Lomopedia: Leica IIIa Model G

A lot can be said about Leica cameras. From the heritage to the design, styling to ergonomics, Leica pieces are case studies in all mentioned fields. The same can be said about the Leica IIIa Model G 35 mm rangefinder. It’s not the most advanced 35 mm camera today but it was one of the very few cameras that paved the way for the modern advancements we now enjoy as camera fans.

The Leica IIIa Model G was introduced in the 1930s as an upgrade to the earlier and much loved Leica III. It is a Barnack designed 35 mm rangefinder that lets users take ultra-sharp images anytime and anyplace without having to worry about weight. A lot of cameras (usually medium format) back then were heavy and cumbersome so the IIIa was really a breath of fresh air when it comes to portability. It also had an original Leica Summar 50 mm f/2 lens that retracted into its body when not used — quite a handy feature to keep things discreet and compact. It’s just one of the many inspired design features that still make the IIIa a lovely option for camera fans and collectors up to this day.

Another feature that made the IIIa an important part of Leica’s history is its 1/1000s shutter speed. At the time, it was the first camera to feature a quick shutter speed and after that, it was made a standard in all Leica cameras. The Leica IIIa, being the rangefinder that it is has a separate viewfinder and rangefinder eyepieces for focusing. It’s a feature that was improved upon by the company in later models, eventually consolidating the two features into one eyepiece.

A lot of cameras can surpass the Leica IIIa Model G when it comes to speed, application, feature designs, and so on but for the fact that it’s an 86 year old camera and still performs well; you have to give respect where it’s due. The Leica IIIa Model G is a simple and efficient rangefinder. It has all the features it needs to create beautiful images — simple as that.

Photos Taken by Our Community Members

Technical Specifications

Lens: Leica Summar 50 mm f/2 lens, 6 elements, uncoated, anastigmat, 48 degrees angle of view
Mount: L39 screw mount, applicable to a myriad of screw mount lenses (interchangeable)
Aperture: f/2, f/2.2, f/3.2, f/4.5, f/6.3, f/,9 to f/12.5
Focus: rangefinder type
Focusing range: 3.3 feet or 1 meter
Shutter: Z, T, and 1/1000s
Size: 133 × 39 × 65 mm
Weight: 410.3 g body only, 587.1 g with Leica Summar 50 mm f/2 lens and film
Material: metal in chrome and black finish (earlier variants came in a black finish)
Flash: no
Film: 35 mm

All information used in this article was sourced from Ken Rockwell, 35mmc, Vintage Camera Lenses, and Camerapedia.

written by cheeo on 2016-12-26 #lomopedia #35mm #rangefinder #camera #gear #leica #lomopedia #iiia #model-g