Leica LTM IIIg

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
45govt

45govt

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Hello
I have been looking at IIIg on the auction site and there are quite a few in very good to excellent condition with prices in the 700.00 to 1000.00, are these prices in the ball park or high, and do most of these show up in better than average condition.

What should I be on the lookout for as far as problems, I have a IIIf and had to have the shutter curtain replaced and serviced after I received it.

Any help comments appreciated
Thanks
Don
 
Don, I have been keeping any eye open for a nice IIIg for several years now.

$600-$700 seems to be the going rate for body-only.

Can't speak about shutter curtains.

Unless you are getting the camera with recent, documented CLA by a competent tech (DAG, Sherry Krauter, etc.), I would plan / budget for additional work.

Good luck.

LF
 
seems like the average price really. I've seen them lower and higher but in the recent film boom with prices and values of things going up I haven't seen too much of a change with iiig prices.
 
If you're buying through eBay, consider camera & lens kits - sometimes better deals can be found on these over just the body alone.

I really like my IIIg, but I also waited quite a while to find a bargain; current prices seem quite high, and I doubt they'll drop significantly any time soon. But you never know when a good deal might pop up.
 
Been looking for another IIIg recently too. If I were paying 600-700 USD for a body I would steer away from ebay and go with one of the dealers, like Tamarkin or KEH who seem to have these from time to time. At that price it should serviced or at least have a warranty.

Ebay can range from amazing to absurd. On the absurd end: A body with holes in the curtains for $549. Or merely average ones from Japan for $1900 (and up).

A couple months ago there were several IIIgs with either Summicron or Elmar or even Summarit lenses that went in the $700-$1000 range. But it seems to be feast or famine. You'll see several like this in a row, then nothing for months. Of course I'd expect these to need service, but with a lens it is still a good deal. Patience is a virtue.
 
My IIIG had some problems with shutter advance. It skips a frame every 2 frames. Not sure if it a common issue or not though.

Marcelo
 
I bought a IIIg in exc+ condition from a well known UK dealer a while back and it functions perfectly with no major issues. I bought a IIIf from the same shop a few weeks ago and it had loads of fungus the viewfinder. It’s very hit and miss and depends on how much they were used and looked after. Selling the IIIg on eBay at the moment though for about USD600 as I tend to use my Contax G1 much more regularly.
 
Thanks everyone

I bought a IIIg on bay at a BIN price of 550.00 shipped which appears to be in very good condition and the price is right if it needs a service I am still at about market
 
45govt said:
Thanks everyone

I bought a IIIg on bay at a BIN price of 550.00 shipped which appears to be in very good condition and the price is right if it needs a service I am still at about market
Click to expand...

You did well... makes me want one!
 
Rob-F said:
More so with the IIIg than with the IIIc or IIIf?
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I never had a IIIf, but I have most other Barnacks. Only my IIIg had severe fungus in the viewfinder.

The rangefinder and the viewfinder both had dull images. Peter from CRR Luton in England cleaned it for me and told me that the problem was caused by fungus.

Erik.
 
I see on Ebay the IIIg prices and they do vary. It is a wonderful camera and I should use mine more. I carried my IIIf a couple of weeks ago and people stopped me to ask what kind of camera it was. People are so use to seeing digital and phones used to taking pictures that film cameras look so exotic to many people that have never seen one. I am speaking of younger people.

Anyway I will load up my IIIg next to shoot with it and its Summicron 50/2.
 
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It certainly is a great camera. The viewfinder is not as bright as those of the earlier versions but I had always assumed that was due to the extra optics. In any case, my viewfinder is fine. I use it with a Sonnar lens, either the Canon version or the Zeiss Contax version (fitted with an Amadeo adapter). The lenses produce near identical images but I favour the Canon lens in use. Neither lens intrudes into the viewfinder in a noticeable way. The problem is that I wear glasses and with this particular camera it's a case of 'the closer your eye is to the eyepiece, the better'. I therefore adapted an old SLR correction lens (I need -3 dioptres). I removed the correction lens from its frame and the eyepiece from the IIIG. I used some double sided foam tape having punched in it two holes of the right size. It works very well and I think its rectangular shape mirrors nicely the rectangular windows on the front of the camera.
 

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Well my "new" IIIg arrived today and I am very please with it, the speeds all sound good and The curtain looks good I could not see any light coming in but we will see after I get some decent weather and run a short roll through it. The viewfinder is clear and the rangefinder appears clear though is a little small as others have stated but very clean
I think I got a good deal for 550.00 shipped.



Anyway here are a couple of photos of it, the lens was mine.
Don
 

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45govt said:
Well my "new" IIIg arrived today and I am very please with it, the speeds all sound good and The curtain looks good I could not see any light coming in but we will see after I get some decent weather and run a short roll through it. The viewfinder is clear and the rangefinder appears clear though is a little small as others have stated but very clean
I think I got a good deal for 550.00 shipped.
Click to expand...

Looks beautiful, I am jealous.
 
Yeah, that's a nice one, Don. I was looking today at a converted IIIC-to-F, and was really close to putting in the order until I looked up the serial number. Part of the early post-war models that have the issues with chrome (the fiftieth one down the line), so I passed. Unless someone can tell me that when the conversion is made, a new top is installed.

PF
 
Mac - I have a III-c/f BD / ST, 1949 body, not sure when the conversion was done... chrome is beautiful. Picked it up in Copenhagen on a trip to Denmark in 2014.

Will have to dig it out to find s/n.
 
Don -

Your new -g looks very nice on the outside. I think you did well, given market-prices on this thing.

Hope it works as nice as it looks.

Frank
 
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