Leica III

Chrome model

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

f3.5, 5 cm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f18. Screw mount. Serial no. 292012 (1936).

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1 - 1/500, Z. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind.

Construction:

Vulcanite covered metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassette, film is re-wound into cassette.

Focusing:

Helical, scale to 3.5 feet.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Auto-stop on film advance coupled to shutter. Film advance tensions shutter. Exposure counter.

Serial Number:

305655 (1938) .

With:

Lens cap. Ever-ready case for camera with Motor drive. Orange rangefinder filter.
Motor drive with coupling arm. Fixed speed version of 2 f.p.s. Spring driven, maximum duration of 12 exposures, counter showing remaining duration. Serial no. 1715.
"Leia Motor" - pamphlet and instructions on the motor drive d. Jan 1939.

The first version of the Motor had a speed selector for 1 or 2 frames per second. Later the selector button was disabled and the motor ran at a fixed speed. The button was later removed.

Three versions of the ever-ready case for the motor drive were made to cater for the difference in lens size:

5 cm Elmar, f2.5 Hektor, 3.5 cm Elmar.
Summar.
Xenon.

Code Names:

ACOOS - Camera. EWOON - ERC. ORAKO - Orange rangefinder filter. MOOLY - Motor drive. 7827 - Pamphlet.

References & Notes:

Leica shutter. BP 504606/1938. Leica Cat. NY, 1939. Hasbroeck, Leica.

Early Photography