Leica iiif: A Vintage Marvel with a Side of Quirkiness!

The newest camera to my collection is the Leica iiif.  Now I have a Fed I which is very similar to this camera but I decided I needed a true, vintage Leica, since the M6 is no longer vintage and is now a contemporary camera! 

So a little on this amazing marvel and why I see it as quirky.  Stick around and I will tell you why I decided to buy it...the reason might really surprise you!

In the grand kingdom of cameras, the Leica IIIf reigns supreme as a charming relic from 1953—think of it as the dapper gentleman in a black-and-white film who still carries a pocket watch. Sure, he might be out of date, heck maybe even dated...but he has a certain charm that cannot be denied. Let’s take a closer look at this splendid machine, shall we?

Technical Specifications (aka The Nerdy Bits):

• Film Type: 35mm rangefinder camera (because who doesn’t love a good rangefinder?).
  
• Production Years: 1950-1957 (Ah, the golden age of film, when selfies were a mere twinkle in the eye of humanity). Mine was built in 1953 so it is one of the few things older than me that still works!
  
• Frame Size: 24mm x 36mm (the classic film format known as “the size that fits in your pocket!”). 
  
• Viewfinder: I would be careful calling these little holes viewfinders...but it is a delightful combo of an optical viewfinder and rangefinder (perfect for pretending you’re a secret agent). 
  
• Lens Mount: M39 screw mount back when you had to screw things in with some elbow grease. 
  
• Shutter Type: Focal-plane shutter 
  
• Shutter Speeds: From a leisurely 1 second to a zippy 1/1000 seconds (ideal for catching that perfect moment when your top hat goes flying).
  
• Film Advance: Manual lever (because winding film is a workout for your fingers!).
  
• Metering: Sunny 16, external light meeter, wild guess....take you pick.  No built in meter is the point.
  
• Weight: Approximately 500 grams (not exactly featherweight, but hey, it builds character!).

The Marvelous Advances Over Previous Models:

1. Improved Shutter Mechanism: The IIIf said, “Faster is better!” with a reliable shutter that would make even a cheetah jealous. No more blurry shots of your friend’s epic sneeze!
   
2. Enhanced Viewfinder: This beauty got a makeover, sporting a viewfinder that lets you focus like a hawk—sharp images, no blurry business! Or that is what it is supposed to do. I find it small and difficult, kind of like a toddler.  
   
3. Interchangeable Lenses: With a screw mount that welcomes a host of lenses, you can swap them out like hats at a fancy tea party. Who doesn’t want to play dress-up with their camera? But honestly who would bother....I bet most of these sat with a 50mm and was forgotten about.
   
4. Film Loading: Gone are the days of wrestling with film! The IIIf made loading easier, so you can save your wrestling moves for the gym.
   
5. Increased Durability: Built like a tank (but way cooler), this camera could survive the clumsiest of photographers—much like a cat that always lands on its feet!

A Few Drawbacks (Because No Love Story is Perfect):

1. ​The rangefinder is very small and takes little getting used to. 
2. Loading film, while better than previous versions is a pain...or a education in being calm.
   
3. You will need to pull the camera from your eye to set it. 

In Conclusion

The Leica IIIf is a delightful blend of vintage charm, advanced mechanics, and a sprinkle of quirks that make it a true treasure in the world of photography. This thing is much smaller than most 35mm film cameras but it does have a bit of bulk. It is so well built that if you get a good version, properly CLA it you will have a great tool for years!  

I purchased mine via eBay from a seller called Granite_rose_studio by a gentlemen known as Steve. Steve is a Mechanical Engineer who likes to rebuild these cameras. He had completed a CLA and changed out the shutter curtains. This baby works as smooth as silk thanks to him!

I am running it through a roll of film and will post the results soon!

Why I bought it....
Sometimes photography is about the photograph. Sometimes it is about capturing the moment. But there are times when photography is about the experience. The history. Looking through the viewfinder I wonder of the many eyes that looked through it and what they saw. 

I wanted a camera dripping with history, one that is not simple to use, but one that you take out because you want to play with it. Like a fidget spinner for photographers!