Leica IIIc-f

Jerevan

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I bought a IIIc that was converted to a IIIf. It works nicely, except for one thing - the bottom plate is too tight fitting. It's "for king and country, getting blisters on your fingers" tight when you have to change films.

I have the feeling the bottom plate is not the correct one, as it has the IIIf "finger". Did all the IIIc to IIIf conversions come with this plate?

If it is indeed correct, there must be some fault with the plate itself. I've had a few ltm now and none has been this problematic.

Is there space enough for the IIIf plate to fit the IIIc?
 
The IIIc and IIIf bottom plate are interchangable so that would not be the problem. Either the plate is slightly bent or the shell is.. If you are referring to the key being hard to turn, it could be the tab that locks it is bent too far and will need to be readjusted..
 
The finger as you call it can very well be the issue.
I think a IIIc plate can be used on a IIIf, because it doesn't have it, but the opposite won't probably work.
I have two IIIf's, one RD and one BD, and for some reason their baseplate are not interchangeable.
 
The "finger" Colyn mentions is the protruding bit that rotates on the INSIDE of the base when the lock is turned. If the baseplate fits on properly and the problem is only with turning the lock, that's the problem for sure.

Cheers,
Dez
 
The finger as you call it can very well be the issue.
I think a IIIc plate can be used on a IIIf, because it doesn't have it, but the opposite won't probably work.
I have two IIIf's, one RD and one BD, and for some reason their baseplate are not interchangeable.

I have several IIIc's and IIIf's. All of them will take the bottom plate from either model..

These 2 models are identical except for the flash capability... Same size body so plates are swappable..
 
The lock works fine once you get the dang plate on. The finger (metal piece sticking up from the plate) is hard to get down into the camera, as if it didn't fit. Too bad I don't have another plate to use for a test. I've looked around a bit and I've seen converted IIIc cameras without this finger too, so maybe it is not as black and white ...
 
The lock works fine once you get the dang plate on. The finger (metal piece sticking up from the plate) is hard to get down into the camera, as if it didn't fit. Too bad I don't have another plate to use for a test. I've looked around a bit and I've seen converted IIIc cameras without this finger too, so maybe it is not as black and white ...

Unless it has been modified the newer IIIf plate will not work with the IIIc. The crate has to have a notch cut into it. This finger as you call it was introduced on newer III's to keep the film from sagging.

Check the crate to see if it has been modified. If it has the finger may be bent..

You may have to remove it or get another plate..
 
I don't have a iiif, but I do have a iiig and it has this "finger" of metal that slides into the body. It can be a bit of a pain but usually slides right in place.

However, none of my iiic cameras have this "finger" on the base plate.

You might contact Don Goldberg at DAG to see if he has a iiic plate you can buy and try out. If it doesn't solve the problem you can return it.
 
has not been modified.

What's happening is the finger is having to be forced between the crate and shell so it is a tight fit.

As another poster mentioned contact DAG..
 
DAG can cut the notch into the crate to fit the finger. I asked him about this issue a couple of weeks ago, and he said that he just did it for someone using a IIIF baseplate on an earlier camera.
 
Thanks gentlemen, for all advice and suggestions!

I have contacted Don (DAG). I asked him whether he had a spare IIIc plate and since he did not have any plate, he suggested that the "finger" should be milled off instead. I'll see what sort of cost the crate modification comes to, as a second option.

I'll have a look and see if I can find another IIIc parts camera with the "old plate" somewhere.
 
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