Leifed or Zorkca

[colyn]

This thing looks to have a genuine Leica crate but some parts are Russian. Note the rf cam..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/leica-III-c...620621352?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item589ec1c628

 

[Livesteamer]

Wow! Looks rough but clearly someone put a lot of thought and effort into it. I wonder if it really works? Joe

 

[Frontman]

I have seen a couple old FSU cameras with detachable backs or other interesting modifications. I have a Zorki 2 which has had the baseplate modified to put the tripd socket in the center, and a flash synch on the top cover. It's quite ugly, but it works well.

 

[colyn]

I would guess that most of the camera is genuine Leica but the rf cam is obviously not which makes me wonder if the rangefinder is Leica..

It's a shame that someone would butcher a Leica like this..

 

[Jerevan]

Gruesome job. A conversion gone haywire at the Leica factory back in the days? 😀

 

[Sid836]

It is ugly! As if it had rolled down a staircase or something. Interesting modification, but pretty ugly shape!

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I don't think it ugly, from the front it looks like any other and from behind it looks very interesting with the modified back. I'm just surprised no one else has done it, it seems the obvious modification now I've seen it.

Regards, David

 

[Dralowid]

Interesting...it sort of looks like he was on his way to a sort of Canon conclusion but never really got there, light leaks aside it might work.

Somewhere I saw an LTM camera with a ground down M flange on it. Not sure if that ever reached fruition.

In antique circles I think this is called 'shed work'!

 

[johannielscom]

In my humble opinion, the bottom plate is the only actually usable part of this concoction 😀

 

[Livesteamer]

This is not a pretty camera but I suspect it has shot a lot of film in its lifetime. I'm a retired machinist and over the years I've known a wide variety of craftsmen. Some did lovely work that was no good and some did rough looking work that actually worked well. (And many in between.) This camera was likely built with only the tools available, things that would do but were not exactly what was needed. If I had the money and could inspect it in person, I'd be tempted. I once owned the worlds ugliest Nikon F and it worked well. Joe

 

[greyelm]

I think the body is Soviet. The top plate is Soviet and the VF surround has been beaten to resemble a Leica. The RF and view finder lenses are Soviet. I don't know enough about the internals other than the RF cam is Soviet. I doubt that there is much Leica hardware present. One giveaway for Soviet bodies is the use of silver front screws instead of black.

 

[johannielscom]

What Malcolm says. The Leica shutter speed dial (it has markings 20-1 from a Leica III or IIIa) is fitted with a big screw, likely since it didn't line up with the screw mount hole of the FED or Zorki internals...

Early FED top plates had an RF window that was identically shaped as the Leica II, but this was very likely re-engraved as a Leica (script is off, esp. the serial number) and the 'toilet seat' round shutter housing was panel-beaten into a more edged shape that later Leica II's had. Typical action of an unknowledgeable camera hacker: the early Leica II had the same 'toilet seat' round shutter housing that the early FED had, only later did Leica change it to the edged model...

 

[Jacques M.]

On the Leica side: leatherette, ears for straps, winding button, shoe and internal shutter box, which is interesting.
On the Fed one: the rangefinder tip.

An interesting camera. I already saw such a modification to easy the loading. But what the hell they did with the cover? A pity...

I have several "bitza"cameras: Fed repaired with Leica parts and the reverse. A much better job than for this poor one, I must say...

Jacques.

 

[ray*j*gun]

What a mess!!