My IIIa's rf is brighter than yours...

[colyn]

I just finished replacing the beamsplitter on my 1936 IIIa that was recently restored and now I can focus in dim light. 😎 😎

Didn't even have to calibrate it. It is dead on at infinity and 1m...😀

 

[LeicaTom]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on this and also congrats on the Red Curtain/Luftwaffen sale, but too bad it went to Italy though.....seems the Europeans will clean America out of all of her WW2 Leica`s, the way the markets going 🙁

I just traded a 1945 IIIC "Stepper" Conversion to IIIFBD that had a super bright/crisp VF window, brighter than I`ve ever seen, maybe it has a new beam splitter?

Tom

 

[Solinar]

My take on the beam splitter replacement is that allows you to experience what the RF on your screw mount was like when the camera was new. The difference is quite dramatic.

In addition to the beam splitter replacement - cleaning the glass surfaces in the RF pathway removes any remaining haze or grunge that one would normally see in a 60 plus year camera. In the case of a IIIa lets call it 70 year plus.

It kind of goes with the motto - my cameras still do what they were built to do best...........

 

[john341]

Leica IIIa Viewfinder

Leica IIIa Viewfinder

I have decided to take my IIIa to Europe this month as the sight through the r/f is better than the other two Leicas I have..so much for 1939 technology.These were the days when all things good came from Germany.To be honest, the Zorki 1 I have came a close second.

 

[colyn]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on this and also congrats on the Red Curtain/Luftwaffen sale, but too bad it went to Italy though.....seems the Europeans will clean America out of all of her WW2 Leica`s, the way the markets going 🙁

Thanks

I was hoping for a at home sale but that didn't happen.

Your collar is ?? on the way.. It seems the post office can't figure out what "To" and "From" means. It was mailed to me twice..

 

[sepiareverb]

The rf in my old iii was so bright I had to wear sunglasses when focussing.

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks

I was hoping for a at home sale but that didn't happen.

Your collar is ?? on the way.. It seems the post office can't figure out what "To" and "From" means. It was mailed to me twice..

Hmmm I was wondering what happened to that collar 🙂

Well, send it Priority Mail Envelope and I`m sure it will get here, just make the from address way small then they are bound to sent it to the right place

The Post Office services are pathetic nowadays, seems the less benefits they get the worse they work for us and it still gets more expensive 🙁

Tom

 

[Solinar]

Many of the folks working for the post office are contract worker. So, you can forget the benefits part, other than being off Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc.

Now the old-timers, who are dwindling in number, have full benefits. New hires won't see a pension plan. Only a 401k or 403b at best. Welcome to Walmart America.

 

[raid]

Colyn,

Where did you get the replacement beam splitter from?
My IIa and IIIa have dim RF's.

 

[colyn]

Colyn,

Where did you get the replacement beam splitter from?
My IIa and IIIa have dim RF's.

I bought mine from a eBay seller fine-leica who is from Japan.

He doesn't always have an auction going but do an eBay search for him and get his contact.

He charges $25

You may have to fine cut to size using sand paper. So far I've only had to do one..

 

[colyn]

In addition to the beam splitter replacement - cleaning the glass surfaces in the RF pathway removes any remaining haze or grunge that one would normally see in a 60 plus year camera. In the case of a IIIa lets call it 70 year plus.

I carefully cleaned and inspected the entire rangefinder mechanism and glass. It is amazing what a difference it makes.

My just arrived IIIc is getting the same treatment this weekend since the rf is somewhat dim.

 

[colyn]

Hmmm I was wondering what happened to that collar 🙂

Well, send it Priority Mail Envelope and I`m sure it will get here, just make the from address way small then they are bound to sent it to the right place

The Post Office services are pathetic nowadays, seems the less benefits they get the worse they work for us and it still gets more expensive 🙁

Tom

I made the mistake of mailing it from my neighborhood branch. This one has a history of problems having gone through 4 station managers in the last year..

I took it to the main post office so you should get it soon..

 

[raid]

I need to have my Canon IVsb cleaned up as Colyn has done with his camera.

 

[John Shriver]

There's no practical way to improve the finder in the Canon screwmount camera. It doesn't have a discrete half-silvered mirror like the Leica II and III series. Instead, there's a half-silvered surface on a pair of cemented prisms, like an M series Leica. If that cemented joint starts to fail, the half-silvering is toast.

Sure, there are some folks who can separate the prisms, re-silver, and cement again. But it will cost more than another old Canon -- the process is only cost-effective for M Leicas.

All that can be done in the Canon is clean all the clear glass surfaces. Safe to do, since none of the exposed surfaces is silvered. The moving "mirror" is also a prism.