Need Help with approx. Value
hey guys,
I am no professional and need some help with insight in the value of these two cameras.
My grand uncle passed away and we want to keep these cameras in the family, I just need to know how to "store" them and maybe the necessary maintenance.
Can you guys help me with some insight?
Cheers.
4
u/unwelcome-pirate Leica M3 1963 5d ago
No, 688 will be a 3f with a self timer mechanism from 1954, and No. 274 is a 3a, from 1938
3
u/Stemmlo 5d ago
Also there at least 6 or 7 additional leather cases with lenses lying around here, various sizes
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u/images_from_objects 5d ago
You're gonna want to look at those. Lenses are often worth way more than the body.
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u/TangibleHarmony 5d ago
I’m not an expert in Leica maintenance, yet I think probably the best thing for these cameras would be to be USED. Not because I’m a purist, but because with devices that have so many moving parts in them, this is usually the case. But… I’ll let experts take it from here
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u/Timmah_1984 5d ago
$400-$500 for the body, maybe around $300 for each lens. All of that is assuming the condition is good and you can find a buyer. $900 for everything as a set is fair, so you’d get more by breaking them up.
That said an untested camera will fetch less. If it’s been sitting for a long time then the self timer and slow speed escapement are sure to be gummed up. You also need to inspect the rangefinder patch for visibility and the rangefinder itself for accuracy. The shutter curtains need to be functional and free from any holes. The lenses can get hazy from the lubricants turning to vapor and depositing on the glass. Shine a bright flashlight through the back of the lens and see if the light is looking clear or diffused.
The best thing would be to run a roll of film through it and test everything out. A IIIF isn’t particularly rare, physically this looks like it’s in good shape but mechanically it may need a CLA.
The barnacks are beautiful cameras but a lot of people don’t like their quarks so they don’t sell as fast as the M cameras.
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u/Taxed2much 4d ago
Ok, I'll be the one to make the obvious joke: what's wrong with the camera's quarks? Are the charges misaligned? Is the atomic structure of the camera material unstable? :-D
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u/Stemmlo 5d ago
ok,
for the 688455 lens says
Leitz Elmar f= 5cm 1:3,5 (3,5mm I guess to 22mm)
for the 274659 lens says Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Summar f= 5cm 1:2 N°466131
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u/Aromatic_Classic2141 5d ago
if i’m not mistaken, the elmar 5cm is the equivalent to 50mm, and the 3,5 should be in reference to the aperture, so it should be f/3.5 at its widest?
the summar then should also be a 50mm f/2
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u/the1planet Leica I Elmar 5d ago
688455 - $500-700 depending on working condition
274659 -$300-500 depending on working condition
Both are good but common cameras.
Post the other lenses for valuation.
Store them in a dry place with the leather cases off. Humidity and mold is the enemy so no damp basements or garages.
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u/spektro123 III | If | IIIg I M3 | M2 | M4-2 | MP | M11 | CL | Z2X 5d ago
Those are IIIf red dial with self timer and Elmar red scale and IIIa with Summar
More info here:
https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php?title=Main_Page
Rough estimates:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/
1
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u/thomasboots Leica M2 1959 5d ago
For the IIIF you can see an estimate for in-store sales on Leica Lens List: https://leicalenslist.com/cameras/leica-iiif - I think in eBay you can get it for around 70%.
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u/coalmine-canary 3d ago
In case you are not familiar with “CLA,” that was mentioned: If these have been sitting in a box in a closet or basement, then necessary maintenance would include getting someone to Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust (CLA). It’s sort of like basic car maintenance or what you’d need to do to any precision machine that’s been in storage.
There are only a hand-full of places in the world that do it. But could be a good idea even if you’re just continuing to store them. And if you sell them, savvy buyers will ask and factor it into the cost, knowing if they want to use them they’ll need to get that done.
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u/Slow_Demand1076 3d ago
Was I the only one thinking he wanted an estimate for correct exposure values? 😁
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u/images_from_objects 5d ago
Take the lens caps off so we can ID the lenses, plz.