Nicca Type-III A
The Nicca Type-III A is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1951. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1951
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- Type-III A
- Serial Range
- Approximately 2825x to 4518x, observed collector range
Dimensions
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- None, separate fixed 50 mm viewfinder and coupled rangefinder
- Shutter Speeds
- Typically T, 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s, 1/8 s, B, 1/20 s, 1/30 s, 1/40 s, 1/60 s, 1/100 s, 1/200 s and 1/500 s; the final observed bodies use a 1/25 s changeover progression
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- None
Nicca Type-III A
The Nicca Type-III A is a 1951 Japanese LTM rangefinder derived from the late Nicca Type-3. It combines a separate 50 mm finder, 1.5x coupled rangefinder and cloth focal-plane shutter with slow speeds and a 1/500 second top speed [1].
Unlike its Type-III B companion, the Type-III A was sold without flash synchronization. It remains usable with standard Leica-thread lenses, but composition outside the fixed finder requires an accessory finder.
History
Development and Launch
The Type-III A was introduced in April 1951 as the unsynchronized member of a two-model range. The synchronized Type-III B followed in June [1].
Production Evolution
Observed serials run approximately from 2825x to 4518x. Maker engraving changed during production, a film-plane mark was added, and very late examples received blanked sync-socket rings and some later chassis details [1].
Special Variants
Late bodies with blank socket rings are production variants, not separate editions. The Type-III A remains tagged Standard model.
Collector Notes
The body is engraved only “Nicca”, so identification depends on the absence of functional sync contacts, serial context and construction details. Blank socket rings on late examples are factory features, not evidence of removed synchronization.
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