Leica IIIf

I purchased a Leica screwmount IIIf that has a flash connection in the back of the

camera and a flash synk dial below the shutter speed dial with numbers 0- 20. In

looking for old instructions on the net I found a table that said to set it at 1/30

speed and flash synk at 2. I tried this without film and an electronic flash. The

flash would not fire at 0 but did flash at 2. I plan on trying some film in the next

few days with the flash and try it out but I am wondering if I should leave the

camera set a 0 when I am not using flash?

Are there any more suggestions on the flash synk or just leave it at 2 all of the

time?

I also sent the lens, Elmar 2.8 x 50mm off for cleaning and the photos taken in

regular sunlight are great. I plan on using the camera for film photos along with a

Bessa R, I also purchased.

Another question that I posted on another blog was about the Elmar lens that

extends into the camera when not in use,(Bessa R) and I received opposing views

about damaging the shutter on the camera. Any more ideas on that question?

Joe

Those are different delays depend on type of flash bulb.

No delay is necessary with electronic flash. If you do fire it early, the film will not be illuminated.

Set the camera to sync speed, 1/30 I think, take off the lens and see if the flash illuminated the whole film. Darkroom glow tape on a business card is a good test since the back will not open. Also try some red marks on the edges of a white card and see if both sides are illuminated by flash.

Jose,

The IIIf's synch throughout the shutter speed range up to 1/1000 s. Since the contacts are linked to the first shutter curtain, the slow speeds will synch at the same delay as 1/30 s.

As Ronald mentioned, the dial with set points at 0 through 20 is the delay which ranges from about 5 ms at O, to 40 ms at 20, but the delay depends on where you have set the shutter speed. Attached is a chart that shows the delays and the operation at shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/1000 sec (see http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00P/00PRjq-43403884.jpg). Note that because the contacts are attached to the shutter speed dial, the delays corresponding to each increment on the synch dial change as the shutter speed changes. That's why the numbers on the synch dial are not calibrated in milliseconds

Your synch should work at 0 but only if the shutter speed is 1/40 or faster. At 1/30, synch will not work at 0. It really doesn't make any difference where you leave the dial when your not using the flash, though. The contacts are attached to the shutter dial and shutter drum spindle and they cannot be disengaged.

David

BTW, the above chart came from J. Lipinski, "Miniature and Precision Cameras", Iliffe & Sons, London, 1955. It's a great reference book for anyone interested in Leica, Contax and other cameras of the 1930's through 1950's. The Leica IIIf was still a new model when this guy wrote about it.

David

Thank you for the great info. If I set the shutter speed to 100 for fast action then the dial is at 8, correct. If the electronic flash goes off then the film is catching enough light for the photo, etc?

Joe

Just a note on this one there are two types IIIf the first model Black Dial and the later one is Red Dial recognised by the color of the actual sync numbers

I left some info a few weeks ago on this.

Manfred

Jose,

On the chart, select the curve that is labeled 1/100 (for instance). This will then show you how the delay goes up as the synch dial numbers go up. At 1/100 sec shutter speed, you can vary the delay from 9 msec at synch setting of 0, to about 30 msec at 7. These are the limits for the synch dial when you wish to use 1/100 s.

I would suggest that you start with synch settings 2, 3, and 4. However, it's trial and error since the timing of the shutter curtains may not be precise anymore.

If you do, post the results. It would be interesting to others, I think.

David

Hello Jose

It seems to me there is some confusion in this thread

You can use 1/100 sec on a IIIf only with flash bulbs, not with a electronic flash, because the shortest time the shutter is fully open is 1/30 sec.

So for a electronic flash you are restricted to 1/30 and slower, and the number is to set on 2 then, for all times except B, where it is to set on 6.

Dieter

You're absolutely right, Dieter. I'm looking at the synch from a 55 year old camera and forgeting that the question was about an electronic flash. The max limit for the delay is 5 msec and the shutter is fully open for 33 msec for electronic flashes.

David

Just to complete it, there are (later) IIIf with a red scale of contact numbers and a sync time of 1/50, called red dial.

Here the settings are 20 for 1/50 sec and 0 for 1/25 and longer.

Joses IIIf is definately a black scale, it has 1/30, which red scale IIIf's don't have.

Dieter

Just got back to town and I am going to try as I read all of these answers with electronic flash set at 2 and see how they come out. Thanks all of you.

Joe

I set the camera contact # at 2 and the flash pictures came out as they should. Post some pictures later when I scan them.

Joe