| You can certainly get a nice usable
| |
| | damage, a few rub marks or gentle dings
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| vintage Leica for $500 or less. However,
| |
| | are not a problem), the seller guarantees
|
| you need to understand a few things before
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| | it all works, as it should. And the Leitz
|
| you choose one. Leitz made two different
| |
| | Summitry is a fine fast lens, but get the
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| systems of 35mm rangefinder cameras.
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| | Elmer 5cm f3.5 instead if you can.
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| The earlier system has a mount that
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| | Forget the original box (collectors will
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| accepts lenses that screw into the camera
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| | PUSH the price for original boxes, but
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| body (what we call 39mm screw mount, or
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| | there's no advantage for you there), don't
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| LTM for Leica thread mount). They
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| | worry about a case (they fall apart, and
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| introduced this system in 1930 with the
| |
| | they sometimes cause more damage to the
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| Leica I(C) model, and continued it well
| |
| | camera because they hold in moisture), but
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| into the 1950's up to the classic Leica
| |
| | do try to get a proper Leitz lens cap.
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| IIIg. Concurrently during the 1950's,
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| | This is your best bet for a usable vintage
|
| Leitz introduced a new system that accepts
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| | Leica in the $400-$500 range.
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| lenses with a special bayonet mount
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| | Now if you want to bend just a bit, and
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| (rather than screw in, the lens is placed
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| | you'd like to explore those later M series
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| against the mount lined up with a red dot
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| | cameras, you can probably get a 1960-ish
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| and a quick quarter turn locks it in
| |
| | Leica M2 with a superb Submicron 50mm f2
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| place).
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| | lens somewhere in the $500-$600 range. All
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| This is known as the M bayonet system,
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| | the same thoughts apply in regards to
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| which started with the superb Leica M3 and
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| | condition, etc. The biggest advantage of
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| continues right up to the latest M8. Okay,
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| | the M series over the old screw mount
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| for $500 you want to find a classic Leica
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| | series is that if your fiance' eventually
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| that your fiance', who probably knows and
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| | wants to get a modern Leica (for work AND
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| appreciates the Leica mystique, can enjoy
| |
| | pleasure), any lenses he already has with
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| in his free time.
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| | the M2 would be interchangeable with the
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| I'm talking hobby camera, not camera for
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| | later camera.
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| his work, because a photojournalist today
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| | The classic M3 is too desirable among
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| would be doing his job with the latest
| |
| | collectors, the M1 has limited features,
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| digital gear. No problem. You're on the
| |
| | and you could consider stepping up for the
|
| right track looking at the Leica IIIf.
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| | M4 (actually it would have to specifically
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| It's a common model, with over 180,000
| |
| | be the M4-2 because the original M4 has
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| sold between 1950 and 1957, it accepts all
| |
| | become quite collectible as well), but
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| the zillions of screw mount lenses Leitz
| |
| | that model is the first of the "modern"
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| made up to that time (and also early 39mm
| |
| | designs. So there you have it, the Leica
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| screw mount Canon, Nikon, and even many
| |
| | IIIf or the Leica M2, those are your best
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| Russian made lenses), and there's always a
| |
| | choices in your price range. Regarding
|
| bunch available on eBay.
| |
| | your question about Leica values, in
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| I do not recommend the Leica IIIg;
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| | general, yes, all of them do increase in
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| although it is a better camera, collectors
| |
| | value.
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| keep it's price hovering in the $1000
| |
| | The vast majority increases slightly ahead
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| range. I do not recommend some other
| |
| | of inflation (over time, not right away),
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| common earlier models like the Leica III,
| |
| | so not that terribly high, but certainly
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| IIIa, or IIIc; although they're equally
| |
| | enough to equal money in the bank (and
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| common and readily available for less
| |
| | assuming you deal only in top condition).
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| money, they are also just old enough to
| |
| | The historically significant models, and a
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| cause a lot of trouble and frustration.
| |
| | few choice rare models, increase by much
|
| Among the screw mount models, the Leica
| |
| | greater degrees, in some cases to the
|
| IIIf is a great choice. Find one that
| |
| | point of being ridiculous. Common models
|
| work! Don't take a risk on an example that
| |
| | like the IIIf just seem to float along
|
| needs any sort of repair.
| |
| | with the economy. So, in general, Leica
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| Look for one that has a bit of external
| |
| | cameras appear to be a good to excellent
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| personality (as long as there's no overt
| |
| | "investment".
|
