My Leica IIIa is/was a family camera, equipped with a 50mm f/1.5->9 Taylor-Hobson Xenon lens. This uncoated, pre-World War II "speed lens" had bits of dirt inside and hazy lens elements. It was a couple of steps above a Holga, so I replaced it with a 1950's, coated, 50mm f/3.5 collapsible Elmar. This was a great improvement, producing sharp negatives and Kodachrome slides. (50mm f/2 Summars and Summitars were collector's items in the 1970's, so I opted for the "ordinary lens.") I yearned for an M-series Leica, but settled for a Canon P with a 50mm f/1.8 Canon lens. Not having to buy "a blue chip investment," I bought Leica screw mount lenses, instead (28mm f/2.8 Canon and 105mm f/2.5 Nikkor.)

I shoot a Leica M6 ... it's the most amazing camera I've owned in 40 years of photography. It's absolute magic in the hands!

I had purchased a Leica iiia a few months ago. It recently had a CLA and no holes in the shutter fabric. I must say that once you get over the learning curve associated with the film loading process, the camera is small, beautiful, and fun to use. I am using some 30-year Soviet Svema low ISO film. I live in a hot and sunny climate, so the low ISO works in my favor. I have received some positively unexpected results.

The Barnack Leicas are neat little cameras, glad you were able to try one. I picked up a IIIf with a 50mm Summitar a few years ago and love it. I still love my Canon F-1 and T90 cameras, but the IIIf is so light, tiny, and inconspicuous.

I'm not saying the editing was ever bad, but holy - that shooting, developing and results montage was another level. Very pleasant and involving to watch! Glad you liked the Leica :D

Try the Canon LTM rangefinder cameras like the Canon P or Canon 7. They're so underappreciated and also currently undervalued cameras right now but they feel very close to a Leica.

When i was shooting a Zorki 1b, i found the image of that leica film lead cutter, traced it out, printed it and cut up some thick card stock to match, then just used it as a template on the film with a sharpie, then cut the film. It's easier than hunting down one of the originals. You could probably 3D print one as well.

Very informative, many thanks. The film lead was something that got me with my first reel of film, all came out blank, only after did I find out you had to cut your own lead on a roll. If anyone is interested, there is a complete list of serial numbers for Leica's built up to 1965 so you can trace the year and batch number of manufacture, just search for Leica Serial Number list and it should be first one that comes up. Always nice to be able to date your collectables.

I recently got a iif which is basically the iiif without the slow speeds. I also got a Summitar and what a beautiful lens. Nice results.

The Barnack Leicas are really quite the experience. I use a IIIf Red Dial Self-timer with a Chiyoko Rokkor (basically Minolta) 45mm f2.8 lens alongside the so-called Japanese Summilux (Canon 50mm f1.4) and an Industar-61L/D 55mm f2.8. I also owned a IIf between 2014-16 together with a (first generation) Summicron 50mm f2. Out of all these tools, I got an amazing experience that helps me do my photography in a slowed-out way... looking through both RF and VF windows kind of makes the whole world slow down, and like you I prefer the spilt windows. Also the Barnacks are a conversation starter: non-photographers are amazed for its looks, photographers would be dazzled because it's a Leica, and Leicapeople would praise you for being true to the words of the one prophet Oskar Barnack.

I know it's nowhere near the mechanical quality of the original, but a Fed 3a became my favourite vintage 35mm film camera after testing out a few inexpensive ones recently. It was a very similarly shaped top plate, and I really enjoyed using a knob instead of a lever to advance the film and arm the shutter. My copy was a pleasure to use and shoot with, though I haven't handled a true Leica for comparison. It might be a very cheap way for film novices to try out the Leica/rangefinder style before committing a larger amount of money. The Fed cameras also regularly come with an Industar 61 55mm F/2.8 lens which has a very good reputation and can be directly used on a Leica body, as far as I know.

I’d love to see you review the Leica M4-2. So many put it off because it’s “A budget thus inferior” but I find it just as good or better than the M6 or MP.

I bought an original 1935 Leica iii last year because I had a Voigtlander 35mm screw mount lens that I used on a Fuji digital. I then got a soviet made Industar 50mm collapsible lens. This camera is so comfortable to wear with a simple leather strap. It such a dense little metal camera, and the strap lugs are perfectly centered that, with a small lens, it naturally hangs at the small of my waist when it's over my shoulder, barley noticeable. Just a perfect daily carry for that reason and it looks cool as hell. Not a fast operating camera by far though!

That smile in the thumbnail Azriel, leads me to think you are happy to have the Leica... Where's my Zorki ? : )

Please try Zorki 4 or Zorki 4K, especially with Jupiter 8 lens.

Unbelievable... I just searched KZfaq for the same camera just before less than 10 minutes. From this video :)

Very nice video. RS. Canada

Advance first, then set the shutter....pretty standard on most Cameras from USSR. Well they should have that improved when they made Zorkis.... :D

I have a Leica IIc and enjoy shooting it. With experience, trimming the film leader becomes second nature. I also have a Zorki 1 which handles 90% like the Leica. You should try a Zorki or a FED sometime as a comparison.

There’s nothing quite like the classic screwmount Leicas. THANK YOU for not doing like some of these KZfaq tutorials and loading the film by jamming your fingers through the open shutter to move the film around… so unnecessary. Trimming the leader is easy to eyeball and becomes second nature after a while!

This is a wonderful review. The prices keep on increasing to a ridiculous extent. I could afford a Leica M4-P with a Leica lens just a few years ago … now everything is really overpriced. So much for letting myself save money for an M6!

The Reveni meter actually has an adapter that works for these Barnack leicas to make it not cover up the shutter dial. It's a good pairing. I've got this same set-up, it's a lovely little camera, and the Summar lens has some really interesting character.

My best Azriel, a little less of talking-head, more "show not tell" will make a miracle of your site.You have a very good voice.

I'm so glad to see you more or less simply followed the manufacturer's loading instructions. There are so many Barnack Leica people around that are too lazy to cut the leader but instead have come up with all sorts of weird and dangerous (for the camera) manoeuvres like unmounting the lens, setting shutter to B and guiding the film by hand trough the film gate to load their film. Absolutely unnecessary and possibly disastrous! I love my IIIf, with the collapsible 50mm Elmar for super-compactness or a Canon 50/1.8 when I need a faster lens. Yes, it has its quirks, but a) it still works just fine, for me b) it's such a compact carry. Yes, I do prefer shooting with M Leicas, but in the end, the IIIf fits in even the smallest bag or my jacket pocket and gets carried everywhere I go. Some prefer the Barnack Leica style Canons... some say get a later Canon (L1, VL, P, 7s...) but they are actually bigger than Leica M bodies, so in my book the tiny screw mount Leicas win every time. Having said that, I haven't tried those older Canons myself... but I don't need to, I alreade have the IIIf and it's just perfect for me and its intended use :)

This was a great review. I bought a Leica III for my first Leica. It is a little mechanical marvel. That said, I do grab my M5 much more often.

I had the similar 1953 Canon iv-f at one point. It was soooo heavy!😂 In the end I couldn’t stand using the thing and resold it.

Besides of the Nikon S2, on the rangefinders you already tried a Kiev 4 and a FED 5v, if you looking for a leica like rangefiders the Zorki 4k, the FED 2 and the Canon 7 are the most similar.

Don’t know about the Leica, but the FED4 becomes unhappy if you set the speed before advancing...

These are truly strange cameras as there are plenty of negatives that everyone discusses but everyone then proceeds to ignore as it is a Leica. They are expensive, small viewfinders, odd need to trim the leader, expensive accessories, Summar lens has lots of "character" etc. but it is a Leica. I would say everyone should use one once to get a sense of history and it does have a nice, smooth workmanship feel to it but at least for me, I can think of other rangefinders that I would rather use that are more capable and less expensive. But it looks good. Now you can get better lenses and that helps to justify having one. Just an opinion.

It's a bit cumbersome to load and shoot. Rewinding is slow. But my Leica iiif was built before me and will easily outlast me. It's a true joy to use a product that you can always count on. And that shutter sound? Music to my ears! Nothing like it.

I have a canon a35f that i really enjoy

I have a Leica IIIF & agree that it is still a bargain. Being all mechanical it can still be serviced today & last a lifetime. I have a 50mm 1.8 canon lens on it & it is a very good lens & way easier to use than a collapsible lens.

I have the Canon version of this camera. It adds the extra feature of a single viewfinder, with perspective adjustments for different focal lengths, otherwise mostly the same. I love the build and style, but im not sure I will ever get a good photo with it.. Alot of effort to use!

Thanks for the review Azriel. Does it make you appreciate Henri Cartier-Bresson more, who made a career with one of those?

7:50 - "It is effortless to get one for less than $600 with the lens, and for the life of me I can't figure out why" When I stumbled across these little gems very recently, neither could I. I really think it's only a matter of time until they become more sought after - their sleeper status won't last. The LTM lens ecosystem is absurdly diverse and many 3rd party lenses are very sharp and pretty cheap, you can use any old 135mm reel, the Leica II and IIIs have direct connection to the genius of Oscar Barnack, and are usable pieces of history as capable today as they were when first made. These cameras are responsible for some of the most powerful images of the 20th century - e.g. 'Raising a Flag over the Reichstag'. They also make you really take your time, and really think about your shots - like Ansel Adams said - "You don't take a photograph, you make it" My IIIa is 89 years old - I can't wait to shoot a reel on it's 90th birthday.

You could also go with the old Soviet cameras. Zorki and FED they are clone of this and have the same shutter speed dial/film advance issue. Beauty of the Soviet one is that they are so cheap if you bust it well it's no big deal. If you want a Zorki 4 I have one you can have. It's way easier to load film.

I have 2 Leica 111f's and love em both :-) I just need to take them out more :-)

Another range finder very cheap is the canon 7 and that one has also the L39 mount

Where can I buy this?

I really want one of those :-) And I already have an M6!

$600 CANADIAN? Everywhere I look it's upwards of 900-1k+

I would not recommend a Leica Barnack. I don’t think it even puts one in the Leica group. Unless one has a M model. I don’t have a Leica. I used a Leica IIIf, they are a pain to load film and you have to use two viewfinders to focus and compose. My feelings are, if you want a Leica go for a Leica M model.

I bought a Leica IIIf from facebook marketplace for $200. Works fine, especially for a 70 year old camera. Rangefinder patch is faded but it works enough. Just hard to load haha.

I’ve never shot a Leica but I bought a Canonet QL17 GIII for under $200 since some compared it to a Leica, and it is amazing. I suspect you might really enjoy the experience

And now you should get an M3

Please try get a Contax ii to review

not exactly related but… I destroyed a Kiev 4 because I changed speed before advancing the frame. A true brain fart!

Hello,great video. I have a Leica IIIA with Summar 50mm. I sell it if someone is interested. Bye