I had no idea what a Leica was, I was that new to photography. The guy behind the counter at the pawnshhop on Hawthorne Blvd near the intersection with the 405 Freeway in Hawthorne Calif. proudly took the camera off a multi shelved wall of cameras, telling me that "it's a great Leica copy" -- as if I could possibly know what that was. $35 was a lot of money then, but it was a "Leica Copy" and had to be worth it ... right....
"It" turned out to be a Nicca III, a good copy of a Leica III. The baseplate proudly proclaims "Made In Occupied Japan" from about 1952 when General MacArthur still ruled Japan. It was my first rangefinder, as well as my first interchangeable lens camera! You guessed it, I still have it. %$#@! collector!
Actually I have a small collection of Niccas. My favorite is the lever advance version with the M3 back type film loading -- usually called the Nicca Type 5.
In time Nicca was bought out by Yashica, giving Yashica focal plane camera capability. Yashica went on to manufacture the Contax / Yashica SLRs -- until production stopped about two years ago.
Stephen
"It" turned out to be a Nicca III, a good copy of a Leica III. The baseplate proudly proclaims "Made In Occupied Japan" from about 1952 when General MacArthur still ruled Japan. It was my first rangefinder, as well as my first interchangeable lens camera! You guessed it, I still have it. %$#@! collector!
Actually I have a small collection of Niccas. My favorite is the lever advance version with the M3 back type film loading -- usually called the Nicca Type 5.
In time Nicca was bought out by Yashica, giving Yashica focal plane camera capability. Yashica went on to manufacture the Contax / Yashica SLRs -- until production stopped about two years ago.
Stephen
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
in what year did you buy that Nicca for 35 dollars?
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
A damn sight better than having a Zorki as your first rangefinder (like me) 
VinceC
Veteran
Stephen,
OT: Truman relieved MacArthur of command in April 1951 ("Old soldiers never die, they just fade away...").
On topic -- My first rangefinder was a Kiev II, which took me down the road less travled that leads to the Nikon SP instead of the Leica M.
OT: Truman relieved MacArthur of command in April 1951 ("Old soldiers never die, they just fade away...").
On topic -- My first rangefinder was a Kiev II, which took me down the road less travled that leads to the Nikon SP instead of the Leica M.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
My first? Not long ago, a Canonet G-III QL17, purchased from a gentleman in TN in 2002. Seems now like ages ago... And nothing changed my attitude about photography more profoundly than that small camera!
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
My first was my dad's Anscoset that I used in high school. It got lost along the way, and then suddenly reappeared a couple months ago. But after high school I didn't use another one until 2 years ago, Ash, when I bought my first Zorki. It renewed my interest in photography... and started my checking account on a horrendous high speed downward plummeting spiral.Ash said:A damn sight better than having a Zorki as your first rangefinder (like me)
W
wlewisiii
Guest
My first was a Yashica GSN picked up for $8 at a flea market about a week before it made me join RFF ... I bought it because I had a 124G at the time, so I knew Yashica was a good brand. Did not have any clue what I was getting myself into... <LOL>
Now I'm waiting for my Bessa R to arrive from Cbass
William
I bought it because I had a 124G at the time, so I knew Yashica was a good brand. Did not have any clue what I was getting myself into... <LOL> Now I'm waiting for my Bessa R to arrive from Cbass
William
gb hill
Veteran
Like Fransisco my first rangefinder was a Canonet QL-17. Right now my favorite is my Zorki 2c. I just aquired a Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 collapsible that makes the little Zorki a great pocket camera. I really like the Bessa L too but I don't classify that little gem as a rangefinder.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I didn't know Niccas existed until about a year ago. There are many things I still have to learn.
My first rangefinder (although uncoupled) was my Franka Solida IIIL MF folder, with a very nice Schneider-Kreuznach 80mm f/2.9 lens. My first coupled rangefinder camera was...my Leica M6. It's never been the same ever since. I need to find a Platinum and Iridium mine.
My first rangefinder (although uncoupled) was my Franka Solida IIIL MF folder, with a very nice Schneider-Kreuznach 80mm f/2.9 lens. My first coupled rangefinder camera was...my Leica M6. It's never been the same ever since. I need to find a Platinum and Iridium mine.
physiognomy
Confirmed RF addict...
I had to think pretty hard to remember which one was my first rf... I am almost certain it was my QL17 GIII, but a Kiev 4 & Electro GT followed quickly behind. I paid a little more for the canonet than I should have, but it came with a guarantee & hasn't ever let me down. My Kiev 4 has a very nice black paint job & blue leather (click 'kiev 4' in my sig). It was my first interchangeable lens rangefinder & I have gathered a nice set of fsu lenses for it in the last few years. The Electro was a mess internally when I got it... I ended up getting a full refund from the ebay seller to repair it, so I sent it off to g'man. Needless to say it's a really nice camera now.
Peter
Peter
Not my first camera, but the first with a rangefinder, was a 10-year-old used button-rewind M2 for $150 at Olympic Camera Center in Seattle. Still have it!
januaryman
"Flim? You want flim?"
My first -the one I bought with my money was a Yashica Minister D. Some of my most appreciated stuff came from those early days and me using that camera.
Minolta Hi-Matic 9, spent the entire Summer of '69 mowing lawns and saving $80 to get it. Still have it, still works.
I also picked up a Nicca III, MIOJ, with a Collapsible Nikkor on it. The latter was not advertised.
I also picked up a Nicca III, MIOJ, with a Collapsible Nikkor on it. The latter was not advertised.
As nice as the Nicca bodies are they and their Tower kin, are in my eyes a great way to get your hands on an LTM Nikkor 50!!!
Actually, I think Brian suggested that fact to me a few moons ago, not my original thought.
physiognomy
Confirmed RF addict...
rover said:
I must admit that almost won another IIIS so I could have the 50/1.4 as well... It went out of my price range, but would have been a great buy!
Peter
Mudman
Well-known
My first use with a range finder was a Linhof Super technika III. My first rangefinder that I owned (just recieved) is a Leica iii
Marc-A.
I Shoot Film
2 years ago, I bought my first RF, a Zorki 4K + Industar 50 for 40€. I just fell in love with it ... it needs a CLA, a new skin, but I keep it.
What got me interested in photography was my dad's Nicca type III MIOJ. He had a 35/3.5, 50/2 collapsible, and 135 Nikkors. I've scanned and posted several of his Kodachromes taken with that camera on RFF. It also happens to be why I'm such a fan of all lenses Nikkor.
peterm1
Veteran
I was a Leica virgin till maybe 15 years ago when I let my local friendly camera store guy know I might be in the market for something like a Leica M. I had already bought a few cameras from him but till then my interests were in Pentax screw mount and older Nikon gear both of which gave me ample scope to exercise my lust for nice lenses. (At a low price.)
Eventually I went into the deep end. After a few weeks of dancing around each other, he said that he had an M4P with a contemporary black summicron 50mm that had been sitting around for a while and had not moved so he was willing to drop the price and let me have it on extended lay-by. Eventually after quite a few months I paid it off. Then he says he has a 35mm summicron he would let me have on the same terms. I knew little about the variants but it turned out to be a mint 4th version (the bokeh king) in box with a hood for about one grand , so I put that on lay-by and commenced to pay it off. Then he says he has a 90mm tele-elmarit from the same era that he can let me have on the same terms. Off I go again. Well it took me about 2 years but eventually I had a full Leica M kit. Not long after he gets an M3 with a summitar in nice condition so the merry go round started again. Boy that guy knew how to milk a situation! But I was happy and I was into the world of Leica using and I suppose to some extent, collecting.
Eventually I went into the deep end. After a few weeks of dancing around each other, he said that he had an M4P with a contemporary black summicron 50mm that had been sitting around for a while and had not moved so he was willing to drop the price and let me have it on extended lay-by. Eventually after quite a few months I paid it off. Then he says he has a 35mm summicron he would let me have on the same terms. I knew little about the variants but it turned out to be a mint 4th version (the bokeh king) in box with a hood for about one grand , so I put that on lay-by and commenced to pay it off. Then he says he has a 90mm tele-elmarit from the same era that he can let me have on the same terms. Off I go again. Well it took me about 2 years but eventually I had a full Leica M kit. Not long after he gets an M3 with a summitar in nice condition so the merry go round started again. Boy that guy knew how to milk a situation! But I was happy and I was into the world of Leica using and I suppose to some extent, collecting.
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