The Leica III, or Leica III (F), is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Leica in 1933, one year after the Leica II.
The main differences between the Leica III and the Leica II are:
- Full range of shutter speeds, from 1 second to 1/500 plus Z (for Zeit, time in German, shutter remains open while release button is depressed).
- Separate dial to set the slow speeds: 1 second, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/20.
- Addition of a lug on each side to fasten the neckstrap.
- Improvement of the optical system of the rangefinder, with a magnification ratio of 1.5.
At first, the Leica III was made in black, but it was also made in chrome from serial number 116,001.
It was built from 1933 (serial number 108,651) to 1939 (serial number 343,100). Although the Leica IIIa, made in 1935, was an upgraded Leica III, the production of the Leica III continued until 1939, with approx. 76,800 units produced.
The Leica III is the first camera of the III series, an almost thirty year saga.
Links[]
In English:
- Leica III at Ken Lyndrups Collection of photo-curios
- Opening a Screwmount Leica (III or IIIA)
- Servicing Screw Mount Leicas (PDF), at Pentax Manuals
- Leica III @ weuseufilm: Specifications, manual, sample pics, ...
In French:
- Leica III at summilux.net
- Lionel's Leica screwmount cameras overview at 35mm-compact.com
- On www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand :