Cameras/Leica
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Question
I have a Leica D.R.P Ernst Leitz Wetzlar camera 267745. My father aquired it during his tour of duty in Germany; WWII. It seems to be operational, and I would like any information you may be able to provide on its history, and use.
Arthur
Hello Arthur,
From that serial number, you most likely have a Leica III (also known as the Leica Model F), a traditional 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany around 1937. It's a fairly common model, with over 76,000 made from 1933 to 1939, but very high quality for its time. A truly excellent example, complete with appropriate matching Leitz 50mm normal lens (such as an Elmar or Summar), should sell for about $300 in the current collectible camera market. In all honesty, it's an archaic and difficult camera to use by today's standards, plus it will most likely require a great deal of general maintenance to bring it up to speed. Unless you're ready to make the investment of time and money to join the small dedicated ranks of photographers who still embrace vintage processes, I'd suggest the camera is really just a collectible now. Keep it and preserve it for the history it represents...
Best wishes,
David Silver
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | David, Thank you, and I will keep it for it's historical significance. | ||
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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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