Thoughts on Leica IIIf viewfinder

[SergioGuerra]

I was wondering... since I already own a Fed-2, I would like to know from the members that own or know both, how small is small when talking about the viewfinder of the Leica screwmount?
About the same size of the one on a Fed-2? Less? They have a split window for focus and view, is it too hard on today standards to use? I am not a colector, and if I bought one I would use it hopefully a lot 🙂

hmmmm I hope i dont get leica fever, because i really cant afford it.. (but I sold one SLR kit I had and might want to do something foolish with the money, like buying a IIIf or IIIc) 😛

Regards,


Sergio

 

[johne]

The III F is most functional, IMHO. The fact that one can enlarge the rangefinder image is most helpful. Of course, I seldom use the viewfinder window as I use either 35mm or 85 mm lens on this camera with appropriate viewfinders. I do have a 50mm Summitar that is as comfortable as an old shoe, come to think of it. Just a comment.
Johne

I am biased of course. To me, the true Leica ends with this model.

 

[captainslack]

I've got a IIF, which is the same as a IIIF, but without the slow speeds. I don't have the slightest problem with the viewfinder. In fact, since I wear glasses, I find it's easier to use than some of one's with higher magnification.

 

[Tom Harrell]

I got a IIIf BD with a 5CM, 3.5 at a trade show about two years ago. The guy had a few other Leicas there but I was captivated by the IIIf. He claimed that it had been CLA'd recently. I think I paid something like $500 for the camera and lens. I took it home, learned how to load it, and set out to shoot some pix. Everything went well and my first pix wth it made me happy so I decided that it was okay to take on some trips overseas. I took the camera to Kuwait and most of the pictures were okay with the exception of one or two. I could not explain to myself what had happened but something was begining to rear it's ugly head. The last straw happened on a trip to the UK. As we were coming in to Heathrow we actually took a tour of London. It was on a day when there were few clouds if you can imagine that. Well I am sitting in a window seat and I am happily banging away with my IIIf. Little did I know that my IIIf shutter was not working right and I was only getting bits and partial pictures of what I was seeing. Since I was just getting started on this trip I kept using the Leica shooting up rolls of film with no hint of what was really going on. The camera loaded as usual, film advanced normally, and the shutter seemed to be firing as normal. I took more pictures at New Market, some came out, some did not. When I got home and had the rolls processed I was really disappointed to say the least. Then I heard about Mr. Don A. Goldberg and I sent him an email asking him if he had the time to work on my little camera. His replied quickly and was very curteous. I sent him the camera, lens, and some picture examples of what the camera was doing. My camera was returned to me in a very short time and seems to be as good as new.

Last night I took the camera to a concet. I really need a faster lens. Though the stage was brightly lit , (and I was guessing at the shutter speeds to use) I bracketed down to 1/8 secound and f4. I think I need a lens that openes up to at least f2. I am happy with the IIIf now that DAG has fixed it up for me. I want an M of some sort as well. But for now I am content to play with the little camera I have. I would like to get another lens or two though.

I do wear glasses but I have not had a problem focusing the camera. I am amazed at how well this can be done in fairly low light.

Tom

 

[ZorkiKat]

I was wondering... since I already own a Fed-2, I would like to know from the members that own or know both, how small is small when talking about the viewfinder of the Leica screwmount?
About the same size of the one on a Fed-2? Less? They have a split window for focus and view, is it too hard on today standards to use? I am not a colector, and if I bought one I would use it hopefully a lot 🙂

hmmmm I hope i dont get leica fever, because i really cant afford it.. (but I sold one SLR kit I had and might want to do something foolish with the money, like buying a IIIf or IIIc) 😛

Regards,


Sergio

The Leica IIIf finder is smaller than what the FED-2 has. Best user-description would be, "squinty". But that's not to say it's bad.

The split RF/VF may sound slow at the onset, but with use, the quick eye shift between the eyepieces can be quite fast and, yes, instinctive. Use it often and it sort of 'grows' on you.

The separate RF/VF may actually be advantageous- there's a magnified 1,5X rf in one window and an uncluttered 50mm view on the other. And it's not going to slow your photography down- it may happen at the start, but it'll get better.

 

[Tom Harrell]

I cetainly agree. The more you use the little camera the easier it seems to get as far as looking through the RF/VF. I really like that 1.5 magnification if that is what it is. Sure helps out focusing. Last night at the concert I had no trouble focusing and sighting through the view finder. I wish I would have had a 90 or 135 at times though so I could have isolated some of the band members or the vocalist.

 

[FrankS]

I just finished checking through the viewfinders of my Fed 2e and Leica IIIa. The Fed viewfinder is a bit larger and has a higher magnification factor, while the Leica's viewfinder is significantly brighter. I've read that the iIIa viewfinder may be brighter than the IIIc and IIIf because it's view is straight through the front viewfinder window, not reflected twice by prisms so as to get the RF and VF windows closer together in the later models.

For viewing ease, nothing beats an external brightline viewfinder.

 

[SergioGuerra]

Hummm Thanks for all the replies 🙂

I dont find it difficult to use the Fed viewfinder, and if the IIIf is only slightly smaller, and it is even brighter, I would guess there will be no problems in using one 🙂 (I dont use glasses... yet!)

Bottom loading seems like will take some more time than the one I take with the Fed, but at least I ll be using a more rigorous piece of equipment (is this true?).

Since I am as usual low on cash, I might use my Jupiter-8 and I-61.. I am happy with both of them, so no problem with that...

Sergio

 

[FPjohn]

More robust

More robust

Hello:

The IIIf is a more robust descendant of my IIIb. 1.5x rangefiner is very accurate and quick. You might explore accessary bright line finders-even for a 50mm lens and especially for a 35mm or wider. Focus and then frame is very fast and becomes automatic.

Enjoy your camera.

Yours
Frank

 

[ZorkiKat]

Bottom loading seems like will take some more time than the one I take with the Fed, but at least I ll be using a more rigorous piece of equipment (is this true?).


Sergio

Bottom loading, like shifting between eyepieces, is also a skill which can be acquired. It may be slow at first but will become easy eventually. Just make sure that the film leader is cut right and you follow the instructions properly (no shortcuts please! 🙂 ) and you'll find bottomloading no more difficult than conventional loading.

Go HERE FOR BOTTOM LOADING

Jay