I’d always liked the look of Leica cameras and, of course, their reputation precedes them. When I started collecting cameras (around 2011) I thought about getting a Leica, but I didn’t want to pay what they cost and I wasn’t sure how I’d like the rangefinder experience. So in order to try out rangefinder cameras my first purchase was of two Former Soviet Union cameras: A FED 2 and a Zorki 4.

Of course it was not long until the yen for a Leica returned so I got my hands on this one: A Leica IIIf red dial (I think). I also got a Leitz 90mm f4 lens, the only piece of Leica glass that I could afford. I also figured that I could use the lenses (Industar, Jupiter and the like) that I got with the FSU cameras. Subsequently I bought the Canon Serenar 50mm f3.5, which you see in the picture above and which I used for this test.

So back in 2011 I trimmed the leader and loaded the camera with Tri-X. And there it sat until recently when I took it out again.

This is such a well known camera that I’ll content myself with a couple of links to reviews:

Leica IIIf. Screw Mount (1950-1957) on kenrockwell.com

First Impressions: Leica IIIf after sixty years

Leica Screw Mount Cameras – the 1930’s through the 1950’s (not specifically on the IIIf but and interesting overview of Leica screwmount cameras).