Nicu Posted May 30, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello :-), I would like to buy a Leica and just found an M3 1959 (SS?) + 50mm F/2. The seller tells me that camera is in great condition. He is ready to sell it for 500€. It's worth it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Hi Nicu, Take a look here Help me decide towards buying a Leica M3 1959. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted May 30, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 30, 2009 500 Euros for body + Summicron 50 is a good price if everything is right... which is difficult to say looking at pictures only. Verify shutter sound at all the times, lens' glass clarity, winding mechanism... At a this price, even a CLA of 2 to 300 Euros can be worth. If it's really from 1959, is a Single Stroke version... but SEEMS to me (but pic is unclear) that the times are "old scale" with 1/5 1/10 and so... can you give a look to the serial number ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 30, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 30, 2009 Looking better... the s/n seems to be 6 digits... firs digit probably NOT a "9"... which indeed could mean double stroke version... and the number of times on the knob I tend to think it's of the old scale. Anyway, this in itself does not lower the value: all M3s are wonderful cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 30, 2009 Share #4 Posted May 30, 2009 There would seem to be something wrong with the selftimer. The old man from the Age of the M3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted May 30, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 30, 2009 Judging by the type of strap lugs - this is definitely a Single Stroke version, with a serial number possibly above 900xxx. This would also indicate the current shutter speed progresion of 1-2-4-8-15-30-60 etc. In other words - even if not a 'mythical' over 1 million serial number, a very desirable camera at a decent price. Check the lens for scratches and fogging, the camera for the usual signs - dry shutter, dim rangefinder etc. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted May 30, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 30, 2009 There would seem to be something wrong with the selftimer. The old man from the Age of the M3 It has been wound and not released...... Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 30, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 30, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It has been wound and not released...... Jan Bad practice, that. The pesky old man Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted May 30, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 30, 2009 Bad practice, that. The pesky old man That is also how some 'cognosenti' attempt to bring a stuck camera back to life... "Uhm - let's see.... the shutter does not release so let's wind the selftimer and that will fix it"..... For the OP - an excellent pre-buy check list for M Leicas from Stephen Gandy's site: Leica M Buyer's Checklist Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leitz_not_leica Posted May 30, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 30, 2009 Buy it. Even with a CLA you have a bargain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicu Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted May 31, 2009 Thank you for your opinnions and useful tips. :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 31, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 31, 2009 Not sure what 500uros means in US Dollars but if it is in good shape it's not a bad price. But have you physically handled this camera? If so have you worked the shutter? Fired it. If you have and it fired something is wrong. The Timer lever is all wrong, IE in the position it is in mean the timer is set. So if the shutter fires with the release button that means someone that doesn't know much about older M's has worked on it, and not to well. Also the lens is very old and unless you have looked through it with a bright light you can't tell if it has any haze in it or scratches on it. Even then you won't know if it focuses correctly until you run at least one roll of film through it. Just how do you know it was made in 1959? Please post the serial #. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicu Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted May 31, 2009 Not sure what 500uros means in US Dollars but if it is in good shape it's not a bad price.But have you physically handled this camera? If so have you worked the shutter? Fired it. If you have and it fired something is wrong. The Timer lever is all wrong, IE in the position it is in mean the timer is set. So if the shutter fires with the release button that means someone that doesn't know much about older M's has worked on it, and not to well. Also the lens is very old and unless you have looked through it with a bright light you can't tell if it has any haze in it or scratches on it. Even then you won't know if it focuses correctly until you run at least one roll of film through it. Just how do you know it was made in 1959? Please post the serial #. 500 Euros = 706.75 U.S. dollars I talked with the seller only thru phone, gonna meet him tomorrow and further will write the s/n here. And discovered that camera is dated from 1959 in announcement. The seller seems to don't know a thing about camera's, should i have doubts about year of production? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted May 31, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 31, 2009 The going prices in NL are 500 - 750 euro for the body and similar price range for the lens so 500 euro is a very good price unless it is in poor condition. See Schouten for reference, note his prices are ex. VAT & he tends to be on the high side! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 31, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 31, 2009 Good idea to look at the camera before buying. When you get your hands on it press the little button just above the selftimer and see it that lever starts to count down and the shutter fires. Then cock it and fire it with the shutter release. If all that works and there are no holes in the shutters then take a real good look through the viewfinder. If all that is OK it's a good price. 500 Euros = 706.75 U.S. dollars I talked with the seller only thru phone, gonna meet him tomorrow and further will write the s/n here. And discovered that camera is dated from 1959 in announcement. The seller seems to don't know a thing about camera's, should i have doubts about year of production? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted June 1, 2009 Share #15 Posted June 1, 2009 A different point, that has not been mentioned - are you aware that you will be restricted to either a "goggles" 35mm or using a 35mm with a separate viewfinder? The M3 is unique in having a .91 magnification viewfinder which is great for 50mm and above (although no framelines for 75mm) but not so useful for the 35, which requires either the purpose-designed goggled versions or the workaround I have mentioned. Of course none of this matters if you don't ever want to use a 35... Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicu Posted June 12, 2009 Author Share #16 Posted June 12, 2009 Sorry guys for posting and after disappearing. I didn't bought the camera. Thank you all for your implication anyway. Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted June 12, 2009 Share #17 Posted June 12, 2009 With these old cameras the assumption should be that at least a CLA needs to be done. I just purchased two minimally used Leicaflex SL for a very fair price, and one of them had a recent CLA, but when the cost of the additional work that needs to be done and the work I want done (not necessarily a need), then your getting a little pricey. Certainly not in the same range as a new camera, but far from the screaming bargain they were when purchased. But if you think it's the type of camera you will hold on to, forever, then the repairs, ect. are really a small matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photon42 Posted June 13, 2009 Share #18 Posted June 13, 2009 500 Euros = 706.75 U.S. dollars I talked with the seller only thru phone, gonna meet him tomorrow and further will write the s/n here. And discovered that camera is dated from 1959 in announcement. The seller seems to don't know a thing about camera's, should i have doubts about year of production? So you want to buy a 50 year old vintage camera from someone you don't know and him not knowing a thing about it? Forgive me, but as you ask for advise here, your knowledge seems to be limited to on M3s. That's perfectly OK but what's about getting an M3 from a dealer or something close to that? Just my two cents Ivo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 13, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 13, 2009 So you want to buy a 50 year old vintage camera from someone you don't know and him not knowing a thing about it? Forgive me, but as you ask for advise here, your knowledge seems to be limited to on M3s. That's perfectly OK but what's about getting an M3 from a dealer or something close to that? If you read a couple of messages above, he didn't buy the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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