Nicca 3-S

[John E Earley]

To John, I encourage you to get a Leica in comparable condition to your Nicca 3. Then you can be the judge. That's what I did. I chose the Japanese Barnacks and sold most of my Leicas.

The problem with that is it would cost me a good bit more for one in comparable (excellent ++) condition. Most of the Leica Barnack models are either in poor condition or they want a substantial sum for them. At twice what I paid for this NICCA I could get a camera that would probably have shutter/rangefinder issues and require a CLA for several hundred $ more. I have hoped to find something in the RFF classifieds but so far no luck for one in my price range. That's one reason I've owned the clones.

 

[rgraphex]

I have a nicca a leotax and a few leica's. I think its just as good as the leica iii . leotax model s it weighs a little more then the nicca and no eye correction on the leotax so I don't use it
I had tower model 45 that I should have never sold I used it more then my Leica

 

[xayraa33]

I have a nicca a leotax and a few leica's. I think its just as good as the leica iii . leotax model s it weighs a little more then the nicca and no eye correction on the leotax so I don't use it
I had tower model 45 that I should have never sold I used it more then my Leica

The later Nicca/Tower models like the 3-F dropped the eye correction feature but the concurrent more deluxe model like the Tower 45/46 (Nicca 5L) kept it.

I find that the RF eye correction feature is a must on these cameras for my eye-sight now.

 

[goamules]

The pink and green windows on one of my Niccas provided amazing contrast to focus. I think the best viewfinder feature though is Canon's, with the three magnification levels, for 35, 50, and 90mm lenses. Very elegant and effective.

 

[David Murphy]

I am a user, not a fixer, so this is not the perspective of a repair tech.

I have one Tower Type 3 (a Nicca 3 built for Sears) and I also own a half dozen Leica Barnacks from various years.

From my simple user perspective the Tower Type 3 is smoother to use, quieter, and much easier to focus than all my Barnacks with the exceptions of my IIIg and Standard.

In my humble opinion the IIIg is the best of the bunch. But, since it is almost as big as the M3 it is obvious that the Tower Type 3 is much easier to pack around.

The only problem I experienced with my Tower was tearing a curtain with a collapsed Elmar 50/3.5. This was likely only my camera buy I no longer use collapsed lenses with it.

But, if I could only have one Barnack camera I would probably keep the Standard. That is a very sweet little camera, particularly with a 35 mounted where focusing is not a worry. If I can find a 25mm lens at a decent price, I will buy it.

I agree about the IIIg - it's probably the best of this type of 35mm camera of which there are many good examples - it has a fit-and-finish comparable or exceeding that of the best of the early Leica M models - it's quite a mechanical work of art really.

Having used a number of clones I'd rate the Leica I-III series higher in quality and reliability than most of the Japanese copies I've used so far. Keep in mind these are all very good cameras in an absolute sense, so I am comparing good cameras to outstanding ones here. Of the Japanese copies, I have found the Canon models the most reliable - almost as reliable as the Leica's. Leotax's are fun and interesting cameras to collect and use, but I've not found them to be quite as reliable as either Canon or Leica bottom loaders (I own and use two Leotax models, T and S). The handful of Nicca/Tower cameras I've encountered have left me with a very positive impression, but I don't have the data to definitely compare them to other lines as far as functionality (yet!) - same with Tanack.

 

[rgraphex]

My 1949 nicca 3 came with a nikkor f1.4 5cm lens the camera did have the shutter curtains replaced were dried up like pieces of cardboard but after that fix this camera runs and looks great. Like the Leica model III only a top speed of 1/500 sec so to open up the nikkor I put it on a leica IIIf or IIIb for the 1/1000 sec speed

 

[John E Earley]

Nicca 3-S with Nikkor HC 50/f2 by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr