Expert: David Silver - 4/5/2005

Question
Hello,Today,I found an old Leica camera,A range finder,and some filters,They were in the trunk of a car at the junkyard.The camera says...Leica D.R.P.Ernst Leitz Wetzlar,no.384134,.The rangefinder says...HUGO MEYER POCKET RANGE FINDER,pat#2186806.It is in a brown leather case.The lens on the camera says...#584302,it is also the Wetzlar.the filters are Walz,there is an amber,a blue a green,flesh tone and a yello.THe camera appears to be in good cond.in need of cleaning,and a small piece of the black on the front is chipped.I know absolutely nothing about old cameras,is it collectible?what is its worth?Should I e-bay?or is there abetter way to go?Thanks for any assistance you can give me,Have a good day.

Answer
Hi Kurt,

From the serial number, I can tell you it's a Leica IIIc and it was made by Leitz of Germany around 1942.  Leitz made many different models of Leica cameras over the course of 80 years, some are rare and valuable while most are not, and I'm afraid the IIIc is among the most common of them all.  That model was introduced in 1940 and over 133,000 were produced through 1951.  However, since it IS a Leica, and there's all that reputation and history involved, it does maintain some value as a collectible piece.  A truly excellent example would sell for up to $300, but you've mentioned that yours "appears" to be in "good" condition, and that it needs "cleaning" and there's a piece of the black covering chipped off.  The problem with Leica cameras is that anything less than true excellent condition dramatically drops off in value.  I think it's safe to say that yours is probably NOT in excellent condition, so more likely you're looking at $150 to maybe $200.  Hey, that's still pretty darn good for something you found in a junkyard!  I don't recommend eBay because the common Leica cameras basically go there to die.  Too many available, too many sharp dealers and collectors manipulating the action, and too likley that your camera will get missed altogether.  Let me recommend a few collectors you can contact directly:

Frank West <gryku@yahoo.com>
R. Dennis <splant@pacifier.com>
Tommy Aaron <zeissnikon@mindspring.com>

Send them all an e-mail, tell them what you have (primarily it's about the camera with its lens, the extra rangefinder is candy, and the filters are basically worthless), and let them make offers.  If possible, if you can take one simple small JPEG digital image to send to them showing the cameras general overall appearnce, it would aid greatly in the process.  I'd suggest that whoever makes the highest offer over perhaps $200 is your buyer.  These are nice honest folks, they won't try to lowball you.

Good luck, and feel free to get back to me if you need more help.

Best wishes,

David Silver