lukasdinohk
-little camera addict
Wartime Leica IIIc Red Curtain (Converted IIIf)
Leica Summitar 50mm f/2
Post-War Leica IIIc Black Repaint
Jupiter-12 35mm f/2.8
Voigtlander 35mm Viewfinder
ChrisLivsey
Veteran
IIIc/IIIf Conversion
IIIc/IIIf Conversion
I did a virtual swap meet with Tom Abrahamsson. A batch of Tessina and Nikon cassettes went to Vancouver and I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful camera.(Lens and finder were mine.)
First roll is in, some Rollei Retro 100S and should be out again later today.
IIIc/IIIf Conversion
I did a virtual swap meet with Tom Abrahamsson. A batch of Tessina and Nikon cassettes went to Vancouver and I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful camera.(Lens and finder were mine.)
First roll is in, some Rollei Retro 100S and should be out again later today.
anjolie
Newbie
Wow, that's a really nice set up you've got
Erik van Straten
Veteran
What a beautiful and unique camera, this conversion IIIb. Thank you very much for sharing. The camera is in an awesome condition.
I think that the conversion was done at a slightly later date, because of the covering.
There is only one question to ask: WHY would someone convert a Leica of only fifteen years old without the addition of any new features, exept the coating of the Summar?
Erik.
I think that the conversion was done at a slightly later date, because of the covering.
There is only one question to ask: WHY would someone convert a Leica of only fifteen years old without the addition of any new features, exept the coating of the Summar?
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
I think it is done after 1954. The camera has "M3-style" vulcanite wich didn't appear on the screwmounts before 1954.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
After the war there was a great demand for cameras for many years. The demand was far greater than Leitz could provide. This was one of the reasons Leitz made in those years so many conversions (upgrading) of the early Leica's.
Erik
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
I think the rangefinder housing was from a pre-WWII batch as the Leica script and font is the same as on the pre-war bodies. Only the original number was re-engraved, but with the post-war "Nr." indication. I assume the modern plastic, IIIc-type eyepiece surround screws in the same way as the pre-war chrome one of the original IIIb. The base plate and body shell (+ stud) are the same as on post-war IIIa (Syn) conversions.
What surprises me is that they haven't upgraded the body to "Syn" for flash synchronization, as was done for many post war converted IIIas.
All in all, a beautiful camera! Never seen one before.
What surprises me is that they haven't upgraded the body to "Syn" for flash synchronization, as was done for many post war converted IIIas.
All in all, a beautiful camera! Never seen one before.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Yes, I believe I heard that. Why is this?
Erik van Straten
Veteran
The viewfinder and accessory shoe are those of the IIIc, but the mechanism of the shutter is from the I, II, III and IIIa series. There is no room for the synchronisation.
Erik.
L David Tomei
Well-known
This one started life as a Leica I in 1938-39, #312196, according to commonly used web sites. I'm really not sure what it is now but it is my favorite shooter. Here are my notes on the camera done back a few years ago when I first got it.
Leica I Conversion Notes:
1. Serial number 312196 belongs to a 1938-39 Leica I which had the 1/1000 top speed as an available upgrade, but no slow speeds.
2. The shutter is a black dial with 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60 etc speeds.
3. As with post-War models based on Leica III bodies, the slow speed dial is covered by a round plate. These were commonly covered with body cover material, or were often left uncovered exposing three retainer screws.
4. The use of GMBH was mandated by German law in 1951. The use of DBP was introduced in 1952 and mandated by 1953. This upper housing shows both indicating a production/upgrade of 1952 or later. The use of Nr. Began in 1949/50. This camera was apparently not upgraded before 1952.
5. Upgrades by Leica during the post-War years were based on the Leica IIIf body, single casting upper housing. It is distinguishable by the fact that these had larger body sizes than this 312196 example. This example is not a IIf upgrade.
6. The only Leica model based upon the pre-War Leica III body and two piece upper housing made after WWII was the Type 72 halframe built in Wetzlar in 1950 and later. Only 33 are known to exist. The Type 72 upper housing is identical to that of the 312196 camera with the exception of the viewfinder halframe mask.
7. There is a Leitz factory service card listing the names of the Leica employees who worked on the camera. The card has Nr. 2737 ‘ 312196, indicating that the camera was given a prefix after 1950, as indicated by the use of “Nr.”. The prefix is not engraved on the camera.
8. This 312196 camera came equipped with a Leitz Elmar f=5cm 1:3,5 lens having a serial number 254063 engraved on the front adjustment ring as with most such lenses. This serial number indicates a production date of 1935, and has the infrared setting that first appeared in that year. It is apparently an early example because it has the “o” engraved on the focusing lever mount, which indicated a standard screw mount. These were used in 1931, but removed in 1932 with the introduction of the infinity lock at the 7 o’clock position. This lens has the bell-push type lock, but with the “o” engraving of the earlier models. This lens is coated, although coating of lenses was not available until after 1946. The lens is likely a transition model produced in early 1932 and later upgraded to a coated lens. There is no explanation for the 1935 production date serial number which is inconsistent with the mount as well as the lens coating.
Thanks for any help on this conversion. David
Leica I Conversion Notes:
1. Serial number 312196 belongs to a 1938-39 Leica I which had the 1/1000 top speed as an available upgrade, but no slow speeds.
2. The shutter is a black dial with 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60 etc speeds.
3. As with post-War models based on Leica III bodies, the slow speed dial is covered by a round plate. These were commonly covered with body cover material, or were often left uncovered exposing three retainer screws.
4. The use of GMBH was mandated by German law in 1951. The use of DBP was introduced in 1952 and mandated by 1953. This upper housing shows both indicating a production/upgrade of 1952 or later. The use of Nr. Began in 1949/50. This camera was apparently not upgraded before 1952.
5. Upgrades by Leica during the post-War years were based on the Leica IIIf body, single casting upper housing. It is distinguishable by the fact that these had larger body sizes than this 312196 example. This example is not a IIf upgrade.
6. The only Leica model based upon the pre-War Leica III body and two piece upper housing made after WWII was the Type 72 halframe built in Wetzlar in 1950 and later. Only 33 are known to exist. The Type 72 upper housing is identical to that of the 312196 camera with the exception of the viewfinder halframe mask.
7. There is a Leitz factory service card listing the names of the Leica employees who worked on the camera. The card has Nr. 2737 ‘ 312196, indicating that the camera was given a prefix after 1950, as indicated by the use of “Nr.”. The prefix is not engraved on the camera.
8. This 312196 camera came equipped with a Leitz Elmar f=5cm 1:3,5 lens having a serial number 254063 engraved on the front adjustment ring as with most such lenses. This serial number indicates a production date of 1935, and has the infrared setting that first appeared in that year. It is apparently an early example because it has the “o” engraved on the focusing lever mount, which indicated a standard screw mount. These were used in 1931, but removed in 1932 with the introduction of the infinity lock at the 7 o’clock position. This lens has the bell-push type lock, but with the “o” engraving of the earlier models. This lens is coated, although coating of lenses was not available until after 1946. The lens is likely a transition model produced in early 1932 and later upgraded to a coated lens. There is no explanation for the 1935 production date serial number which is inconsistent with the mount as well as the lens coating.
Thanks for any help on this conversion. David
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Sure, at least until 1960. Most probably they stopped with the conversions when the last of the screwmounts, the IIIg, was out of production. There was a special production line in the factory were the conversions were done.
Erik.
Erik van Straten
Veteran
Yes, it is the same what is in my (black) II and (black) IIasyn post war conversions.
I've noticed that in the very early post war conversions there is no loading diagram and no bottom cover plate on the shutter crate.
Lovely camera, yours!
Erik.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
A really fascinating camera! Is the shutter crate cover plate the same part as in the IIIC and newer, or it unique too? It appears that the shutter crate itself is a standard IIIB part, with extra holes drilled for the screws holding on the cover. Presumably the special baseplate is a shortened version of the standard baseplate with no diagram on it. I wonder why they went to the plastic eyepiece when the metal one was still in use on the IIIC for a few years. I think that is another indicator that the upgrade was in the 50's rather than earlier.
Cheers,
Dez
Erik van Straten
Veteran
They are both very nice. Strange is, that conversions to a III used to get a wind knob with a film speed reminder like the IIIf. Yours have just plain wind knobs.
The film speed reminders in the wind knobs are not very nice so I think you are very lucky.
Erik.
The film speed reminders in the wind knobs are not very nice so I think you are very lucky.
Erik.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Came to check out the black camera you bought HuubL. Very nice.
I should really try to get one again one of these days. Hopefully it doesn't get lost in the mail like that last one.
I should really try to get one again one of these days. Hopefully it doesn't get lost in the mail like that last one.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Yes, I've seen IIIa-syn conversions with film speed reminders in the wind knob, but most of them have a plain knob. I'm wondering if the cameras with the "reminder knobs" wouldn't also need a IIIf drive shaft construction, with the different way in which the counter progresses on these models?
Dralowid
Michael
Interesting, very nice camera and unusual to see the comma in the serial number (19,471)...has anyone any other examples of this?
I have conversions with and without the film reminder. Yes I'd assume the shaft would need to be different to take them.
I have conversions with and without the film reminder. Yes I'd assume the shaft would need to be different to take them.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
The comma, is a little thread of dust... I've wiped it off
Dralowid
Michael
Oh HuubL, what a shame, how could you?!
After many years of collecting conversions I thought you had found something that I have never seen before! I was worried that I had missed an engraving detail that the cognoscenti would treat as ' simply normal'!
It's a very nice camera. Did it come with that Elmar and if it did, is it without a serial number, in other words, was it converted too (maybe)?
After many years of collecting conversions I thought you had found something that I have never seen before! I was worried that I had missed an engraving detail that the cognoscenti would treat as ' simply normal'!
It's a very nice camera. Did it come with that Elmar and if it did, is it without a serial number, in other words, was it converted too (maybe)?
Erik van Straten
Veteran
The official Leitz literature states that the IIIa syn should have a 'reminder' wind knob.
The same literature says that the Leicas I, II, III, IIIa and IIIa syn all have the same winding gear and shaft.
Erik.
The same literature says that the Leicas I, II, III, IIIa and IIIa syn all have the same winding gear and shaft.
Erik.