Leica LTM Leica IIIf eyepiece lenses

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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JOLILLO

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Hi everyone. Two months ago, while traveling I still don't know how but the fact is that I lost the eyepiece :bang: in my leica IIIf. Till then I have been searching for a replacement. I have found replacement for the piece holding the lenses in the eyepiece, but not for the lenses themselves 🙁. Even Don Goldberg has not replacement for them.
My model is a leica IIIf black scale, I would like kindly ask if some of you have some donor parts body laying around and would be so kind to selling, or giving 🙄, me the lenses from the eyepiece. It is really frustrating having so nice camera, in fully working state but I can not use it because of those small lenses 😕
 
JOLILLO said:
Hi everyone. Two months ago, while traveling I still don't know how but the fact is that I lost the eyepiece :bang: in my leica IIIf. Till then I have been searching for a replacement. I have found replacement for the piece holding the lenses in the eyepiece, but not for the lenses themselves 🙁. Even Don Goldberg has not replacement for them.
My model is a leica IIIf black scale, I would like kindly ask if some of you have some donor parts body laying around and would be so kind to selling, or giving 🙄, me the lenses from the eyepiece. It is really frustrating having so nice camera, in fully working state but I can not use it because of those small lenses 😕
Click to expand...

Give Sherry Krauter a call....she might have them. Good luck.:angel:
 
Do you have the rims holding the lenses? Then no problem, these lenses are simply plain glass. If you can find a place to cut small diameter then get yourself a microscope specimen slide (very thin glass plate) even a broken one from a lab can do.. I did the same on a bench grinder, by keeping it wet during grinding.
 
Yes BobYil, I think batterytypehah! is right, they are not flat glass, if they would be you wouldn't notice the difference opticaly between having them or not. But here is the difference, without them the viewfinder and the rangefinder are both out of focus, then is not possible to focus the camera.

Thanks Dave, I will give Sherry a try
 
batterytypehah! said:
Sorry, mine are not for sale 🙂

They're nothing but simple glass lenses, one positive and one negative. With some research you can probably find out the focal lengths. Then try a place like this: http://www.surplusshed.com/
Click to expand...

I have been looking for the same for a while. Youxin told me that they are impossible to find, and that a camera that is missing them effectively becomes a parts camera.
So, I've been considering following the method described above. To start with I haven't found any reference to the actual focal lengths of the lenses on the net. I have made attempts to measure a pair from a second body. but I have found it difficult to be accurate given how small they are.
What I have come up with;
The Viewfinder lens (right): f = +59mm (give or take 1mm)
The Rangefinder lens (left): f = between -24mm and -30mm (depending on what method I use)
The diameter of these is 5.5mm
I have looked at lots of generic lens sellers, but haven't found a good source for these sizes and focal lengths.

If any one could confirm or correct my measurements, and knows of a good source of these lenses It would be greatly appreciated. I think potentially lots of IIIcs and IIIfs can be brought back from the dead with this information.
 
I would also try Kindermann in Toronto and Youxin Ye.

If they don't have one, then, I'd try keh.com or ebay for a junker IIIf. They are common enough, and you could part out the rest of the camera.

Vick
 
Now it's clear! Please see the attachment: You need one of the 42 216-476 or 42 216-477, one of the eyepiece lenses on the eye side. These are not plain glass at all..

(And I was inquiring you if you still have the rims, the round knurled pieces in front of the finder! 😱 Sorry for the misunderstanding..)
 

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CNNY said:
I have been looking for the same for a while. Youxin told me that they are impossible to find, and that a camera that is missing them effectively becomes a parts camera.
So, I've been considering following the method described above. To start with I haven't found any reference to the actual focal lengths of the lenses on the net. I have made attempts to measure a pair from a second body. but I have found it difficult to be accurate given how small they are.
What I have come up with;
The Viewfinder lens (right): f = +59mm (give or take 1mm)
The Rangefinder lens (left): f = between -24mm and -30mm (depending on what method I use)
The diameter of these is 5.5mm
I have looked at lots of generic lens sellers, but haven't found a good source for these sizes and focal lengths.

If any one could confirm or correct my measurements, and knows of a good source of these lenses It would be greatly appreciated. I think potentially lots of IIIcs and IIIfs can be brought back from the dead with this information.
Click to expand...

The exact focal length shouldn't be too critical; the RF has diopter adjustment, anyway. In the VF, anything in the right ballpark should allow your eye to adapt.

I would experiment with any small lenses I could find. The positive one is easier. Any disposable camera has one in the VF. Plastic, of course, but that's better than nothing, and easier to bring down to the required diameter. Toy telescopes could be another source.

I checked the lens finder at the business I linked above (btw I'm merely aware of them, not a customer so far) and it lists two lenses not too far off those requirements: 5.6mm dia./+52mm FL and 5mm dia./-36mm FL. At $4 each, I'd give those a try.

Lastly, not one of my hobbies, but I know there are a lot of amateur telescope builders out there, including those who grind their own lenses and mirrors. They should know sources and techniques.
 
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