What kind of camera is this...

[Krnome]

I found this Reid camera on ebay. Anybody who know about it?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/REID-III-Ta...803285?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item2ec7b1a355

 

[KoNickon]

Nice Leica copies, made in the UK after WWII: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_and_Sigrist

 

[Roger Hicks]

The best ever Leica copy: some say better than the original.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JMQ]

The best ever Leica copy: some say better than the original.

Cheers,

R.

... hmmmm coming from an Englishman......

 

[Roger Hicks]

... hmmmm coming from an Englishman......

It was an American I first recall saying it...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Peter_Jones]

I've never had one, but talked to several people who have had them in the past - all regret getting rid, and all reckon them slightly superior to Leica IIIc series. None had a "K" to compare it to though.

 

[JMQ]

It was an American I first recall saying it...

Cheers,

R.

Just pulling your leg, Monsieur 'icks.

 

[goamules]

I'd like to try a Reid, but of the Canon, FED, and several other Leica copies I've had, I like the Nicca 5L best.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Just pulling your leg, Monsieur 'icks.

All taken in good part. I have had two, a III and a I. The TTH lens was superb, but to be honest, I couldn't quite see why the Reid body was reckoned better than the original. My suspicion is that people were comparing it with late wartime IIIc cameras, which sometimes were a bit scabby (chrome shortages). The Reid was certainly finished to a stunning standard. But so were 'good' Leicas.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Dralowid]

There's a question mark about the the build quality of later cameras. Has been covered before but can't find the thread. To do with R&S going broke and parts being assembled by ...who?...

Earlier the better I understand and very desirable.

This one is silly money...but I fear most things in this field are nowadays.

 

[okto]

The best ever Leica copy: some say better than the original.

England? Make a better machine than Germany? 🙄
Now if you had said beer...😀

 

[L39chap]

If you look at the Leica LTM copy page, you'll find an entry on my Reid III. Look on the Internet and you'll find more information on them which is pretty fascinating. Essentially they are a copy of the Leica IIIb and not the IIIc which apparently takes longer to manufacture. As for the build, yes they do feel different and are 20gms heavier than the Leica. Oddly, Reid&Sigrist started manufacture in the late '40s but the camera at that time was already ten years old. The M mount was not that far away and so the camera was doomed from the start. Certainly a very nice camera to handle because of what it represents in the context of UK manufacturing and its later demise through absence of innovation.

 

[leicapixie]

I am not sure seeing that ad for Reid camera..
whether to be sad or laugh at the monies asked..
It seems the imbalance of incomes is here very apparent.
What is even sadder that "Reid" camera like so many "collectibles"
or perceived collectibles are doomed to a life on a shelf..
Happily my M3* "ziggy" really looks used, needs a new skin, some shutter work,
but like me and most of my "wounded soldier" equipment, keep going on.
Leica M3 1967. Purchased new. Required immediate attention as RFDR not fully installed! Party day at Leitz..Has shot about plus 8,000rolls..
Even the chrome is worn thru in many places.

 

[Krnome]

Okay thanks for the exchange about the reid!

 

[wolves3012]

This one is silly money...but I fear most things in this field are nowadays.

That particular seller seems to have grossly-optimistic prices on all his stuff. He lists a lot of FSU gear too, often with innacurate information (which he repeats, even though I have pointed out the errors), stating they were made with german tooling (Zeiss). One particularly annoying trait of his sales is to sell a body, case and lens in separate auctions. This diminishes the history and separates items that, in some models, were factory-matched to work correctly. The sort of seller not to use.

 

[wolves3012]

If you look at the Leica LTM copy page, you'll find an entry on my Reid III. Look on the Internet and you'll find more information on them which is pretty fascinating. Essentially they are a copy of the Leica IIIb and not the IIIc which apparently takes longer to manufacture. As for the build, yes they do feel different and are 20gms heavier than the Leica. Oddly, Reid&Sigrist started manufacture in the late '40s but the camera at that time was already ten years old. The M mount was not that far away and so the camera was doomed from the start. Certainly a very nice camera to handle because of what it represents in the context of UK manufacturing and its later demise through absence of innovation.

They were, I believe, instructed by government (or appointed by, not sure which) to produce copies using war-reparations drawings. I think the idea was to assist british industry's recovery whist providing a high quality camera which britain did not have.