Cameras/Leica D.R.P Ernst Leitz Wetzlar 436727
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Question
Hi David,
I have a Leica D.R.P. EL Wetzler #436727 which I acquired right after WWII. I also have a Pentax ME Super.
I am thinking of giving one, or both, to a young man who is studying to become a photographer. From a creative point of view, which camera would be better suited for him? Would both be usefull?
I would also appreciate it, if you could tell me the money value of the Leica.
Thank You
Sophie Winston
Hello,
Without a doubt, the Pentax would be a much better camera for somebody studying to become a photographer. The Leica is a historically interesting piece, and certainly very high quality, but it is really something only a more advanced photographer would understand and appreciate. Besides, the Pentax has much more modern and "user friendly" controls, plus the creative benefit of allowing the user to see right through the lens. It would also be much easier and less expensive for this young man to acquire more lenses and accessories for the Pentax than for the Leica.
Your Leica is precisely a Leica IIIc, a very common 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany around 1947. Over 180,000 of these were made between 1936 and 1950, and it seems the majority have survived today. Post-war versions are notoriously inconsistent in quality and function because it took a few years for Leitz to recover, but a truly excellent example would still bring about $250 in the current collectible camera market. In general, the post-war Leica IIIc is considered much more of a collectible item than a usable camera.
Best wishes,
David Silver
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | David, Thank you so much for your prompt and highly usefull response. I shall do as you suggest. Sophie | ||
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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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