Leica LTM Show off your Leica I/II/III/LTM Camera

[john neal]

A 90XXX serial number puts the camera around 1932. I think I remember reading that was around the time they moved away from the 11 o'clock position, so it might be the original lens.

Michael,

I have a II body with a 8xxxx serial, probably from the same batch. I too think this is 1932, and my 11 o'clock Elmar has a serial that is pre-1933. From my research, the Elmar did not have a serial prior to 1932, when numbering started at 80000. Mine is in the 120xxx range and pre-1933, according to Leica records.
1933 was about when the 7 o'clock became the standard infinity lock position.

 

[reagan]

Interesting info, William. Love the history tidbits. Thanx!

 

[350D_user]

"Eva", a 1938 Standard, complete with a 1936 uncoated 3.5cm Elmar.
😀

 

[Ash]

Grr Dave, you have a nice elmar on it now. Well, I guess mine had a summicron on it for a while (and mine's nice black) 😀

 

[350D_user]

Body colour is meaningless really, although I am a sucker for brassing and nickel fittings. 🙂

 

[LeicaTom]

Here's a shot of my very late production 1946 Leica IIIC "Half Race" bearing wartime stepped rewind platform bodied camera (from my avatar) with a same year date (coated) Elmar f3.5 50mm in a really nice Black case with that FISON hood......takes wonderful photos and also doubles as a great Retro prop for my models 🙂
*thats the beautiful Giana Bella* who's one of my Florida Muses

 

[350D_user]

One more, thanks to seeing some scrawlings in a book I've bought off Ebay...


Sadly, I had to chop some stuff off about something called "Rodinal". 🙁

 

[JimG]

Still waiting for my IIf to return from Olig's Spa. Then my father's 1936 Leica III will go to daughter with the 2 duplicate lenses, now that she's decided she does want it.

 

[landsknechte]

Still waiting for my IIf to return from Olig's Spa. Then my father's 1936 Leica III will go to daughter with the 2 duplicate lenses, now that she's decided she does want it.

*sigh*

Why did I have to come from an Instamatic family?

 

[JimG]

*sigh*

Why did I have to come from an Instamatic family?

Don't feel bad when I turned 16 my dad gave me his 1956 Stutabaker Champion flat six that ran on 4 cylinders on a good day.

Edit: OK, it's Studebaker not Stutabaker. Maybe he thought anyone who spelled as badly as I should not have any grandiose expectations about their future.

 

[colyn]

Custom black paint IIIc with 21mm f/4 CV Color-Skopar lens and finder

 

[reagan]

Nice, colyn. Very nice.

 

[payasam]

That looks faintly menacing, Colyn. Possibly the chrome R/F windows.

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

I bought a 1945 Half Race no.394455,from a bloke in England in January.The number I quoted is the frame number.The camera was such a mess that I decided to skeletonise it to show the internal workings (Schnitt or cut,the Germans call it), and fit it with red curtains like the earlier IIIc's. I had no regrets about cutting out the top of the mismatched top plate to show the workings of the rangefinder.
Anyway my point is that when I dismantled the camera I found it was one of those scarce unmarked 1945 Full Race cameras,and the only way of telling is to remove the top plate.

 

[LeicaTom]

I bought a 1945 Half Race no.394455,from a bloke in England in January.The number I quoted is the frame number.The camera was such a mess that I decided to skeletonise it to show the internal workings (Schnitt or cut,the Germans call it), and fit it with red curtains like the earlier IIIc's. I had no regrets about cutting out the top of the mismatched top plate to show the workings of the rangefinder.
Anyway my point is that when I dismantled the camera I found it was one of those scarce unmarked 1945 Full Race cameras,and the only way of telling is to remove the top plate.

Well, I just got some info`s from Germany on my"Half Race" camera.

I was just told my camera was from a special order for the US Army
delivered on February 13th 1946 cameras #397208-397519
(mine is in the beginning of the 200 series numbers)
another one #397278 was sold like 2 days ago in the UK for $500

The latest number I`ve ever seen is #397494 is was a modified camera with black paint

My camera will NEED a CLA very soon, I want to get some detailed photos of the camera once it`s been taken apart, it`s nearly mint - (but) the rewind knob is very tight and I`m sure there`s some film chips in the bottom of the camera etc.

I was always after a LATE rewind stepper camera, not really knowing that they too have an interesting history and a strange build story, now mine`s a little bit more special to me, it`s a beauty but I STILL love to use it, it`s not going to gather dust at all and after the CLA it will get used even more🙂

Tom

 

[BronicaLee]

my IIIc

my IIIc

Here is my newest member of the family, a gorgeous IIIc converted to IIIf with a
W. A. Astra 35mm 3.5 lens. Still testing her out.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

My Leica IIIa (1936/1937) with 5cm Elmar f/16 lens (1946)

This is my first original Leica after having owned and broken 3 escaped-from-tractor-factory ones.

I have had it for about 2 weeks now and in the process of running my first film through it (Adox CHS 100)

There's 9cm Elmar f/4 on the way for it, as well as a Vidom Viewfinder.

Body no. 229633
Lens no. 632526

Both are a little worse for wear, with the chrome getting thin here and there. But I wanted a camera to use, and not a collector's piece to store and cherish in a display case.

 

[payasam]

A camera which looks used is always more to be trusted than one which appears to have spent its life sitting.

 

[Sonnar2]

In the meantime I've got my first B&W film through (400ASA, whichs allows using at f/9 mainly) and they came out quite well!
The shutter sounds very smooth and seems to work precise except for the 1s.

 

[TheHub]

Here is my currently "naked" IIIf RD ST. I'm waiting for a leather cover for it.
I'm still shooting with it though (waste not want not.) I'm using a Canon 1.8 lens and VC II on it.