Leica IIIF Red Dial?

Dave Jenkins

Dave Jenkins

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I have acquired a near-pristine Leica IIIF with the serial number 790362. Would this be a red dial model, according to the S.N.?

If so, what, other than the S.N. makes it a red dial?

The cosmetics are near-pristine, as I said. Assuming it is in good working order, approximately how much would it be worth?
 
There are numbers from 0-20 on/in the top plate around the shutterspeed knob, and yours are painted red. This has something to do with flash-photography...
 
More red numerals rather than a dial per se

More red numerals rather than a dial per se

Have a look at the numbers for the flash synchronizer settings under the main shutter speed dial on top. If these numbers are in red, then you have a "red dial". Actually, it should be "red numerals", as the earlier version had these numerals in black paint.

For X-flash synch, you set the synchronizer to 20 if using a shutter speed of 1/50. If using a shutter speed of 1/25 or slower, then set the synchronizer to 0.

For the earlier black numeral version, you had to set the synchronizer to another number for X synch (which I don't know, since I don't own one).

If you still use flash bulbs, you'll have to consult the instruction manual. You need to set the synchronizer to different numbers depending on the type of flash bulb you are using.

Other than the flash fuss (which was greatly simplified in the subsequent IIIG and M3), it's a beautiful camera hold and to use.
 
Yours is from 1955

Yours is from 1955

Looking up the table of serial numbers (from Stephen Gandy's site), yours is from 1955.

I also have a 1955 IIIF RD ST. Mine is in the 773xxx block, which makes it a Canadian, from Midland.
 
Hold on! Not so fast here boys and girls. Concerning black dial and red dial Leica IIIf cameras: 1)A black dial camera has the speeds 30-40-60 etc. on the top dial and seven numbered speeds on the front dial. 2)A red dial camera has the speeds 25-50-75 etc. on the top dial and six numbered speeds on the front dial. I'm not sure if any black dial cameras came from the factory with a self timer or not. Anyway, Youxin Ye advertised a Leica IIIf RDST camera,
and I bought it. Well, guess what, (I'm sure some of you are way ahead of me here) it has the proper speeds and a self timer but the dial numbers are black! Do I have a black dial camera? I don't think so. Moral of story--don't trust the paint color of the dial, there's a lot more to it than that!
By the way, I once saw a picture of a Ford with Mercedes wheel covers--it was still a Ford.
 
Steve Bellayr said:
BD were not made with self timers. collectiblend.com for prices better than auction site
Click to expand...


Ah, but I happen to have a IIIc Black-dial / Self-Timer...


😎


Yes, it was a factory-upgrade... 😀

The sync-dial is attached to the original top-plate via tiny little screws.

Factory-synced ( -f and -g ) cameras had the sync #'s stamped right into the main top-plate.


I think the Head Bartender's Leica articles mention that there were a few late Black-Dial -f Leicae with Self-Timers ?

Regarding value, if that Summicron is clear ( no scratches / cleaning marks ) it's probably worth more than the -f body...

If both lens and body are unarguably "nearly pristine", my W-A-G would be $400-$500 for the lens, and $350-$450 for the body ?

Would love to see some pics... 🙂
 
I love this stuff. I have a black dial (yes, has all the requirements of a black dial) #590152 with a self timer. Per THE book, Rogliatti's Revised Second Edition of "Leica The First Fifty Years" on page 49, referring to added feature of the self timer on the red dial cameras, it says "some black dial cameras also had this feature added." The camera in front of me confirms this.
 
Mine was acquired this past Sept in Copenhagen, while on holiday in Denmark with my wife. Came with a nice clean Summitar.

Still keeping my eyes open for a nice Summarit. 🙂
 
This is my second Summarit, the first looked good from a distance but had had some of the coatings polished away by an enthusiastic mold eradicator. This one looks battered but is optically better.
 
It's all about the optics... 😉

I'm wishing I had bought one of the several Xenar / Summarit lenses that Ritz Collectible Cameras had when I bought my first LTM from them circa 2007...

Oh well...
 
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