not RF? Could your VF have been fitted with some sort of filter at some point?

 

[John Shriver]

I think there's a half-silvered mirror in the IIIg to reflect in the bright frame lines. The color of the finder will depend on whether the mirror is coated with silver, aluminum, or gold.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks. Whats the clearest coating? Mine could be the gold one. Can I recoat it?

 

[John Shriver]

You would replace that half-silvered mirror. Yeah, a telescope mirror silvering service could re-silver it, but at a cost more than a new half-silvered mirror.

 

[lawnpotter]

Thanks

Thanks

Who would do this service

 

[lawnpotter]

Youxin Ye said its called "Yellow cast" which is very common with the IIIg. The UV glue turns yellow over time. This does not effect other Barnacks. I have looked through other Barnacks viewfinders lately and they are crystal clear. This is frustrating cause I bought the III g for its "superior viewfinder".

 

[roundg]

Calm down. Even it's not as bright as a IIIF, the VF of IIIG is much bigger and nicer than any IIIc/F.

 

[furcafe]

The IIIg's VF is "superior" because of the framelines, not because of its brightness (though it is larger as the previous poster notes). The VFs on the M3 & M2 are slightly tinted, too, but I would take either of them over a Barnack.

No free lunch, etc.

Youxin Ye said its called "Yellow cast" which is very common with the IIIg. The UV glue turns yellow over time. This does not effect other Barnacks. I have looked through other Barnacks viewfinders lately and they are crystal clear. This is frustrating cause I bought the III g for its "superior viewfinder".