What is my IIIc (3c) worth? please help!!!

[whatsmyleica]

hi everyone,
i apologize in advance but i was unable to find any information via google pertaining to my camera. maybe you folks can help me out. i dont know where else to turn.

i have a leica IIIC serial number: 503 837
i think that means that it was made in 1950

also with it i have a german made "travenar 1:3.5/135" telephoto lens.

it seems to be in excellent condition and with it are various accessories such as a self timer, various filters.

i found that the IIIc isnt worth a whole lot becuase there are a lot of them but is the lens any good?

i would like to possibly start shooting with this camera but i would also like to know what it is worth.

thank you for bearing with me and once again i apologize if this is posted to the wrong forum or the wrong place.

[JBA]

You might have more luck posting this in Collectors & Historica

[ejd]

Out of curiosity I googled 'travenar' and found various threads on photo.net and elsewhere discussing travenar lenses -- made by a firm called Schacht, in Ulm, it seems -- and the general view there was that these lenses were not very good, nor worth very much (tens of euros, with luck). I think if you poke around with google you will find lots of info on your lens. A IIIC is not likely to be worth much, unless in extrordinarily good condition, or possessing of some feature that makes it a rare or special one. Even in high-priced Britain there are many advertised by dealers for 100 - 150 pounds sterling. This strikes me as gear to use for fun -- see how the pictures turn out. The body is fine to use if not highly valuable -- in fact often recommended as a good 'user' because the price is not inflated by collector interest.

[luigi bertolotti]

Welcome to the forum ! The "historical" section would be more apt for your question, but don't worry... all what has been writte is correct: IIIc Leicas are rather common and not so much valuable, say 200 to 400 Euros depending on conditions, but it's an enjoyable camera to use... you can even find on the Net the instructions booklets, for instance you can try here : Free camera instruction manuals, free camera user guide, camera manual, camera instruction manuals,* Ricoh camera manuals, Sears Camera Manuals, camera instruction manual, replacement camera manual, ricoh point and shoot, cosina camera manual, fujica

If you haven't ever used a Leica, the most difficult intial task is to LOAD THE FILM... it's made from the bottom, and the back doesn't open...

Pity you haven't a standard 50 mm lens... Schact used to be a German brand of medium-quality lenses, and you haven't to wait for grat results from your 135 (which requires an external vioewfinder for framing) The classical 50 mm lens for IIIc was the Leitz Elmar f 3,5, still today a very good lens: it's easy to find one, but its cost, if good, is not negligible... around 150 to 200 Euros.