Konica IIIa - What strap to use to not block the crank

bence8810

bence8810

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Hello,

So I have gotten myself a Konica IIIa camera and it's been treating me very nicely except for the fact that I can't find a solution to hang it around my neck.

The strap's ring on the left hand side would be in my way when trying to wind the film and cock the shutter. If you have seen this camera, you know what I mean. It has a lever on the left front of the camera that needs to be pushed down twice to wind and cock the shutter. If the camera isn't hanging on my next and the strap is lose / falling toward the ground, the ring that holds it in place might get in between the body and the crank, killing that shot for me that I so wanted to take.

I have now removed the strap and just hold the camera in my hand which isn't exactly easy, it's a 700+ grams beast.

Thanks for any help,
Ben
 
Yes, with my Konica III, 5/8" diameter strap ring loops got in the way and I had to move them out of the way every time to advance and cock the shutter. I happened to have 7/16" diameter loops and when I used them they did not get in the way.
 
Thanks for all the replies. What case are you guys referring to, the original case it came with? I always lug a bag around with me and I just slide the camera in. The only time I need a strap when i'd take it out of the bag for extensive shooting or leave my bag in the car etc.

Thanks,
Ben
 
ruby.monkey said:
Yup. Also invaluable for keeping the back closed when the inevitable happens and you put the camera down with that stupid door release in the open position.
Click to expand...

That's true 🙂 I am still on my 2nd roll yet and have always made sure to double and triple check before I consider the film to be loaded. I can't check now as I have film in, what would happen if I by mistake press the pin that opens the door while the ring is at the locked position? I am hoping it'd remain locked....

Anyways, thanks for this! Do you happen to know if the Konica III case fits the IIIa? i'd think not as it's a bit taller.

Also, is there any way to take that "silly" EV ring off? I just simply hate it being there. While I learnt to live with it, I really don't like it....

Thanks,
Ben
 
I use a regular strap on mine. Just have to deal with it during the film/shutter advance.

I was going to use the original strap and half case, but after 50+ years I do not trust it. Gave the leather a good cleaning/lubing and then pull on the strap with a little force and it broke. I would have been pretty upset if my IIIM would have been on the end of it...

If I could find a good condition half case I may try it again.

Regular strap for me, for now.

Peace
 
Hello there DCB,

I see, so you ended up accepting the fact that it isn't perfect. I might just have to do that too. For now I'll keep searching. If we could get something like a strap that didn't require a ring, that'd be great. I am just worried with no ring the strap would end up cutting itself on the bracket it hooks into on the camera.

Half case would be great! I guess if all I want is a half case, the Konica III's would work as well in case the III and IIIa weren't compatible as the top is larger.

I tried having just a wrist strap hooked to the right hand side of the camera but this beast is heavy, my wrist felt numb after an hour of carrying it around.

Ben
 


I think that the camera bases are the same...just guessing. Sa any half case should work. I like the case but I just don't trust the old leather.

As for straps I use the UpStrap in kevlar.

Peace
 
bence8810 said:
That's true 🙂 I am still on my 2nd roll yet and have always made sure to double and triple check before I consider the film to be loaded. I can't check now as I have film in, what would happen if I by mistake press the pin that opens the door while the ring is at the locked position? I am hoping it'd remain locked....

Anyways, thanks for this! Do you happen to know if the Konica III case fits the IIIa? i'd think not as it's a bit taller.

Also, is there any way to take that "silly" EV ring off? I just simply hate it being there. While I learnt to live with it, I really don't like it....

Thanks,
Ben
Click to expand...
The EV ring isn't so bad if you remember:
1) Pull back on both sides of the EV ring and turn to set shutter speed separately.
2) Pull back on the left side and reach under the shutter barrel for the tiny serrated patch, to set the aperture alone.

As for the door latch - once it's in its closed position, the actual door release is blocked off and cannot be depressed.
 
I set the aperture based on EV values with my Konica III because some shutter speeds are not standard - 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, and 1/5 instead of 1/125, 1/60. 1/30, 1/8, and 1/4. I use a Minolta Flash Meter III which provides either EV values or f-stops.
 
Thanks all for the feedback. I haven't gotten the emails about the replies and thus didn't check back.

Since then I went back to the shop where I bought it and tried on a few rings. I got one that looks like a triangle and it kind of fits best but is still a pain when I want to wind quick between two shots. Oh well, this should be my toughest problem in life I think!

About the half-case, very nice! I might consider, but I kind of like the naked look. The one problem I have is that mind is in such a good shape that I feel very reluctant putting it down on less than perfectly clean surfaces, etc. I should probably just let it go but I am in love with this camera.

Since then I have taken it to the Philippines where I travelled for 9 days and have fed some 5-6 rolls through it. It's a lovely little (not so little actually...) camera. I am totally fine with the EV ring now that I've gotten the hang of it. I still prefer a camera without it but it isn't holding me back like it used to. I of course am not using it, I just have to depress it every time I need to change settings. I don't think I'll ever take two shots with different F and speed values of the same subject, I come up with it looking at my shot before taking it and won't second guess my decision. But i see where and how it can be useful for others. If there was a way to remove it, I'd go for it!

Ben
 
Hi,

I do have a wrist strap and had it on for one day. I find the KonicaIII to be way to heavy to be handled by one hand for a longer period of time, let alone having it hanging from a wrist.

Ben
 
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