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

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Leica II with Elmar 35mm f/3.5, WEISU and FLQOO. And case.


Erik.


8729316884_1d57f65233_b.jpg
 
A strange camera, a leica ii black that has been converted by Leitz to leica iiif, has all the features (almost) but with the old charge knob without indicator of film sensitivity. It must be said that the camera is remarkable because very few have been made of iiif black, for the Swedish government iiif and iiig with special characteristics capable of supporting polar frost
http://www.wetzlar-historica-italia...9-dlefDWLIYNlaML0v4YsB7L_KdGB5e8ga1kKq2W4Co_g

s-l1600 (5) by Mauro Scacco, su Flickr

s-l1600 (4) by Mauro Scacco, su Flickr
 
The original camera was indeed a Leica II (see the serial number) that was converted in the 1950's, so added were flash synch, strap lugs, slow speeds, a new body covering, a new top housing and a rangefinder diopter (a Leica III rangefinder in fact). Conversion of old cameras was a service by Leitz after the war when there was a great demand for cameras. There are many of them around.

The Leica IIIf was however a completely different camera based on the IIIc.

Erik.
 
Leica switched from "DRP" to using "DBP" & "GMBH" in 1952, so a conversion done after that.
Might be that it was converted to a Leica III before that time, before it became this Leica IIIa-syn.

The conversion from a pre-war Leica to a IIIc/IIIf is not possible (or at least not cost-effective) due to the difference in the shutter crate design. It would mean swapping out too many parts. That's why the flash sync speeds on this one are still 1/20th of a second, instead of 1/30th of the true IIIc/f models.

Still a very interesting camera though :)
 
My understanding is that the factory conversions to IIIa syn etc did not include using a film advance knob with film speed indicator.

(Having said that I've got one)
 
These came in the game with the IIIf, didn't they?

Erik.

Yes, with the IIIf. They're of little value now though. The film speeds on it are all low, it doesn't even go up to 400, which is probably the most common film speed used today in 35mm. That made sense in the early 1950s, when films were all very slow.
 
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