Leica LTM Leica III differences

[mtwo]

I think I know the answer but thought I would ask some experts. Are there dimensonal differences among the various Leic III's. In other words, will a leather case made for a IIIf fit a IIIg, or one for a IIIc fit another III.

I have a case from a IIIg which smells musty but is otherwise in pretty nice shape considering it is probably past 50. Leather is flexible and not cracked but it does stink. I am not a case user and would like to sell the thing but want to advertise it properly. I do believe the leather can be treated to alleviate the odor.

And btw, my IIIg, newly acquired, is on the way back from Mr Ye.
TIA, John

 

[xayraa33]

the Leica III, IIIa and IIIb have bodies which are 1/8 of an inch shorter lengthwise than a IIIc, IIIf, IIIg.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Yes there are differences among the Barnack Leicas. The pre-IIIc's are smaller than the IIIc's and f's and the g's are also taller. There are real experst on that info here and will give you a better answer but be aware that they are various sized III's.

Ray

 

[OldNick]

I know nothing of the IIIg. I have a IIIa and a IIIf. When I bought my IIIa, in 1952, the only case available to me was the IIIf case. Yes, it is very slightly oversize for the smaller Barnacks, but one hardly notices the difference.

Jim N.

 

[xayraa33]

A musty smelling case can be made to smell ok by rubbing the outside leather with hemp seed oil several times and sprinkle baking soda on the inside and rub that in . Then hang it out open on sunny days on a clothes line.
repeat this process several times and when the smell is gone,dust the inside and polish the exterior leather with brown shoe polish.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I must be strange lol.....I actually like the old musty smell. I have treated leather to help prevent failure but not for the smell.

Ray😉

 

[xayraa33]

I must be strange lol.....I actually like the old musty smell. I have treated leather to help prevent failure but not for the smell.

Ray😉

Leather never- ready cases are a good source of fungus that attacks your precious optics in the camera and in your much loved lenses.
no ER case or a new Luigi type case is better than risking fungus contamination on glass.

 

[mtwo]

Pretty much as I thought but it is hard to tell from photos. So, as I feared, the case probably has a limited interest group, if any. I may give it a go on the big site anyway. It does need more sun time and a coat of polish though. To each his own regarding cases though. Some are more concerned with the appearance of the camera/case than the ability of the machine.

 

[mutikonka]

Leica IIIg vs IIIa

Leica IIIg vs IIIa

Here's an idea of how different they are in size: I have a IIIG and it will just fit into a IIIa case at a stretch but it is not usable because of the extra features such as self timer on the front. You might be able to use a IIIG with a Leica M3 case ... but I haven't tried it. I picked up a Leica IIIg case for $30.