War-time Leica + uncoated Summitar IN COLOUR

[ZorkiKat]

Scanned these snaps shot with a 1943 Leica IIIc with uncoated Summitar 5cm. These photos are the only colour photos I've ever made with this camera. I wanted to test it after repairing it. I found the camera in an almost scrapped state- totally naked of its vulcanite, and its shutter had totally crumbled. Only bits of fossilised shutter cloth was found in it.

Since I got this camera really cheap, I decided to try my hand in rebuilding a real Leica. IIIc and later Leicas are harder to work on than the previous prewar Leicas. The shutter crate is built differently. I've already done shutter work with III Leicas, but prior to this Leica IIIc, the boldest move I've ever done on later screw-mount Leicas is to replace a faded rangefinder mirror in a IIIf.

I had wanted to make this Leica IIIc in league with the more collectible IIIc Luftwaffe- after all, its SN is just a few hundreds away from those desireable K cameras. Putting red shutters in it sort of did that 😀

Film used here was Kodak Pro-I colour negative. These photos were shot as documentation for a catalogue shoot 4 years ago.

 

[ZorkiKat]

...the red-shutter of the rebuilt 1943 Leica:

 

[dexdog]

Congratulations on resusitating the camera! Also, the lens produces a rather charming retro look, although it appears to exhibit a fair amount of flare. Did you use a hood on the lens when you took these pics? If not, it would help to explain the flare- not a criticism of the lens performance, it is just something that uncoated lenses are prone to. Nice to see an old RF up and running again.

 

[kmack]

Good job. We need people who can repair these classics.

Now all you need is some more practice and you can become the "Oleg" of the Pacific.

 

[ZorkiKat]

Congratulations on resusitating the camera! Also, the lens produces a rather charming retro look, although it appears to exhibit a fair amount of flare. Did you use a hood on the lens when you took these pics? If not, it would help to explain the flare- not a criticism of the lens performance, it is just something that uncoated lenses are prone to. Nice to see an old RF up and running again.

No hood was used- the lens was as naked as the model😀. The flare does add up some charm to the pics- I miss this sort of 'imperfections' with modern glass.

Jay

 

[ZorkiKat]

Good job. We need people who can repair these classics.

Now all you need is some more practice and you can become the "Oleg" of the Pacific.

😀

I did send some of the red shutter cloth I used for this Leica to Oleg Khalyavin. He might have installed this in one or more (there was enough for 3 or 4 ) cameras he fixed since then.

Jay