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Leica III maintenance


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Hi,

Some 35 years ago my father gave me his cherished Leica III, which he used extensively whilst being war correspondent during the Rommel campaign in North Africa. I have used it ever since, and now I lend it sometimes to my fotographer son. It has become a family relic.

 

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The camera is black/chrome, No. 260293, equipped with Summar f5cm 1:2

lens No. 382390. As far as I have been able to investigate, this camera is one of a batch of 400 manufactured in 1937. It is with its original leather case, and I even have the original Users Manuals parts 1 and 2 printed in Oct. and Dec. 1936 respectively.

 

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My problem is that after decades of use, the pull-out mechanism of the lens is rather worn, it does not arrest properly in the extended position, and the aperture setting is one point out of sync. Otherwise the camera is in excellent working condition.

 

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So I guess I have two alternatives:

1- Find someone in Chile, where I live, to do a general maintenance/repair of the camera and lens, or

2- Try to find a complete lens in better condition, for replacement.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO DOES ADVANCE INTERCHANGE OF RECONDITIONED LENSES FOR THIS MODEL?

 

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In your experience, what would you recommend as safest action and best cost/solution?

 

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Thanks in advance for your guidance!

Best regards,

Bernd Clauss

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Bernd - That sounds a well travelled camera. The trouble is the

Summar lens is not a popular objective due to its tendency to

go 'soft' as a result of scratches on the relatively soft front

element of the lens. They can be re-polished but if I were you I

would wait until a clear Summar comes up on Ebay and try to buy that.

There are a few around and as most people don't use them you have a

chance of putting your outfit in good order again for a reasonable

price. According to Rogliatti a 1937 Summar should have a number in

the range 345001 to 416500. Good luck.

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Bernd, there is only one place I've used to service my vintage Leica

gear and they're in Canada - Gerry Smith at Kindermann. I have no

hesitation in refering people to him - good work and an honest

fellow.As for the Summar, I currently have two and would suggest that

given their value, for a lens to use, it would be more cost effective

to purchase a "used" one in good shape rather than re-condition

yours. But, talk to someone like Mr. Smith and they can advise on

costs.

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Bernd,

 

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First, does the camera work OK? If it does, I wouldn't bother

getting it serviced.

 

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If the Summar produces photos you like, then spend $50 -75 and get it

completely serviced. I'm sure that there are competent repairmen in

Santiago near you for such a straightforward repair.

 

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If the Summar is too soft, then you have lots of options for a

replacement lens. You could get any of the Leica 50mm LTM lenses

available: Summar, Elmar, Summarit, or Summicron. Or you could get a

Canon or Nikon lens. If you want modern image quality on a classic

body, spring for one of the new Cosina/Voigtlander 50/2.5 lenses in

the spectacular chrome finish (US$325).

 

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Skip

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Since the camera has been in use for a good 60 years, I would

send it in for a complete CLA. Kinderman in Canada or DAG

here in the US would be a good place to start. Stephen Choi,

who runs Camera Service Center here in L.A,. did a full CLA on

my IIIC and even replaced a dim mirror. You can find the contact

information for all of these places and more on the repair page

at www.lhsa.org. As far as the Summar goes, I think it would be

historicly nice to keep it with the camera it has been part of for all

of these years. Focal Point did a great job on the CLA of my

Summar. You would send it to them and see if it can be

salvaged. Of course you could pick up a replacement Summar

for $150-200 dollars or grab one on ebay. Other period lenses

would include the Elmar 50/3.5 or a Summitar. By the way, is the

lens or camera body marked with something like "Heer" or other

military markings? If so this camera and lens could be worth a

good amount of money.

 

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cheers,

 

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feli

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I am thinking that this camera has great personal value to you, since

your father used it for many historical photographs and gave it to

you...the camera has a "life" and should not be discarded...not even

the lens since the lens imaged all the wonderful photographs your

father took with it.

 

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I disassembled a Summar a few years ago and it it not difficult to

adjust the aperture ring...just a few screws on the ring. There is a

piece of thread, or something similar, that runs around the inner

ring at that point that often needs replacing. Lubrication is also

important since the aperture ring can get tight. My Summicron 50 f/2

is a bit tight...needs degreasing...which can be done with a

carefully placed drop of lighter fluid on the groove that separates

the dial from the aperture numbers. Don't try it, however, unless

you've done some similar work like that previously.

 

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I would seriously think about getting the whole lens cleaned and

adjusted, ONLY because it has personal and historical value to you.

 

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I also liked the touch of softness I got with the Summar. It's ok to

own one, even if you have a sharper lens like a Summicron (etc.),

just for that mild soft effect...it's great for portraits.

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