Nicca IIIA (1951)

Nicca IIIA / 1951

The Nicca Camera Co. Ltd was originally called the Kogaku Seiki-sha, meaning Optics and Precision Co. was founded in 1940 by former employees of Seiki Kogaku (the predecessor of Canon) in Tokyo, Japan. Its first produced the Nippon, a close copy of the Leica rangefinder camera, in 1942. In 1948, the company changed its name to the Nippon Camera Works, and a year later, to the Nicca Camera Works. It continued to build Leica-type rangefinder cameras. In 1958, the company was acquired by Yashica, which manufactured and re-labeled the Nicca-33 and III-L as the Yashica YE and YF respectively.

This is a Nicca IIIA I bought from ebay, in very good condition, for $300 US (body only). It was produced in 1951-1952 and less than 5,000 bodies were made. It's obviously based on the Leica III (although I am not quite sure which one). Of all my Leica III copies this loks like one of the best made. It takes Leica screw fit lenses.

　

With Voigtlander Leica screw fit lens

　

　

　

Nicca rangefinder

　

　

　

Name and serial number

　

　

　

Front speed dial

　

　

　

Top view

　

　

　

Made in occupied Japan

　

　

　

Shutter release, speed dial and winder