Leica Iiif
- Thread starter Rob MacKillop
- Start date
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
I'm finding it impossible to focus. The rangefinder windows technique is new to me. There is a little knob underneath the lens, which the manual says can be pressed down for focussing. I can press it down, but nothing else - only the aperture ring moves.
I've read somewhere that at today's money (actually 2009, when the comment was made) the camera would be £3500, but they are now on ebay for a tenth of that.
It has a beautiful heft - just feels great in the hands. Does, though, seem complicated to use, but it's probably easy once you know what to do. It is very close in size to my Fuji XE1.
I've read somewhere that at today's money (actually 2009, when the comment was made) the camera would be £3500, but they are now on ebay for a tenth of that.
It has a beautiful heft - just feels great in the hands. Does, though, seem complicated to use, but it's probably easy once you know what to do. It is very close in size to my Fuji XE1.
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
ahhhh a summarit too! Thats the lens I have/love! and the iiif is the barnack I currently have a guy who owns old stuff shop looking for for me
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
barnack????
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
That knob needs to be pressed to release the focusing ... it locks the lens to infinity. press it, the rotate the focusing control
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
oh Rob!?!!??
Oskar Barnack, the father of 35mm photography, an asthma sufferer he wanted light weight camera so designed the first and many subsequent Leica 35mm camera ... all the cameras up until the M3 are based on his early designs and therefore know as Barnack Leica's ... what you have is the penultimate in the series
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
I actually have heard of him...but you must learn to use a capital letter where appropriate 
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Pressing the knob is easy, but nothing else on the lens will turn - you say rotate the focussing control, and I'm assuming that is on the lens, but nothing will move other than the aperture ring.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
OK, got it turning, but hard to notice any focussing. I have a student coming, so will get back to it in an hour...
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
The view finder shows everything in focus, its just a window. look through the other hole
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Yeah, I am trying that. Find it REALLY hard to keep my eye on that small window. I turn the focussing ring, but can't see much difference. I thought I was meant to line up two images? I'm looking at a chair about six feet away - the view finder image is small, but the rangefinder window shows a closeup. No matter how much I turn the focus ring, it always seems pretty much in focus, just much bigger than the viewfinder image.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
OK, I can just about see a double image in the rangefinder window - very faint, and tricky to know when it is adjusted to perfect focus. It will take some getting used to. I'm making all sorts of strange configurations with my eyes and mouth, just trying to see properly. The viewfinder is as clear as can be - it's just the rangefinder window I'm having a problem with.
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Ah, Susan says she can see clearly and easily through the rangefinder window...must be my eyesight. I do wear glasses, but have tried with and without them to no avail. Were there eye adapters, I wonder?
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
Overall, I'm REALLY impressed with the build quality - like no camera I've held before. I'm glad I got to try one out before bidding for one on ebay, as I don't think I'm cut out for the rangefinder window - we don't see eye to eye, as it were. Buy otherwise it is really impressive. Susan says she might start using it, so hopefully we can get a roll through it.
Ian Grant
Well-Known Member
There a rangefinder dioptre adjuster, it's the lever below the rewind button, you set it to suit your eyesight, makes a huge difference.
The Manual is here.
Ian
The Manual is here.
Ian
Hamish Gill
Tech Support (and Marketing)
Yeah, what Ian said ... My zorki has similar, I thought it was broken before I realised
Rob MacKillop
Edinburgh Correspondent
I tried that diopter adjuster, and I could see a difference, but it didn't help me.
Brian Moore
Moderator
Its yours noo? Ye've inherited it so tae speak? Jammy bastard!
Don't forget to nicht weiter herausziehen!
Don't forget to nicht weiter herausziehen!
Lesley Jones
Otherwise know as Zooey
It looks just like my old Leica IIIb. You should be able to identify this one from the serial number. I have a list somewhere...
Leica instruction reprints http://www.photobooksonline.com/
Leica repairs http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/
Leica servicing http://nemeng.com/leica/005d.shtml
Leica screw mount buyer's guide http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmcam.htm
Ah... here it is! Leica Screw Mount Serial Numbers 1923-1965 http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm. I knew this stuff would come in useful one day. It is indeed a IIIf from 1954 - so a whole 14 years younger than mine.
They aren't difficult to use Rob, but do take a bit of getting used to. If you are allowed to use it, then you may find the film leader needs to be cut by hand. I haven't done one for a while, but I'm happy to dig mine out and talk you through it. They are truly wonderful, wonderful cameras.
Leica instruction reprints http://www.photobooksonline.com/
Leica repairs http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/
Leica servicing http://nemeng.com/leica/005d.shtml
Leica screw mount buyer's guide http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmcam.htm
Ah... here it is! Leica Screw Mount Serial Numbers 1923-1965 http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm. I knew this stuff would come in useful one day. It is indeed a IIIf from 1954 - so a whole 14 years younger than mine.
They aren't difficult to use Rob, but do take a bit of getting used to. If you are allowed to use it, then you may find the film leader needs to be cut by hand. I haven't done one for a while, but I'm happy to dig mine out and talk you through it. They are truly wonderful, wonderful cameras.
Brian Moore
Moderator
Its a 4" leader that you need to cut, @Rob MacKillop, as depicted on the underside of the camera in the fotie above.
