Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/02/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 2/29/00 9:59:17 AM Pacific Standard Time, msmall@roanoke.infi.net writes: << Leica introduced a redesigned shutter mechanism in 1952 at 615,001 for the IIIf and 574,401 for the IIf. This used a shutter speed range (1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/75, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500, and, on the IIIf, 1/1000). The synchronization mechanism was also changed, from the black-dial to the red-dial, at this point. (Laney indicates that some of the IIIf's with the new shutter were BD, but I doubt this, without having heavily researched the point.) Marc >> For a short period of time I had a IIIf BD in my hands that had the improved shutter. I remember checking the s/n against the list and noted that it was close but well below the 615001 number, I think around 611xxx. I thought that it was a replacement shutter as the camera had obviously been disassembled at some point by an incompetent repairman who left out the mechanism, (under the film wind knob), that lets you reset the film counter at the start of a new film. This left two unfilled screw holes allowing light to pass under the film counter and onto the film in the take-up chamber. After putting one film through the camera and discovering this problem, I returned the camera to the e-bay seller. He claimed no knowledge of the light leak problem and (cheerfully??), refunded my money. Gosh! Maybe I let a very rare and very valuable "Leica IIIf BD with improved shutter" get away from me. :-( Regards, Paul Connet