Cameras/LEICA
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Question
I found a Leica camera in my grandparents' basement last week. I was wondering as to the model and value of a Leica DRP Ernst Leitz Wetzlar No. 232791; the lens is dated 1937 and says No.349501. Thanks!
Hello,
According to the serial number, you have a Leica IIIa, a classic 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1936 and probably sold sometime early in 1937. You neglected to tell me the name on the lens, but the best match for this camera would be an Elmar or Summitar 5cm, also made by Leitz. This was a very common model, over 90,000 were made between 1935 and 1939, and many have survived. A truly excellent example, complete with that appropriate Elmar or Summitar lens, would sell for about $300 in the collectible camera marke today.
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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