International Camera Museum : Blue Moon Camera and Machine

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Konica IIIM

The Konica IIIM is a fixed lens, 35mm rangefinder camera, introduced in March of 1959, as a sister camera to the IIIA. The biggest difference between the two cameras being that the IIIM includes a selenium cell light meter and features the capability to switch into a half-frame mode - the viewfinder even includes framelines for half-frame composition.

The IIIM also features an excellent 50mm f/1.8 lens in front of a leaf shutter. In a quirk of the design, the film advance lever is located to the side of the lens, rather than the top (or bottom) of the camera. This dual stroke mechanism allows the photographer to fire the shutter with their right finger and advance the film with their left finger, all without ever taking their eye from the viewfinder. Speaking of viewfinders, the IIIM boasts a large and lovely finder window that has a 1x magnification, so savvy photographers can keep both eyes open with the left peering around the camera watching what is going on outside of the frame the that right sees inside the camera. The framelines within the viewfinder also correct for parallax and field of view, as the lens is focused closer.

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The Konica IIIM

The Konica IIIM. This camera was called Konica before the company that made it. In 1987, Konica would adopt the name for the entire business.

We have a lot of good things to say about this nifty 35mm rangefinder. If you can get your hands on one, do so.

The camera features a huge and bright viewfinder that is 1x magnification, you focus and compose with both eyes open. The framelines correct for both parallax and field size. The advance lever is particularly addictive; it is the lever you see to the right of the lens. Similar to the rapid advance levers found on the bottom of Leica and Canon rangefinders, this lever winds the film and sets the shutter with a double stroke that is fast and let's you keep the camera to your eye. But wait, there's more. The camera can be found with a half frame mask that automatically switches the framelines, film counter, and advance of the camera when installed. Just to give you the history fix you didn't know you were craving; the camera's name came from shortening the name of the company that made it, Konishiroku, and adding "-ca" to the end - similar to how both Leica and Yashica were named.

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