Peerless Type-3
The Peerless Type-3 is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1949. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1949
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- Type-3
- Serial Range
- Confirmed examples 24001, 24011, 24032, 24039 and 24058; numbers are non-contiguous within Nicca Type-3 production
Dimensions
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- None, separate fixed 50 mm viewfinder and coupled rangefinder
- Shutter Speeds
- T, 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s, 1/8 s, Z or B, 1/20 s, 1/30 s, 1/40 s, 1/60 s, 1/100 s, 1/200 s and 1/500 s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- None
Peerless Type-3
The Peerless Type-3 is a rare US-market LTM rangefinder made by Nicca for Peerless Camera Stores of New York. Its body corresponds to an early Nicca Type-3, with separate viewing and focusing windows, slow speeds and a cloth shutter reaching 1/500 second [1].
The original outfit used a collapsible Sun Sophia 5 cm f/2 instead of the Nikkor lenses normally supplied with Nicca cameras. Known examples are not flash synchronized [1].
History
Development and Launch
Peerless ordered the small batch in 1949, shortly after Nicca changed its maker engraving from “Nicca Camera Works, Ltd. Tokyo” to “Nicca Camera Works, Ltd.” [1].
Production Evolution
Five confirmed numbers, 24001, 24011, 24032, 24039 and 24058, lie inside the regular Nicca Type-3 sequence. Ordinary Niccas also occur between them, so the Peerless cameras did not receive a continuous reserved block [1].
Special Variants
Peerless Type-3 is a distinct commercial rebadge, not a commemorative edition. It should receive its own Standard model profile.
Collector Notes
Correct examples are engraved “Peerless Type-3” on the finder cover and “Made for Peerless Photo Supply by Nicca Camera Works” on the baseplate. An original Sun Sophia lens materially strengthens attribution.
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