Poor man's M3?

[kiev4a]

Or maybe a rich man's M3 copy. Auction isn't over yet. Don't see many of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tower-Nicca-R-F...ryZ15234QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I think the Yashica YF , out after they bought Nicca, was even closer to the M3.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7543739447&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEDW:IT&rd=1

 

[wlewisiii]

Oh, my... someone got an amazingly screaming deal on that one.

William

 

[ChrisN]

Wow! Good thing he only ships within the US!

I think that's a 5L. Mr Gandy said of it "The Nicca 5L is so good it even outshines Leica's own renowned IIIg."

http://www.cameraquest.com/nicca.htm

 

[sf]

what IS it about RFs?

what IS it about RFs?

No other photographic device consumes my heart and soul like a rangefinder. Perhaps consumes is not the right word. maybe IGNITES is better. I love rangefinders!

 

[RichardS]

Of course it is a bottom loader which I think are good things to stay away from.

Dick

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Both of these "Poor Man's M3" have hinged back doors like the M3 to allow easier loading. All M cameras are bottom loaders, but that flip-up door makes it MUCH easier.

 

[Skinny McGee]

Hell, that not to poor of a mans camera....If just stole some more things to pawn or snatched one more purese your in a M3

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I read somewhere that the YF sold for ~$100 when new. That was an affordable camera compared to others of the day.

 

[furcafe]

Yes, the winner of that auction got a great deal, even factoring in a CLA. As Brian said, the Nicca/Yashica YF is more like an M3 as it has 50mm & 90mm parallax-corrected framelines (mine is currently w/DAG for some minor surgery) & is more M-like in size/shape. As you can see, the Nicca 5L (Tower 45 or 46) is a "Barnack"-style Leica copy: it has the M3-style door, which makes loading easier (no leader-trimming needed), & the lever film advance, but still has the separate VF/RF & compact dimensions & shape of the LTM cameras. Bargains like this aside, the 5L's tend to go for almost as much as M3's.