Cameras/leica camera
Advertisement
Question
I have a number of pieces related to the M3 series. I am in the process of putting them up for sale. Some pieces I have found similar ones on eBay for a price comparison but not all. I have a list of the items with serial numbers and digital photos too.
)
One piece in particular is an earlier model which I believe is a Leica 1 with Elmar 1:3.5 F=50 mm attached lens. The serial no. is: 22039. The range finder has a serial no. 29666. It comes in a Leica leather case.
Your assistance would be appreciated.
Hello Richard,
Yes, that's a Leica I (A) (also marketed as the Leica Model A), a fairly simple 35mm viewfinder camera, dating from 1930. It's a common model, with over 57,000 produced from 1926 to 1932, but it maintains high collectible value for its significance as the first successful 35mm camera from Leitz. A typical worn yet basically complete example should sell for about US$400 in today's collectible camera market.
Do you need help selling your Leica gear? Using eBay for price comparison's is not very helpful. There are too many pie-in-the-sky asking prices versus actual successful selling prices. You're going to get conflicting and sometimes damaging information. The other issue is that the majority of successful sales can be attributed to established recognized sellers in that field, whereas "mundane" sellers who are just trying to liquidate their gear on a one-time basis simply won't get the same returns.
If you need help, contact me at the e-mail address below, and feel free to attach a few small (emphasis on small!) digital pictures if that will help.
Best wishes,
David F. Silver - President
International Photographic Historical Organization
silver@photographyhistory.com
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Very helpful in understanding the current market. | ||
Related Articles
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:
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.