Enjoyed the video. Looking to buy a Leica and your suggestions will help. Thanks

Great advice. I will add two suggestions, one easy, one more difficult. I always fire the shutter at slow speeds and hold it open with T or Bulb with the lens off, giving as good a view of the shutter condition as is possible with a Barnack. If there are pinholes developing, you will often be able to see the signs while the blinds are travelling slowly, and will see if the edges of the curtain are not running true in their tracks. I have also checked for light leaks with a small LED torch pointed into the camera body from the front in a darkened room. On at least one camera, the light leaks could be seen looking up from the bottom with the bottom plate removed. Finally, I would suggest that slow running gears in the slow speed range are almost always the result of a sticky gear train clogged up with dirt, oil, etc. and are nothing to fear. The delay gear assembly is easily removed and accessible from the bottom - you don't have to disassemble it to clean it with naphtha solvent, and it's easily put back into place with jeweler's screwdrivers and basic mechanical skills. I've restored two to perfect slow speed function with very little work. Your videos are logical, calm, and competent. Thank you for sharing them. Andy in New England USA

I'm on the second vid of yours and i've learned so much. Thanks for all the great vids.

Leicas can still be found for a few quid/dollars! Just last month I bought an working M3 with a collapsible 50mm Summicron for $24.49 at a Goodwill thrift store in Arizona.

A little late I know, as the video has been out for a year now, but the spools are interchangeable. I already knew this, but I just checked anyway with a Leica II from 1932, and a IIIF Red Dial from 1954. The FED1 is also interchangeable, but I don't have any Zorkis - but they almost certainly are!

This is a very intresting checklist ! Thanks alot for sharing all your thoughts and advices to us all. I immediately subscribed ! Greetings, take care, Roger.

I just bought my first screw-mount - a 1953 III-F - on eBay and started shooting with it 5 days ago. So far, it seems to work wonderfully but, as you say, I’ll find out more when I develop the first roll of film! I popped-off the last shot of a roll of Ilford HP5+, so I’ll know soon enough! I haven’t shot without a light meter for about 50 years, so I am a bit anxious. All in the joy of vintage shooting!!! 🤪

This Friday October 1, 2021, I will be buying my first Leica III camera body. It’s a 1936 IIIa. I’m so excited, I can barely contain myself. Over the years, as working, photojournalist I’ve only used Leica M camera’s. My workhorse was a M4-2 with a 28/2.8. However, I sold it because of divorce. Anyway I enjoy these video’s.

I have a 1952 III F, black dial w/50 mm lens....It's complete w/original paperwork, not sure of it''s working condition, it was my Dad's, not used for 30+ years, great back story...would you like to have it. I'm in FL.