Leica IIIF for $60

[t3hx]

Yeah... I bought it... after I changed my pants...

So it looks great and fires and seems to be good...

But what lens should I keep in mind for the camera? It has a 3.5 elmar lens on it... that is scratched to hell and back.. Im going to try and use it, but im not going to hold my breath.

[Daniel W.]

Holy smokes, where'd you pick that up?

[johnastovall]

Send it to Sherry K. at Golden Touch Leica and have her do a full CLA on the lens and body and it'll be like a new camera.

Don't worry about the scratches...

[venchka]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

How many Leica Thread Mount lenses would you like from my stash? All it takes is money.

In ascending order of focal length:
Canon 35/2.8 Original 34mm filter version Complete
Nikkor 50mm/1.4 Late Black aperture ring
Voigtlander 75mm/2.5 Silver As new in the box
Nikkor 85/2.0
Canon 135/3.5 Black Original caps Hood Finder

With all due respect to Sherry's skills, the lens may not be fixable if it's really scratched. Use it first. As for the body, it may be fine too. Then again maybe not. 2-3 rolls of film will answer most questions about the lens and body.

Enjoy!

Oops. I forgot the Queen of the lenses:

Konica 35mm/2.0 UC-Hexanon As new Complete as originally sold.

[groovyone]

Amazing find!

[JSE]

For the body, I would also advised a full CLA. The VF/RF on the IIIf is pretty small to begin with and a cleaned and clear RF with accurate patch is a must.

I have used Youxin Ye for 3 different CLA's on an M4, M4-P and M6. He does great work at very reasonable prices. Sherry is probably the best known Leica repair expert but her prices are pretty steep compared to some others. I also sold a red dial IIIf and clunker jammed up and trashed M4 to a friend and Youxin did all the work on them for a very reasonable price.

Youxin is a great guy and very good via email communication. He's also very fast. He received two M bodies from me on a friday and had them back in the main Monday.

Youxin Ye - wye7@yahoo.com

[t3hx]

I picked the camera up from an antique shop in houston on 19th and yale... I was so suprised... now there is something else im looking for... that damn leica take up spool... I have half of it.. the actual piece the film slides into... but I dont have the little cassete... If anyone would like to sell me one so I can get that leica up and running that would be great...

How much would a CLA cost for a camera like that? I took it to the Humble Camera shop... the guy that does repairs is a great guy... but when I took it to him he said it was out of his league... I understand tho..

[JSE]

Originally Posted by t3hx

I picked the camera up from an antique shop in houston on 19th and yale... I was so suprised... now there is something else im looking for... that damn leica take up spool... I have half of it.. the actual piece the film slides into... but I dont have the little cassete... If anyone would like to sell me one so I can get that leica up and running that would be great...

How much would a CLA cost for a camera like that? I took it to the Humble Camera shop... the guy that does repairs is a great guy... but when I took it to him he said it was out of his league... I understand tho..

Assuming no repairs are needed, I'm gussing someone like Youxin would be in the $100 to $125 range for the IIIf? Sherry would probably be closer to $200 I'm guessing. I think I paid a little less for the M bodies but they are also larger and easier to work on.

A CLA would include a RF/VF cleaning and RF Patch allignment if needed.

JSE added 1 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

BTW, is the IIIf a red or black dial body?

[t3hx]

to be honest I dont know where to look to see if its red or black... what is it that they mean? there looks like theres some red on it... but im not sure

[JSE]

Originally Posted by t3hx

to be honest I dont know where to look to see if its red or black... what is it that they mean? there looks like theres some red on it... but im not sure

The numbers surrounding the shutter speed dial are either black or red. The red numbered bodies "Red Dial IIIf" are more valuable. I don't know that they are really any different in terms of build but they are more valuable. Leica cameras can range sometimes greatly in value based on very little differences in models and even serial numbers that most people would think are meaningless.

Here is a photo of my former IIIf. Notice the red number around the shutter speed dial.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by t3hx

I picked the camera up from an antique shop in houston on 19th and yale... I was so suprised... now there is something else im looking for... that damn leica take up spool... I have half of it.. the actual piece the film slides into... but I dont have the little cassete... If anyone would like to sell me one so I can get that leica up and running that would be great...

How much would a CLA cost for a camera like that? I took it to the Humble Camera shop... the guy that does repairs is a great guy... but when I took it to him he said it was out of his league... I understand tho..

The film just winds around the take up spool from the film cassete. There is no "little cassete" on the take up side.

I suggest you join the L-Camera Forum for information on all things Leica.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/

Here is where you can get a manual for it.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/leica/l...f_iif_iiif.htm

Please donate the 3 dollars to keep this site open.

johnastovall added 3 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by venchka

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

How many Leica Thread Mount lenses would you like from my stash? All it takes is money.

In ascending order of focal length:
Canon 35/2.8 Original 34mm filter version Complete
Nikkor 50mm/1.4 Late Black aperture ring
Voigtlander 75mm/2.5 Silver As new in the box
Nikkor 85/2.0
Canon 135/3.5 Black Original caps Hood Finder

With all due respect to Sherry's skills, the lens may not be fixable if it's really scratched. Use it first. As for the body, it may be fine too. Then again maybe not. 2-3 rolls of film will answer most questions about the lens and body.

Enjoy!

Oops. I forgot the Queen of the lenses:

Konica 35mm/2.0 UC-Hexanon As new Complete as originally sold.

Just using it won't tell him anything about the state of it's lubrication until it breaks. A full CLA on any Leica which has an unknown maintanice history is just the smart thing to do.

It's better to prevent problems before they happen not later.

[t3hx]

Thanks alot for the manual and the site on leica cameras. btw those are some sick cameras you have there...

Those people that can do the CLA on my camera. where are they from? and are there any people in houston that can do it?

I just feel funny sending my camera out to someone i dont know

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by t3hx

Thanks alot for the manual and the site on leica cameras. btw those are some sick cameras you have there...

Those people that can do the CLA on my camera. where are they from? and are there any people in houston that can do it?

I just feel funny sending my camera out to someone i dont know

No one in Texas can do a proper Leica CLA or repair. I have all my work done by either Sherry K. or Don Goldberg.

Here is a list by the Leica Historical Society of America of shops who do vintage Leica work.

If you call Sherry K., you'll get to know her in short order. It doesn't matter if you know them but rather if they know Barnack Leicas.

[venchka]

I believe Youxin Ye is in the Boston area. He has a loyal following at the Rangefinder Forum. Join that forum and learn. He is very good with older cameras. We all send our cameras where they need to go for proper service.

[JSE]

Yep, Youxin is just outside Boston. Canton, Camden? Something like that.

Don't trust your Leica to someone local. Go with recognized and respected Leica specialists like Sherry and Youxin.

Like mentioned above, join Rangefinder Forum. You will see they are very well respected there.