Cameras/Leitz Wetzlar camera
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Question
A co-worker was reorganizing in her Cytogenetics Laboratory when she found the following camera back that probably, at one time, was attached to a microscope. The only writing on it is the following:
Leitz Wetzlar
Germany
D.B.P. 1044601
Can you tell me the approximate age of this item, it's value and who might be interested in acquiring it?
Thank you.
Chuck Loftice
Hi Chuck,
From the serial number, it should be a Leica M3 camera body, but the factory records are a bit rough in this area. That's a very good camera, but it's more likely a Leica M1, or even the M2, would have been used for a microscope. The M3 has features that would be wasted. The other question is whether it is a standard chrome version or if the metal has been finished in black. Whatever, it dates from 1962. Value depends on the exact model. Please, if you can, send a single small JPEG digital image showing the camera's general overall appearance to my personal e-mail <silver@well.com> and I'll give you a precise identification and appraisal. I can also recommend a number of honest collectors you can contact for a quick and stress-free transaction if you intend to sell it.
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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