Leica IIIf Film Speed indicator

Hi -

 

Could some kind person tell me if the film speed setting on the Leica IIIf is

anything other than a reminder of what film is loaded ? Is it actually used for

anything ? And why does it discriminate between B&W and Colour ? Sorry if

these are naive questions, but I've looked around a bit and I couldn't find the

answer....

 

Thanks

David Mantripp

Thou hast said.

It is just to remind you what is in the camera. It can be handy if you have a couple of bodies on the go or the camera sits for a while. At least it is for people with limited intellect like me.

Just to remind you if you have it loaded with B&W or color, and what speed film. I don't remember about the IIIf, but many cameras of that era had 2 color sections: a bulb symbol for tungsten/flash and a sun symbol for daylight balance color film. The dial isn't connected to anything more than the rivet in the center and does nothing more than remind you that A.) you probably forgot to set the damned thing when you reloaded two, or was it three, weeks ago, and B.) you have no earthly idea of what the heck film it was that you did put in it!

Just another reason for Lutz's "SLIDE".

Thanks everybody - now, how do I get the meter to work ? :-) :-)

Leave your Leica outside, with the lens cap off, facing the sky. If there is a hole burned through the shutter curtain after 10 minutes, it is sunny and you should use f/16 and the reciprocal of the film speed.<p>ONLY JOKING!!!

I had two different versions of this film reminder knob. It was a device that you could install yourself. It had no direct connections to anything inside the camera. I found that the glue-on mount which held the end of the film box to be more useful.

 

Alex