AboutDavid Silver Expertise I'm an expert on all types of antique and classic CAMERAS, vintage PHOTOGRAPHS, and the 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; from daguerreotypes and tintypes to the black & white images by the 20th century masters. I can identify and appraise, explain techniques and processes, offer insights on restoration and preservation, and provide guidelines for buying and selling.
Experience I've been a professional photographer and a student of the history of photography for over 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:
Question I have a black dial IIIF that I'm trying to sell and i'd like to get an idea of what its
worth. its in great condition and has case and accessory. here are the specifics:
Leica D.R.P. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar, sn # 530313, lens # 792250. max speed
asa250, numbers under shutter speed dial are 0-20
Answer
Hello Vincent,
From that serial number, you do indeed have a Leica IIIf "black dial", a traditional 35mm coupled rangefinder camera, made by Leitz of Germany around 1951. It's a very common model, with over 188,000 made from 1950 to 1957, but very high quality for its time. The "black dial" was the earliest of three different variations of the Leica IIIf (there was a "red dial", and lastly a "red dial" with delayed action switch), and I'm afraid it's generally considered the least desirable, but it retains good value just the same. A truly excellent example, complete with appropriate matching Leitz 50mm normal lens (such as an Elmar or Summitar), should sell for about $350 in the current collectible camera market.
