Cameras/Leica
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Question
Years ago I inherited a Leica Camera and now, another twenty years later, I found it again when I cleaned up the basement. It`s a Leica Ernst Leitz Wetzlar D.R.P., Germany, and the serial number is 135206. The lens says Leitz Hektor f=5 cm, 1:2,5. The lens is protected by a metallic cap.
Do you have any idea about background and value of this wonderful technical tool?
Hello Peter,
Serial number 135206 should be a Leica III (also known as the Leica Model F), a traditional 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1934. This is a fairly common model, with over 76,000 produced from 1933 to 1939. Now I say "should be" because a lot of these were returned to the factory just before or right after World War II to be upgraded to later models, so without seeing it for myself I can only assume the camera is in its original state. Today due to the "Leica mystique" rather than any rarity or reasonable intrinsic value, a truly excellent working example of the Leica III with a good matching Leitz 5cm normal lens (such as that Hektor) should sell for around $300-$350 in the current collectible camera market. I'm afraid it's a really tough item to sell in this over-saturated collecting environment. If you need help finding a buyer, feel free to contact directly at the e-mail address below...
Best wishes,
David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization
silver@photographyhistory.com
(415) 681-4356
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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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