Thinking of getting a Leica III

[blacknoise]

Hey,

Im thinking of buying myself a Leica III, probably a IIIf unless anyone has any suggestions. The main questions I have are which Lens(es) are the best to get and which shoud I avoid. Also are their any other common issues to look for?

Another question, I live in the UK, could any one recomend a good place to buy?

Thanks in advance

Rob

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Have you handled one? That's the best way to find out if you really want it or not.

Things with this and other Barnack cameras:

Keep in mind to change shutterspeeds AFTER cocking the shutter (advancing the film)

See through one finder to focus and through another to compose

Taper always the film leader longer than it comes from the factory or else it won't work

Bottom load with no removable back (check the M models)

No chance to see framelines other than 50mm (you may need an external finder for all focal lengths other than 50mm... but in this respect I may be wrong; probably the IIIg is different from others here)

Now, if you're fully aware of these aspects or quirks, then, by all means, buy one and enjoy it! They are cute, precious little jewels, those Barnack Leicas... 😉

Please, don't get me wrong... I'm simply acting as the devil's advocate today.

 

[FrankS]

I noticed a IIIc listed on ebay today with a very reasonable buy it now price.

Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-IIIc-408x...ryZ15234QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It will need a cla (shutter speeds), but doing that is a good idea anyway on an old camera that hasn't had one since you don't know when.

Again, no connection to seller, and I don't know this camera.

 

[blacknoise]

hey,

Thanks for the advice, I'm 100% sure I want one over the M. Its mostly the size difference and the over all vibe of them. I've been using a few russian copies, so the only new thing is the bottom loading/seperate finders, but I'm pretty sure I'll adjust well! 😛

The framelines are no bother, I use the 50mm pretty much all the time, I might get a 35mm at a later date, but the seperate finder is no problem.

I was kind of wanting to avoid ebay, I just feel safer if I get it from a "propper" shop, any one know of any good ones in the UK? and also, I'm looking for a 50mm, which ones are recomended and which should I avoid?

thanks 🙂

Rob

 

[colyn]

A good reliable model would be the IIIc and a Summitar lens. A couple of other 50mm lens to be considered are the Canon 50mm f/1.8 or even a J-8 Jupiter 50.

 

[easyrider]

Barnack Leicas

Barnack Leicas

These are fun to use. I have two -- a IIIB and a IIIF but I use them only occasionally for B+W and some fun. And then only the IIIf

In addition to the quirks mentioned above, you have to cut a four centimeter leader from modern film and thread it into the take-up spool. Then you have to make sure that the film has engaged in the sprocket. Just watch for the take up spool moving when you advance to the first frame.

Get a manual. Some have been reprinted. It certainly is not a quick loader but if you want to feel like Cartier-Bresson or Alfred Eisenstaedt, this is the camera to get.

Enjoy.,

 

[John Shriver]

Even a IIIa is a fine camera. Lighter by a bit than the IIIc and later. Only penalty is the wider spacing of the RF and VF windows.

 

[writingwithlight]

Hi, there is a Leica IIIc on sale on the classifieds here. CLA'd already too. I just got my Leica III from another member here. Must say that it is really quirky in its own way. Lol..Hope you join "Leicadom". Be inspired by Henri Cartier Bresson and own one. 😀😀

 

[mh2000]

I have a IIIc... fun little thing... the framing for 50 is kind of a pain for close in shots. lenes... I have Color-Skopar 50/2.5 which is very nice IMO, a $20 Industar-22 (Elmar clone) is my other lens that I use... nice old Tessar I'm not really that impressed with the J-8... it's ok and fast... I really like the images from th Color-Skopar quite a bit... you'll have fun.

 

[john341]

Leica III something

Leica III something

I use a IIIa, IIIc and an F model, I guess mostly for fun ( prefer the IIIa because of the weight). Best lens I think is the Summitar, but alot of this stuff is really over-priced. I also use a Zorki 1 and find the results just as good! Jupiter lens F2 produces really good results and if you do pick up a decent 35mm w/a lens KMZ used to make quite good and cheap viewfinders for that lens which are often seen on eBay.

 

[mcgrattan]

I bought my IIIc from MWClassic. I was happy with the service. Their prices are pretty good. I paid about 120 - 130 GBP for mine. Their descriptions seem conservative. Mine was was certainly better than I expected when it arrived.

I also bought a Summitar from them (1940 but coated, so I assume factory coated some time later) a few months later for about 90 quid. Again, I've been happy with the quality and the lens is good -- a few minor dust particles and some cosmetic wear [all in the original description] but optically very good.

FWIW, I actually prefer the ergonomics of shooting with the Leica body and a Jupiter-8 lens. I find the non-standard apertures on the Summitar pretty frustrating, I can't just look at a scene and 'guess' exposure in the way I can with standard aperture values.

I haven't done a huge amount of direct comparison between the results but I certainly haven't noticed any significant difference in quality - the J8 is really very good - although the collapsibility of the Summitar is nice.

I don't, personally, find the separate finder and focusing windows or the ergonomics of the camera in general to be a problem. Occasionally, though, I find the Leica harder to focus than my Zorki 2. The Leica has a much sharper focusing window and a clearer more precise spot, but with certain lighting conditions and subjects the contrast between the focusing spot and the background is less obvious on the Leica than on the Zorki. I find, for example, trying to focus on a small subject against a busy background [a particular stalk of wheat in a field, for example] harder on the Leica than the Zorki. Vice versa, focusing on someone's eyes, say, indoors, is more precise on the Leica.

Matt

 

[mcgrattan]

Oh, and yeah, I haven't missed the lack of flash sync at all. So was perfectly OK with a IIIc over a IIIf.

 

[Dralowid]

Don't forget the IIf

That way you can sometimes get a newer camera for less money.


...and it's still the real deal.

Michael

 

[blacknoise]

hey,

Thanks for all the advice, I'm glad this forum is friendly unlike others on the net 🙂

I'm probably going with a IIIF, just cos it'd be a bit newer and I get the flash sync if I ever need it. Probably going with either the Sumitar or the Elmar, is there much difference between the 3.5 and 2.8 elmars?

Thanks again 🙂

Rob

 

[Roger Hicks]

Go for a collapsible Elmar f/3.5, as this is in keeping with the compactness of the Barnack. Over the years -- I got my first Leica almost 40 years ago -- I've had A (fixed lens), II, III, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IIIf, IIIg, and the only one I kept after switching to Ms in the mid-to-late 70s was my first Leica, a IIIa. That was mainly for sentimental reasons: if my first had been something else, I'd have kept that instead.

Likewise I've had Elmar, Summar, Summitar, Xenon and Summarit lenses, and the Elmar just seems perfect to me on the IIIa. Rigid lenses are too big; good Summars are rare (but not unknown); and the Summitar seemed to me to be neither one thing nor the other, too big for a collapsible (much like the current Heliar f/2).

IIIc and later are a lot stronger -- the body is based on a die-casting, rather than a fabricated shutter crate -- but quite honestly, they're all sweet little cameras, so base your choice on features.

As you say, newer probably means more reliable: my IIIa is 72 years old and has just been restored to life after a decade or more of unreliability and the attentions of several alleged expert repairers -- thanks John -- and I'm looking forward to using it again.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Austerby]

I like using my IIIa with the VC 15mm and 25mm lenses. They're scale focussed so the rangefinder is not used and the external viewfinders fit well on the small body. They are small and light lenses and go well with these little jewels of cameras.

I can also recommend the Elmar 5cm - with that you truly have a pocket camera - it's one I can often find room for when there isn't space for an M.

 

[jmkelly]

I have a IIIf BD and a IIIf RD - I prefer the shutter speeds on the black dial, but the ball-bearing shutter mechanism on the red dial sounds and feels smoother and quieter. I shoot both.

When I bought the first one I also picked up a Summar, Summicron and Summarit. I ended up selling all three, though I might have kept the Summar if it had been a less abused example. I might have kept the Sumamrit except IMO it is too big for the Barnack; I did keep a prisitine M-mount Sumamrit.

Bottom line (and <gasp> heresy to some) Leica did not make the best lenses of the period. I shoot a CZJ 5cm/1.5 Sonnar, Nikkor 5cm/1.4 S.C., Canon 50/1.5 and a well-sorted J-3.

 

[wjlapier]

I recently purchased a IIIc and two lenses here in the classifieds. These are great little cameras and lots of fun to use, once you get used to the quirky little things. I did load two rolls of film without cutting the leader successfully, but the third roll got jammed and that was all it took for me. I now will cut the film as is suggested by the manual.

 

[brachal]

The 2.8 Elmar is noticeably bigger than the 3.5. With the 3.5 Elmar (I also recommend the FSU collapsibles, 50mm Fed, I-22, I-50) it's an easy camera to slip into a jacket pocket. The 2.8 does have a nice character and feel; I use it more than any other lens on my IIIf.

 

[wolves3012]

I bought a IIIC off a member on here about a year ago and haven't regretted it. I bought it body-only and still don't own any Leica glass. I've used most of the russian lenses on it and been happy. A Kim Coxon-adjusted Jupiter 8 usually lives on it but I'll drop an Industar 22 on it for pocketability. For wider angles the Jupiter 12 is hard to beat at the price too, along with the russian turret-finder.