Leica LTM Leica III or IIIc

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses

Leica III or IIIc

  • Leica III

    Votes: 14 10.9%

  • Leica IIIC

    Votes: 115 89.1%
  • Total voters
    129
The IIIc is my choice for everyday use. The III if you only shoot once or twice a month..
 
D.O'K. said:
The IIIc is the better camera for all the reasons given, but the lighter III has a more modest and "bijoux" feel in the hand which some might find attractive.

But I'd opt for whichever of the two is in better working condition.

Regards,
D.
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I think condition is really the deciding factor here, and the IIIC being a lot newer, will have less time on components like the shutter curtains which gradually age. Both the cast body Leicas and the older sheet-metal ones are close to structurally indestructible, so that is probably not really a factor. The rangefinders are different, but both are squinty and difficult to use for a person like me who wears glasses. The dioptre correction of both designs works for me, but the IIIC design is probably marginally better..

There is a difference in the aesthetics of the two cameras, and I prefer the older body style, but I would have a hard time explaining the reasons. I guess that is why my favourite Leica is the IIIB, a transition design which combines the old body and the newer rangefinder. These used to be very scarce, but I have seen lots for sale in recent years, at decent prices.

LeicaB.jpg


LeicaB2.jpg


Although I prefer the Summitar as a usable lens, again the aesthetic of the Elmar seems better somehow.

Cheers,
Dez
 
Dez said:
I guess that is why my favourite Leica is the IIIB, a transition design which combines the old body and the newer rangefinder. These used to be very scarce, but I have seen lots for sale in recent years, at decent prices.
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I agree on the IIIb as a capable in-between. I have got one, CLA'd by Leica in 2000, and it's a wonderful shooter.
 
Out of the five Barnacks I have, 4 are built-up bodies ( 1932 II, 2 x 1933 III black, 1934 III ), and 1 die-cast body - 1951 III-f BD. The 1934 III is my user Barnack.

The pre-war cameras all have their original curtains, and are light-tight. The chrome on the '34 III is peeling in spots...

The curtains in the III-f are like chintz, and the flash sync is gummy; otherwise it is in beautiful shape. Nothing that can't be CLA'd and repaired.

Aside from some-time issues with poor chrome, and deteriorated curtains, the III-c and later cameras are the better machine, for the reasons mentioned above ( ball-bearing shutter, rigid die-cast body)...

The III-c seems to be one of the more plentiful and reasonably priced screw-mount bodies...

My two-cents worth...

Luddite Frank
 
IIIb is the acme of Barnacks: top deck is a work of art, and smaller size vs IIIc can be felt in the hand. I also have the SCNOO rapid winder, which adds little bulk and actually performs its task. M bodies are more refined, but seem positively huge in comparison. :)
 
Rico said:
IIIb is the acme of Barnacks: top deck is a work of art, and smaller size vs IIIc can be felt in the hand. I also have the SCNOO rapid winder, which adds little bulk and actually performs its task. M bodies are more refined, but seem positively huge in comparison. :)
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Well said, Rico.

To get real for a moment, people don't really value old Leicas for their utility, but for the perfection of their design, both mechanically and aesthetically. They are a joy to use, not because of their flexibility, or their ability to allow the photographer to explore new horizons, but because they do the few things they can do to perfection. Maybe that's why most people seem to post monochrome pictures on RFF.

So I feel justified in putting a lot of weight on the art of their design. The IIIC and IIIF, with their large areas of flat chrome on the front, just don't do it for me. The later IIIF with the self-timer breaks up the large flat areas, and looks a lot more attractive somehow. The III-IIIB seem to me to be a superb design. I have never encountered a IIIB or older modified to include a self-timer. That would be quite interesting.

Cheers,
Dez
 
My advice is this: If a screw mount Leica is your main everyday shooter, get the newest one (lllc, lllf) you can find within your budget. If, like me, you have a screw mount Leica around for the nostalgic shooting experience, and have say, a couple of M2's for your main rf cameras, then a llla or older would be a great camera.

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The IIIc was an engineering improvement but the III's are so darned pretty.....I own both and there is something sweet about the III.
 
What a timely thread! I went to my local camera shop today to buy some film (I've actually used all of mine!) Well, I got some trix, some delta, and some sfx - all my twentyfirst century faves. While I was there, I did some browsing the used stuff they have (a lot of used stuff lives there, I bought my 3D camera, a couple of my current slrs and my former Leica M4-P there.) and lo and behold, there is a really nice looking, user quality IIIc - with some sort of collapsable 50mm lens! - in the case. And it's affordable - no "collector pricing" on this one - it's chrome, and has has some aesthetic/cosmetic issues. I was with my teenage son so I couldn't linger over it, but suffice to say, my interest was piqued.

Don't get me wrong - I am NOT in the market for another camera system! Barnack Leicas have always seemed a bit on the overly complex side of things to me - two different controls for shutter speed, time consuming film loading, separate viewing and focusing finders. But they also claim historical precedent, incredible and affordable lenses, and well, they look cool.

I'm gonna go back tomorrow and check it out better. If I'm lucky, someone will have bought it by then. ;)
 
Chris101 said:
Barnack Leicas have always seemed a bit on the overly complex side of things to me - two different controls for shutter speed, time consuming film loading, separate viewing and focusing finders. ;)
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yah they are all that and I looked down my nose at them for years but when you get one you find that they are also a very fun very capable shooting system and if you can stop with just one you have stronger will power than me
 
I originally started this thread in 2010, since then have bought and sold a couple of barnarck,, currently getting funds to buy another one.
 
MISH said:
yah they are all that and I looked down my nose at them for years but when you get one you find that they are also a very fun very capable shooting system and if you can stop with just one you have stronger will power than me
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+1

My Leica Inventory (right now):

1 x M Leica:

Leica M3 DS with DR Summicron


4 x LTM Leica:

Leica III with Summar (US export version)
Leica III (black) with nickel Elmar
Leica IIIa with nickel Summar
Leica IIIf (rd) with Summitar

and several LTM Copies (2x Canon, 3x Zorki)...
 
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