Leica LTM Leica IIIC K - share info and questions

[LeicaTom]

It's here! It's here! Granted, with some unpleasant duties that had to be paid.

First impressions: Well it's not like it looks much different from my other two war-time IIIc's, But damn! That's the smoothest shutter wind and release I've ever felt on a Barnack body!
And the glass of the Summitar is in way better condition then my 1939 one.

Also, thanks for the extra never-ready case Tom! 😉

Pictures tomorrow, when there is no imminent Tornado warning!

Yes, the 45' "K" is a very special animal, looks and feels different than the early Leica IIIC's and I think has a better build and working than the 1946/47 models.

That LOOKX K combo should shoot very very well, I can't wait to see some
"on location" reenactment shooting from you and your "new" 45' 😀

....... and see there's another photographer who has joined the
Leica IIIC K club! 😉

Happy Shooting Rick!

Tom

PS: Yeah that case was an odd one.....it's a pre-war one for IIIB/early IIIC and the finish was what I found really kool, sort of a Malted Choclate Milk look, pretty leather Leica picked out that day....... 🙂

 

[Mr_Flibble]

And here she is!

Surrounded by her 2 elder sisters

 

[LeicaTom]

And here she is!

Surrounded by her 2 elder sisters

Nice Nice!!!!!

Great PiNuP PIC of V.L. too, she's one of my 1940's favorite actresses 🙂

Happy Shooting with that lot!

Tom

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Going to put a roll of XP2 through it upcoming Saturday when I visit Valkenburg. Period Pictures will take a little longer.

The photo of Veronica Lake was taken by John A. Bushemi, the photographer with the Ikoflex in the second photo. He was killed on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, Feb 19, 1944.

 

[Michael Markey]

This ones been up for sale in the UK for some time.

http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=47_50&products_id=2200

 

[LeicaTom]

This ones been up for sale in the UK for some time.

http://www.reddotcameras.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=47_50&products_id=2200

1,899 ? I'm sure that's Pounds Sterling.........nice patina on a original paint 1945 US Army IIIC K - too bad about the new vulcanite, something that can be fixed with $$$ but, the camera is already too highly priced in my opinion, this should be a $1,200 camera, almost a "user" grade, would make an exotic one at that.....😉

Tom

 

[Erik van Straten]

From the official spare parts list and servicing instructions from Leitz in the 1960's it is clear that in EVERY Ic, IIc, IIIc, If, IIf, IIIf, Ig and IIIg with serial numbers higher than 451001 three ball bearings were used, one of 14 balls of 1,5 mm, a double one of 2 x 9 balls of 1,2 mm and one of 12 balls of 1 mm.

Erik.

 

[RF_newbie]

You guys are all CRAZY !! Those grey painted cameras are nothing special at all !!! I have no frikin idea why people spend thousands of dollars on them, it surely is not because they have 3 special balls. SO WHAT IS the BIG Deal Here ???

 

[RF_newbie]

Okay move along please...nothing special to see here...these are not the cameras you are looking for...

 

[LeicaTom]

You guys are all CRAZY !! Those grey painted cameras are nothing special at all !!! I have no frikin idea why people spend thousands of dollars on them, it surely is not because they have 3 special balls. SO WHAT IS the BIG Deal Here ???

HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!

Only 3 balls? lol!!!!!!!

Well, mine have more balls then I can count 🙂 *ball bearing overkill* and a camera smoother than any other LTM Leica is..........

But, like RF said, these cameras are just a myth, nothing special, just Grey paint, lot's of history and now old and collecting dust, I'm sure he and I will take any off your hands if anyone should find one and not want it 😉

More later on my website.......

Tom

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I almost through the first roll in my new baby. The shutter is either VERY smooth or it's way out of alignment. 😉
Had some backfocus issues with the Summitar wide-open on the R-D1 though (though I might not have fully extended when using it in the dark)

 

[LeicaTom]

I almost through the first roll in my new baby. The shutter is either VERY smooth or it's way out of alignment. 😉
Had some backfocus issues with the Summitar wide-open on the R-D1 though (though I might not have fully extended when using it in the dark)

Yes, Rick you got a really fine example there right out of my collection, I hated to part with it, but I'm thinning things out.

I'm thinking of finally doing my long awaited FRANKENLEICA project, I cannot seem to find a MP3 for a reasonable price and a M6J is out of the question as a user.........

Enjoy the camera, nice to have someone new in the IIIC K club 😀

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

ohh and as for bearings, Dr Bernard has repaired, X-rayed and inspected most of my cameras and also has delt with about 45+ more WW2 Leica IIIC's and has the Bearing patterns and info down pat, he's also still offering to X-ray cameras for anyone who's not certain as to what they have........it's the only way to tell without tearing down the camera and some of the Ball Bearings cannot be seen even after tearing down a camera.

There's quite a few differnet set ups used during the war and the groups were many many more than just 3 as in the later IIIC and IIIF cameras.

I have also found out that a IIIF K was made during the 1950's so that might be the KING of absolute ball bearing overkill?

I have to acquire that 1942 camera still to dissect and add the information to the mountain of Tech stuff the Dr has found, as to that IIIF K that's another Leica mystery that needs to be answered?

There's been no NEW cameras offered online anywhere that I am knowledgeable of.....mostly anything on ebay is dealer stuff and is way overpriced for it's condition anyway.
The last private sale of a US Army IIIC K Grey I know of was for $3,000 a very clean camera, wrong lens (non matching) but a very nice camera overall.

Tom

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Argh! Damn shutter is capping badly on 1/1000th. Also intermittently at 1/500th. Lower speeds seem to be okay.
Got less then 10 properly exposed frames out of a roll of XP2 🙁

1/500th at f/11, with Nr.0 yellow filter

1/100th at f/5.6

similar as above

1/30th at f/2.8-ish, with some back-focus on the Summitar (I had lined up the RF on the dram of whiskey)

Back to the drawing board....

 

[Erik van Straten]

he's also still offering to X-ray cameras for anyone who's not certain as to what they have........it's the only way to tell without tearing down the camera and some of the Ball Bearings cannot be seen even after tearing down a camera.

I think it is quite easy to feel the difference when tensioning two cameras side by side. Simply compare an M2 and a IIIg and you'll learn the difference. M-Leicas do not have ball bearings. Or try side by side a IIIf and a post war converted II. The difference is BIG!

Erik.

 

[johannielscom]

Nice shots none the less, Rick!

Ask Erik van Straten about his favorite repairman, a former Odin repairer in Nijmegen IIRC.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Well I'm not completely disappointed 😉
I just have to keep in mind to stay away from the top shutter speeds (until I get it looked at one day)

 

[LeicaTom]

Well I'm not completely disappointed 😉
I just have to keep in mind to stay away from the top shutter speeds (until I get it looked at one day)

The photos look great, they really have that "vintage" look to them 🙂 - I love the Summitar lens!

I'm sorry to hear that it's capping Rick, that camera was a "show" camera, it was never opened before that I know of and hence never CLA'd.
(I'm not a tech expert, I know the shutter speed catch lever went bad on the one IIIC K I was using and it was capping as well?)

Many IIIC's of that era suffer the same issue, I have that Sharkskin IIIC K now that's also capping at 1000, needless to say I don't use IIIC K's for major daily work anymore, they are purely show pieces now and something to run a roll through for fun sometimes, these cameras are getting to be so valuable that they are no longer practial to be used as "users" anymore.

My "user" #392xxx camera was fully rebuilt like 3 years ago and since only has had like 10 or 15 rolls through it, I can't really tell, but I think it's capping too at 1000 as well? I won't know until a roll is put through.....

As soon as I get my M6 back, ALL the IIIC K's will be going on the shelve into static displays, an occasional "shooting for fun" and that's it ~ times change, 5 years ago I wouldn't have said that, but with IIIC K's of all types becoming as rare as hens teeth, I have to change my mine about what equipment is for keeps/collecting and what's for everyday business wear and tear.

Tom

 

[MISH]

Rick
please shoot the crap out of that lovely camera

 

[Mr_Flibble]

No worries Tom,

I never intended for the camera to become a frequent-user. It'll probably fill up some shelf space in my display cabinet next to my Red-Curtain IIIc and be used to shoot the occasional roll.

I'm aware that 1/1000th was a difficult speed to obtain accurately with the IIIa to IIIc. And I normally don't use anything faster then 1/500th. But it was sunny out there during the trip and the summitar's aperture doesn't go beyond f/12.5. I had to compensate somehow 😉

A slower ISO film should help, or at least verify the problems. I'll try some Fujicolor 200 next.