Leica 111 or 111A & Why?

[love4leica]

I am torn between the devil and the deep blue sea !! I have to choose

one between the two- either 111 or 111A. The rangefinder patch in 111

is much better and contrastier than the one in 111A (111A has a faint

patch) but then the shutters speeds sound much smoother, sweeter and

accurate on 111A (also remember that 111A has a 1000th of a second &

111 goes up to 500th only) as compared to 111. Which one shall I go

for and why? Thank you folks.

[huw_finney]

IIIA, RF is easy to fix.

[love4leica]

Huw...... How? I am told it is an expensive job. The only problem is that the rangefinder patch is very faith and NOT very contrasty. Please help !! Thank you.

[jim nichols]

I have a IIIa and a IIIf RD. My IIIa started life as a III and was factory-upgraded to a IIIa at some time in its life before I acquired it in 1952. In my experience, I would go with the camera that is in the better condition. I seldom use 1/1000th, and, in the case of my camera, this speed results in a small, dark band at one side of the image.

[Troll]

Why do you HAVE to choose betwwen a III with a bad shutter, and a IIIa with a bad rangefinder? Just say NO to both, until you find something that you're happy with.

[john_shriver]

Replacing the rangefinder half-silvered mirror should be about a $75 job. Nothing exotic about it, even if the repair place can't get a real Leica half-silvered mirror, any quality half-silvered mirror will do. Very non-critical part, thickness is non-critical.

 

Not having 1/1000 can be a real problem, especially with ISO 400 film and a lens that only stops down to f/12.5, like a Summar or an old Summitar.

[joseph_esmilla]

I've uploaded my DIY experience replacing beam splitter mirrors on Leica II and FSU clones, should work with the III or IIIa too.

http://members.myactv.net/~je245/beamsplitter.htm

 

Hope if that helps.

[anthony_brookes5]

How many times will you use a 1/1000th ? I would Buy the III every time but I am biased having had a IIIa which was not as 'sweet' as my two IIIs.

[john_shriver]

Well, with a 1/500 top shutter speed and ISO 400 film, you can't shoot outside in bright sunlight unless your lens stops down to f/16. As I noted, the Summar and early Summitars only stop down to f/12.5. Ok, so that's only 2/3 stop overexposure.

 

Having seen how much better a fresh RF mirror is, it may well be that the III has a indifferent one, and the IIIa a really bad one.

[imran_ahmed]

Afzal, unless you are shooting wide open or close ups. Both these rangefinders may be used on a focus zone basis i.e. F5.6+. I have found the marking on early LTM lens for dof quite accurate. Furthermore the VF is so small it is better to put a VF accesory

on top. Voightlander is quite economical. Leica 5omm VF is also available at arounf GBP 55 or so.

[r s]

Unless they go for real bargain prices (and if that's the case buy both) I wouldn't get either of them. III and IIIA's are not that uncommon and if I were you I'd decide on which model you really want and hold out for one in good condition to come around.