Leica IIIG
Ease of Use
Features
Photograph Quality
Leica IIIG
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User Reviews
Photograph Quality
Features
Ease of Use
Value For Money
The Gem
I own and use a Leica IIIG. Teamed up with a Nikkor HC 50 mm lens and Fuji color print film I have a great travel combo. The focus is spot on and the 50 mm frame line gives me a close enough frame for composition. Heat and cold doesn't bother this camera, the lens is crisp and clear, and the film has lots of lattitude. This is a great camera.
Photograph Quality
Features
Ease of Use
Value For Money
Using With Close Up Attach. You Can Slide Across O
Using with close up attach. You can slide across other lenses including telephoto.
Value For Money
The Leica Iiig Is A Camera That Is Nearly 50 Years
The leica IIIg is a camera that is nearly 50 years old, but still has speeds from b,1 - 1/1000 sec.
the rangefinder system of the two mirrors focus is very quick and can be used in very low light where auto and manual focus cameras can be hard to use.
it is a camera that is totally manual, that makes you think about the photo. rather than putting it on P and away you go.there is a slight snob value as the cameras are getting harder to find now.
you need a separate light meter or use the f-16 rule
the cost of the older screw mount leicas is still very high as compared to the m series. but it has the classic lines of yesteryear when cameras just took great photos rather than an fashion item.
this one has been serviced by a camera tech, these are still old cameras and should be serviced when brought to extend their life for another 50 years.
the collapseable f-2 50mm summitar on this camera has a soft glass in it and can suffer of cleaning marks. the slightly soft focus is great for portraiture and landscapes.
russian and other screw mount lenses can be used on the screw leicas also. sort of an earlier pentax screw mount.
overall a nice feeling of old world charm and quality.
Just 2 points - screw-mount Leicas are generally around 40% or so cheaper than M-series cameras - the IIIg has always been the most expensive screw-mount body but now (2008) sells for approx. 50% of what it did 10 years ago.
Second point - lenses with a 39 mm mount made for the Russian Zenith 3M or the very early Asahiflex are no good for use with a screw-thread Leica, since the register is wrong (Leica body is much thinner). You would have to use an extension tube and focusing would be very uncertain.
I have since added a Leica 111f to my collection as well as a 90mm Hector tele in mint condition.
Using this camera with 800iso Fuji print film gives the photo's a very nice slight blurry soft feeling, which is great for weddings and portraiture.
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