Nicca 3-f

Nicca 3-F

The Nicca 3-F is a 35mm Leica screw-mount rangefinder camera produced by Nicca Camera Co., Ltd. in Japan. It belongs to the late generation of Japanese Leica-inspired rangefinders and was offered in both knob-wind and lever-wind forms [1].

The camera uses the Leica Thread Mount, also known as LTM, M39 or Leica screw mount. It accepts Nicca screw-mount lenses as well as compatible 39mm screw-mount rangefinder lenses from other makers.

The first 3-F appeared around 1956 as a simplified, lower-cost development of Nicca’s die-cast rangefinder body line. It followed the Nicca 3-S and Type-5 family, but omitted some higher-end features. Collector research describes the 1956 3-F as an economy version of the Type-5, without the rear loading trapdoor, black body band, 1/1000 second top speed or diopter adjustment [1].

A lever-wind version appeared around 1957. It retained the 3-F name on the top plate and did not receive a separate official model designation. The lever-wind version is therefore best treated as a variant of the Nicca 3-F, not as a separate base model [1][2].

The normal Nicca 3-F uses a horizontal-travel cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1 second to 1/500 second, plus Bulb and Time. The fast-speed dial includes B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200 and 1/500 second, while the front slow-speed dial provides T, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/15 second [1][3].

Flash synchronization is provided through a single rear PC socket on the die-cast body. For normal late Nicca bodies, electronic flash can be used at the changeover speed and slower speeds, while FP flashbulbs are required at faster speeds. For the 3-F, the practical X-sync point is 1/25 second [1].

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History

Development and Launch

The Nicca 3-F was introduced around October 1956, according to Japanese collector references cited by Leica Copies Japan. It was launched after the Nicca 3-S and Type-5, and appears to have been positioned as a practical and less expensive screw-mount rangefinder [1].

Lever-Wind Version

A lever-wind Nicca 3-F appeared around July 1957. The lever model was probably introduced as a replacement for the knob-wind 3-F, but it kept the same model name. Brochures and manuals refer simply to 3-F, without adding “lever” as a formal model suffix [1][2].

The lever-wind version is commonly encountered in listings as Nicca 3-F lever, Nicca 3-F lever wind or Nicca 3-F second version. These names should be treated as variant wording for the same model family.

Serial Number Notes

Serial-number information should be handled carefully. Leica Copies Japan records the first photographed knob-wind 3-F around serial 85002 and notes that typical 3-F serial numbers top out around 15761x [1].

There are also rare cameras engraved 3-F that are mechanically closer to the later Nicca 5-L. These have features such as a top-hinged rear loading flap, 1/1000 second top speed and diopter adjustment under the rewind knob. Several are recorded in the 161xxx to 162xxx range, with one unexplained 18288x outlier [1].

For a normal Nicca 3-F entry, the safest serial wording is approximately 85002 to 15761x for normal 3-F bodies, with rare 5-L-type 3-F examples around 161xxx to 162xxx and one unexplained 18288x outlier.

Relationship to Nicca 3-S

The Nicca 3-F should be kept separate from the Nicca 3-S. Both are Leica-inspired screw-mount rangefinders with similar shutter speeds and flash synchronization logic, but the 3-F uses a later die-cast body design and is physically larger. Chasing Classic Cameras notes that the 3-F is heavier and slightly larger than the 3-S, with a body weight around 445 g [4].

Relationship to Nicca Type-5 and 5-L

The Nicca 3-F is related to the Type-5 and 5-L family, but should not be merged with those models. The Type-5 and 5-L represent higher-specification versions with additional features such as 1/1000 second top speed, diopter adjustment or improved rear loading access, depending on the version [1].

The rare 5-L-type cameras engraved 3-F are a special identification problem. They look similar from the front to a lever-wind 3-F but have 5-L-type features. These should be treated as rare variant cases, not as the normal 3-F specification.

Relationship to Tower Models

Some Sears-branded Tower cameras were made by Nicca and are closely related to the Nicca 3-F family. The Tower 48 is generally associated with the lever-wind Nicca 3-F, while earlier Tower 45 and Tower 46 models are connected to the Type-5 / 5-L family [1].

Tower-branded versions should be handled carefully because the name on the top plate differs, even when the underlying Nicca design is closely related.

Identification

A normal Nicca 3-F can be identified by its top-plate Nicca 3-F engraving, LTM lens mount, separate rangefinder and viewfinder windows, front slow-speed dial, top fast-speed dial, cold accessory shoe, rear PC flash socket and Leica-style bottom-loading body.

The normal 3-F lacks a built-in self-timer and lacks the diopter adjustment found on some higher Nicca models. The knob-wind and lever-wind versions should be separated as variants if detailed matching is required.

Collector Notes

The Nicca 3-F is valued because it is one of the better-built Japanese Leica-compatible rangefinders of the 1950s. It offers LTM compatibility, a cloth shutter, slow speeds, flash synchronization and a familiar Barnack-style shooting layout.

Collectors should check the shutter curtains, slow speeds, flash socket, rangefinder alignment, finder clarity, base plate, top-plate engraving and whether the camera is the knob-wind or lever-wind version. Particular care is needed with late examples that may have 5-L-style features despite carrying 3-F engraving.

Common listing names include Nicca 3-F, Nicca 3F, Nicca III-F, Nicca 3-F lever, Nicca 3-F lever wind, Tower 48 and Nicca 3-F LTM. These should be checked against photos before matching, especially when the listing mentions 1/1000 second shutter speed or a hinged rear loading flap.

The Nicca 3-F should be treated as a separate LTM camera model because its 1956–1957 production, die-cast body, 1/500 second shutter, flash synchronization and knob/lever-wind variants make it distinct from the earlier Nicca 3-S and the higher-specification Type-5 / 5-L family.

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Sources

• [1] Leica Copies Japan. Nicca Rangefinder Cameras. https://leica-copies-japan.com/Nicca.html
• [2] CollectiBlend. Nicca Co: Nicca 3-F, lever wind. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Nicca-Co/Nicca-3-F-%28lever-wind%29.html
• [3] Nicca Camera Co., Ltd. Nicca Model 3-F Instruction Manual. https://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/nicca_3-f.pdf
• [4] Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris. Nicca 3-S vs. Nicca 3-F. https://yashicasailorboy.com/2017/06/04/nicca-3-s-vs-nicca-3-f/
• [5] The Lens DB. Nicca 3-F. https://thelensdb.com/cameras/camera/nicca-3-f-1956