Cameras/Leica camera pre war type
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Question
Dear Mr Silver, I have an old Leica DRP Wetzlar serial n. 258249 that still makes good photos. Could you kindly tell me in which year was built? Is it possible to find accessories for this camera? Thanks Giovanni.
Hello Giovanni,
From that 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. It's significant as their first camera to offer a very fast shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second, but is also quite common, and it seems like the majority of them have survived to today. Factory records indicate over 90,000 were sold from 1935 to 1939. Still, a truly excellent example, with an an appropriate matching Leitz 5cm lens (like an Elmar or Summar) can sell for about $300 in the current collectible camera market. Since it is much more of a collectible than a usable item today, value depends more on cosmetic than mechanical condition. Leitz made MANY accessories for these cameras, and so did other companies. I would think what you want the most are different lenses. All you need to look for are LTM (Leica thread mount) or 39mm screw mount (different term, but same lenses) on eBay and you will find dozens of lenses for your camera every week! Not only did Leitz make many lenses, but also Canon in Japan, several makers in Russia, and several other German companies (such as Steinheil and Schacht and more). You can also search for accessory viewfinders and macro focusing devices and many other pieces from Leitz. Once they introduced the Leica III and IIIa, Leitz committed to creating a vast photographic system. Do some "treasure hunting" on eBay and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the many wonderful things you can do with your vintage Leica!
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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