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Leica IIIa Problem, Help Needed


ty_mickan

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<p>Hello all. I have been a member on this site for a few years now however this will be my first post in the Leica/Rangefinder forum. I have just purchased a 1937 Leica IIIa with a 2/5cm Summar lens. I have put a few rolls through the camera but I am yet to develop them. I do not find the film loading to be too much of a problem thus far, but it may be beginners luck.<br>

I have two problems which may be both related. I do think the camera is in need of a C.L.A. however I thought I might be doing something wrong, in which case I could rectify the problem now. Once I load the film, I reset the counter and snap away. On a few occasions now, I have looked at the counter and it has not fully turned, displaying 7 shots prior to winding, and then onto shot 25! The last time the camera did this I had noticed that the advance dial did not fully turn. My second problem is that I occasionally press the shutter button, and the exposure is delayed slightly, or particularly with the slow speeds, doesn't expose until I release the shutter button. The last time my advance dial did not fully turn, the shutter did not fire smoothly on the preceeding shot. Does anyone have any clues and are these two problems related. I can still return the camera, however I do like it and maybe all I need is the CLA.<br>

Thanks in advance for any help.<br>

Tom</p>

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<p>Tom, I agree with Huub. Get a service and you will love it.<br>

Huub, I have just posted on another forum about how easy it is to get film in the UK. Now I must say how expensive aLeica service is in the UK. Last quote I got about 5 years ago was starting from £400. Where do you go for one at $200-250?</p>

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<p>Tom<br /> I agree with the others, get it servived. My IIIb recently had a hanging shutter at low speeds, and developed a slight wheezy-ness - all fixed with a CLA - the whole camera sounds and feels so sweet now.</p>

<p><br /> Jim, You've been going to the wrong places/people. Malcolm Taylor quotes around £180 for a Barnack body; CRR quote £125 to 145 depending on model ... major parts may be extra. There are plenty of others in this range: for example, my local vintage expert (Zeiss/Rollei) charges me around £100 for a IIIf. Obviously costs increase if a lens needs attention also. AC</p>

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<p>Hi Tom<br>

I just got my IIIa back from a CLA by Youxin Ye in Massachusetts. Less than $100.<br>

Before CLA, my slow shutter speeds behaved like yours. Now, there's no problem--they fire smoothly. Mechanical operation is now remarkably smooth. There are many other places for a CLA, but I'm impressed with how the camera works so much more smoothly after being relubricated after 73 years.<br>

BTW, I also have a 5cm f2 Summar, and it's pretty soft. I found a red scale 5cm f3.5 Elmar, and it's pretty darn sharp.<br>

Good luck. It's a great camera, and I love taking pictures with it. I'm even developing my own B+W film!</p>

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<p>Some UK Leica repairers:<br>

<br /> <strong>Camera Repairs & Restoration (CRR)</strong> , 5 Downview, 751 Dunstable Road, Luton, LU4 0HP. Tel. +44(0)1582 570395 Fax.+44 (0)1582 504214. Contact is Peter Grisaffi. Webpage: <a title="CRR Luton" href="http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/" title="CRR Luton">http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/</a> <br /> <strong></strong> <br /> <strong>Malcolm Taylor</strong> , Upper Lye Farm , Aymestrey, Leominster, HR6 9SZ. Tel. +44 (0)1568 770542. (No web page).<br /> <br /> <strong> Euro Photographic Services</strong> , 150 Harrowgate Drive, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 3GP. Tel: +44 (0) 116 267 4247. Contact Ed Trzoska. (No web page).<br /> <br /> I can wholeheartedly recommend all three. Peter at CRR is currently working on a SL2, Leica II and collapsible Summicron for me. Ed T. specialises in Zeiss & Voigtlander amongst many other vintage marques: he has done a Nikon F2AS and Leica IIIfBD for me recently and now has a Nikkormat FT2. I haven't any work with Malcolm at present.</p>

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<p>Thanks all for your help. It sounds like I am in immediate need of a CLA. Going to go into town today and get a roll of Kodak Gold developed that I grabbed at the beach yesterday. I will be shooting almost exclusively with B&W, however I am anxious to see the results of what the IIIf and a 2/5cm Summar can produce.</p>
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