Question about the IIIG models

[jbtran]

I understand that the IIIG model was produced for about 3 years only. I am thinking about getting one to use, not collect. From a user point of view, is an earlier one better or a later one better? Were there any changes during the production run that might result in a better/worse unit in terms of reliability, wear, etc.? Also, what are the important questions to ask about the camera and its functions before purchasing? Where can I go for these answers and more? Thanks for your replies in advance.

 

[payasam]

I do not think that later models differed from earlier ones. The questions you need to ask are those that you would ask about any camera. I assume you know that the IIIg is expensive, and that it has only 50 and 90 frame lines. A user M2 could perhaps be had for the same money.

 

[Keith]

I can't tell you much about the lineage of the IIIg but I do know getting a user is all but impossible. I tried for a long time and eventually gave up and paid the money for a near perfect example which cost me close to $1000.00 Aust. Nice camera but in hindsight a IIIf is as good in most areas apart from the viewfinder. There is no parallax compensation and the G has 90mm framelines built in. A IIIf will do everything the G will do for a lot less money ... it's also a smaller camera and a 'Red Dial' can be bought for under $400.00 in very nice condition if you look around.

The IIIg is a beautiful camera ... but fits firmly into the collectable area ... hence the outrageous prices! 🙂

 

[Mark Wood]

Interestingly, IIIg prices seem to have taken a bit of a tumble recently and there there have been bodies in very good condition advertised for £500 to £600 in the UK recently. (I seem to recall that production numbers were something like 40,000.)
I'm no expert on the camera but I can share a few experiences about the IIIg that I inherited from my father. He bought this from a very well known UK dealer as an "Unusually mint Leica IIIg" for a premium price and with hindsight, "Unusual" was probably the best description! From the outset, it had a problem with the rangefinder which stopped moving below about 8 feet. This was put right under warranty although the problem quickly appeared again. After my father died, the camera passed to me and I decided to have it looked at by Leica guru Malcolm Taylor and although he assured me that it could be fixed, it contained a catalogue of disasters! Firstly, the rangefinder mechanism had been assembled incorrectly (one part was apparently even upside down!) and although it worked properly when reassembled, as soon as the top plate was fitted, the parallax correction stopped working (note: the framelines only move upwards and downwards in the IIIg and not towards the corner as in the M series). This turned out to be caused by a slight depression on the top plate which you can only see if you know it's there! The rangefinder mirror (a common poblem on all of the screw mount Leicas) also needed replacing as the rangefinder patch, although usable, was dim.
Then the shutter. This was giving excellent, accurate exposures but it had apparently had new curtains at some point in its life and these were not positioned correctly. After sorting this out, it still took a couple of attempts before he could get the "T" setting to work properly. Apparently, this needs very fine adjustment to ensure that it stays open.
The result? Well, it's now a (near!) mint IIIg which is an absolute joy to use. Yes it is bigger than the IIIc/f but the larger and brighter viewfinder makes up for that.
So the bottom line is, beware the CLA hackers where expensive cameras like this are concerned. If you can get a potential purchase checked over by a genuinely experienced Leica repairer (rather than one who says that they are!), then it's certainly worth it. Simple advice would be to carefully check the rangefinder (and parallax correction) condition/operation and the shutter operation as best you can. If anything is less than silky smooth, be suspicious.

 

[Solinar]

There were no improvements made to the IIIg during the 3 years that they were produced for the commercial market.

To get the price down to near the user level, try to find one with the proper amount of brassing and scratches on the top cover from installing the old top mounted light meter. However, even then you'll be looking at around $500 US.

Expect the camera to need a proper CLA, if you want reliability. That adds about another $200.

A IIIg in need of a CLA will usually have a sticky shutter and haze in the finders. As mentioned above, if the semi-silvered beam splitter is deteriorated, it will be difficult to see the second image in the RF at all.

It is really a case of supply and demand. There are usually more Leica M3 and M2 bodies on the market at any given time than a IIIg.

 

[Graybeard]

I have experience similar to that of Mark.

I sent my IIIg to John Maddox for repair of a sticking shutter. He found that the shutter had been incorrertly assembled at the factory. One of the curtains was in backwards (seam wrong side out) and the ribbons were crossed. John was certain, from the appearance of the internal screws, that the shutter hadn't been disassembled since it left the factory.

John also replaced the shutter brake assembly. He told me that the IIIg used the same brake as the IIIf but the greater mass of the IIIg shutter train (due in part to different flash contact) causes the brake to wear more rapidly.

The camera is in fine condition, as is every camera of mine that John has serviced