Cameras/Leica camera
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Question
Hi - We have a camera from my husband's uncle. It is a D.R.P. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Leica No. 262169. In researching we believe it is vintage 1937 IIIa. Lens is a Summar f=5cm 1.2 No. 386652 with a yellow filter with E. Leitz Wetzlar and a 2 and Germany on it.
We are interested in knowing the value of the camera. It has no case with it orany other accessories.
Thank you for your help.
Judy
Hello Judy,
Yes, according to the serial number, you have a Leica IIIa (also known as the Leica Model G), a traditional 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1937. This is a fairly common model, with over 90,000 produced from 1935 to 1939. It was the first camera Leitz offered with a top shutter speed of 1/1000, and that was pretty darn fast back then! The Summar lens also dates to 1937, and is an ideal match for this camera. Since the Leica IIIa is such a common model, I'm afraid it doesn't carry that much value in today's collectible camera market when compared to other more exotic Leitz products, but truly excellent examples will still bring something in the $250-$300 range. If the shutter is still working properly, and the lens is clean, whether or not your intention is to eventually sell it, if you're so inclined I *do* recommend you get a couple roll of 35mm film and give it a try. Handling this old treasure will probably make you appreciate our modern digital cameras even more, BUT, if you have a steady hand and a good eye, I think you'll be amazed at the high quality of the images an old Leica can produce. Have fun!
Best wishes,
David Silver
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David Silver
Expertise
I'm an expert on all types of antique, classic, and contemporary cameras, as well as the general history of photography. Everything from ancient box cameras to modern single-lens-reflex; from simple Kodaks to sophisticated Leica and Nikon; from glass plates and roll film to movie and 35mm. I can identify and appraise them, explain how they work, and offer insights on their restoration and care. I can also provide historical background on vintage cameras and equipment, and guidelines on their purchase and sale.
Experience
I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for nearly 30 years. During that time my collection of vintage cameras and photographic paraphernalia has grown beyond 2000 significant pieces. I've published nearly 70 articles in the field, including 16 in the popular "Buying Classic Cameras" series for PHOTO SHOPPER MAGAZINE from 1995 to 1997, I'm currently a contributing editor for CAMERA SHOPPER MAGAZINE and McKEOWN'S PRICE GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC CAMERAS, and I've written numerous entries for WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA. Portions of my collection have been displayed in museums and special exhibits in the past two decades, and many of the items were photographed as illustrations for books. In 1985 I founded the International Photographic Historical Organization (InPHO), which eventually evolved into its intended purpose as the best first resource for information on the history of photography. I'm also a founding member of several e-mail forums dedicated to specialized areas of photography, and I'm the moderator of the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors (IDCC), which remains the largest and most successful such group in the world. For more information about the International Photographic Historical Organization and its many services, please visit its web pages at:
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