Cameras/leica camera-1940's
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Question
i recently found my father's old leica-guess late 1940's since he left Germany in 1949 and is thought to have had this already by then-no identifying model#-only No-461851---------how old is this,are there any English version manuals available,should it be serviced before i try to use it?Found an old roll of slide film,and a piece if the film cardboard box dated 1966 in the back of the case
Hello,
You have a Leica IIIc, a 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany in 1948. This is a fairly common model, and over 130,000 were made from 1940 to 1951. The post-war versions tend to have problems and usually do need a thorough servicing before they are used now, BUT they really aren't worth the cost of servicing sometimes because they are so common and relatively inexpensive. A truly excellent post-war example, with appropriate Elmar or Summitar 5cm lens, would sell for around $225-$250 today. For an instruction manual, take a look at:
http://www.craigcamera.com/ib_l.htm
Scroll down the page and you'll see item #LEI-422, a reprint manual for the Leica IIIc. Have fun!
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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