SV: [Leica] My new IIIf

["Hans Pahlen" <hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se>]

Nathan, Congratulations to your new IIIf. I am curious, does it have a
self-timer too?

>1) The lens is already mounted on the camera. If I grab it by the ribbed
>front element, I can rotate it freely--is this normal? There is also a
>bit of play in the lens, i.e. I can move it sideways and up & down ever
>so slightly--again, is this normal?


- -Yes, this is normal. Pull out all the way, and turn a bit ccw. Then it is
locked, and ready to use!

>
>2) To collapse it, I can simply push it in. I am assuming that the lens
>should be in the infinity position when I do that, is this correct?


- -I always set it at the infinity lock, as it is much easier to unlock and
collapse it.

>3) How do I take the lens off? Do I simply turn it and if so, is it
>clockwise or counterclockwise? And does the lens have to be collapsed or
>extended when mounting/dismounting?


- -Simply turn the lens. If the lens is towards you it is ccw. It might be a
little stuck.

>4) I have no idea how to change shutter speed. I can figure out the slow
>speeds, but how do I set one of the faster speeds? The fast shutter dial
>is in the 25-1 position. When I cock the shutter, it will not move from
>that position. When the shutter is uncocked, the fast dial is somewhere
>between 1000 and B, and turning it has no effect--it simply springs back
>to its position.


First wind/cock the shutter. Then lift the shutter dial a litttle and turn
it around to the desired speed. On all LTM:Leicas, you will have to cock the
shutter before changing speeds. The shutter dial will rotate when you
release the shutter.

>5) Finally, how do I reset the film counter to 0 after loading a film?
>Is it done automatically like on the M series, or is there something
>that has to be done manually?


It is like the M2, there is a little lever on the film counter. Just turn it
to O when film is loaded, and the shutter is fired 2-3 times.

Good luck!

Hans