Stranger in Leicaland wondering...

[batterytypehah!]

... why there doesn't seem to be much interest in this listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1951-LEICA-IIIF...ViewItemQQptZFilm_Cameras?hash=item3a57e0f535

$400 BIN for a nice IIIf with Nikkor f2.5/3.5cm sounds like a bargain to me. That same lens easily fetches over $200 on its own. What am I missing?

Now, it's hardly "mint" as they claim, but a very nice user, I'd say. Seller's FB is not stellar, and the all-caps, multi-!!! write-up is a bit of a turn-off. Also, a 35 finder is not included. Answered my own question?

I have no interest or connection. I made a conscious decision for my Contax because an M is beyond my means and a Barnack Leica too quirky. Still, one wonders what if...

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Screw mount Leicas are not big sellers these days. 20,000 IIIf's were made that year. $400 doesn't seem to me to be a bargain for the kit. Probably a reasonable price, though.

 

[bmasonoh]

Well there is over a day left and these things can change quickly in the closing minutes.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

No, it won't change. There isn't an auction. You either buy it now or make an offer.

 

[colyn]

A lot of these Leicas have bad curtains. The seller makes no mention of curtain condition nor does he mention whether or not the lens has fungus, hazing, etc. Are all shutter speeds working as they should???

He's had this listing up several times. I once emailed him about the above possible issues and never received a reply.. If a seller does not answer I stay away..

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Wow, it sold for 300. That could be a great deal.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Ahem. That's, um, kinda what I'm hoping. Cough. 😱

Who was I trying to fool, "no interest." I was interested enough to throw in a lowball offer and to my surprise, we settled for not much more. In my defense, I only found the listing because I was browsing for a W-Nikkor for the Contax.

Soooo... The Head Bartender's writings on CameraQuest pretty much constitute everything I know about Leicas. Never handled one before. Good thing it comes with the manual 🙂

 

[Beemermark]

Youxin Ye will make it like new. Even with a shutter curtain replacement he charged me less than $150. fast also.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Yep. Plan on a CLA at minimum and Youxin is the man! He's done good work for me with a really fast turnaround. Hopefully it won't need curtain replacement, but you got a decent deal on it even if it does.

 

[Beemermark]

I just checked out the auction, you got a steal. Glad I didn't see it, I don't need another LTM -🙂

 

[colyn]

Hopefully you got a good deal. I passed it up because he would not answer my question.

The first thing you need to do once it arrives is to check the rangefinder for clarity and accuracy both horizontal and vertical. Try all shutter speeds then check both curtains for burn holes, cracking, flaking, etc.

If all this checks out load it up with 400 b&w film and go out on a sunny day and shoot random subjects then get the film developed and check the negatives for light leakage.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Well, fingers crossed until I have it and run some film through it. colyn's comment does make me a little nervous.

I'm really mostly interested in the lens. I could easily have paid $300 just for the lens in Contax mount.

I don't think I'll get used to all those Barnack "features" like separate RF, fiddly loading, dare-you-to-mishandle-me shutter, offset tripod mount... Worse than a Retina and that's saying something.

Having now enraged two collector communities in one paragraph, I shall retire for the night. 😉

 

[batterytypehah!]

Oh, and thanks for another helpful post, colyn. I was typing when that came in. Will do.

 

[colyn]

Well, fingers crossed until I have it and run some film through it. colyn's comment does make me a little nervous.

Hopefully everything works out for you..

I don't think I'll get used to all those Barnack "features" like separate RF, fiddly loading, dare-you-to-mishandle-me shutter, offset tripod mount... Worse than a Retina and that's saying something.

That's part of the fun of using these cameras..😀

Have you tried the Retina IIa? The IIIc's can be a pain when using the 35 and 80mm lens..

 

[batterytypehah!]

If all this checks out load it up with 400 b&w film and go out on a sunny day and shoot random subjects then get the film developed and check the negatives for light leakage.

Thanks for the tip but it being a 35mm lens, I think I'm going to reach for slow film and shoot mostly near wide open, otherwise who knows where the focus really is.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Have you tried the Retina IIa? The IIIc's can be a pain when using the 35 and 80mm lens.

Yes, I have a Retina II. Never used it much, though. It's in need of a CLA but I have too many other cameras that I enjoy more (although few have nicer lenses than that Xenon).

 

[batterytypehah!]

Folks, feel free to keep the Leica tips coming, or point me somewhere other than CameraQuest. I'm German, so no language issue here.

I've been shooting manual cameras for some 25 years now, I think I can deal with the basics 😉 It's the Leica specific stuff that I could use some help with. Like, how do you check the curtains for pinholes -- shining a light through is out, I suppose? How do you check focus when the back doesn't open for your ground glass?

TIA

 

[batterytypehah!]

So the camera arrived today and you can all relax now, it wasn't the deal of the month. It isn't "absolutely mint" by any stretch. Not that I ever believed that, but it does bug me when sellers aren't up front.

This guy clearly had enough knowledge to look up the year and model to write up the listing, but then claimed not to have noticed:

- Small chrome blisters along about half of the edge of the top plate, and a few more on the base

- Small white splotches on one section of the vulcanite, looks like paint

- The usual faint scratches on the base, especially around the tripod mount.

Also some oil on the aperture blades, but I find it takes a bit more knowledge to recognize this. Not holding it against a seller who mostly seems to deal in collectible plates, sporting goods, stereo gear and such.

So far for the griping. The seller quickly responded and offered a full refund (waiving his 20% restocking fee). This is fair and settles it for me. I'm keeping the camera and gave him positive FB.

The glass is flawless. The RF is on target, but a good deal less contrasty than on the Contax. The curtains look great to me. Judging from the screw heads, the top plate may have been off at one point; I'm hoping that was for a curtain job. The slow speeds seem too slow, we'll see. Anyway, cleaning the escapement shouldn't be beyond my skills. (I don't believe in send-out CLA.)

I figure at $300 I still got a good deal, as the lens alone (even with oily blades) sells for around $200. This was always about the lens for me. In Contax mount you're looking at pretty near $300 for the same lens, so this way I'm getting a fine user Leica for free 🙂

All above pending the first roll of film, of course. Which you will hear about in due course.