Leica M3 - How early is "early"?

[echorec]

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I have been offered a Leica M3 serial no 7025XX. I know that the first batch of 600 cameras is valuable to collectors.

 

The seller is asking more than a "regular" M3 costs so I wonder of this camera has a collectors value even though it is not from the very first batch.

 

Thanks,

 

Gunnar

[Photoskeptic]

Nope. Sounds like a regular double-stroke. Maybe it's black? or someone famous owned it?

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[echorec]

Thanks John,

 

It´s not black and nobody famous owned it.

[doubice]

I have been offered a Leica M3 serial no 7025XX. I know that the first batch of 600 cameras is valuable to collectors.

 

The seller is asking more than a "regular" M3 costs so I wonder of this camera has a collectors value even though it is not from the very first batch.

 

Thanks,

 

Gunnar

 

Gunnar,

 

I think that an M3 from a batch of the first 5000 can be considered 'early'. After all, it is a camera from the first year of the M3's production.

 

For the camera to have collector's value though, it has to be in very nice condition cosmetically.

 

 

Best,

 

Jan

[echorec]

Thanks Jan,

 

I will take a look at it in the next few days. He is asking around 600 Euro.

[doubice]

Gunnar,

 

If you are thinking of buying it as a collector's piece, make certain that the cosmetics are first class (mechanicals can always be fixed....).

 

If however, you want to buy a camera to use, at that price I would recommend a body above the 950 000 serial range. Those would have a more modern range of shutter speeds, frame pre-view lever, single stroke advance etc etc, simply a more robust and user friendly M body.

 

Best,

 

Jan

[luigi bertolotti]

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Gunnar, I think 600 Euro for a M3 double stroke is not an high price: if it's good in cosmetic, shutter sounds fine and RF/VF is clear, is a good buy: if you plan to use, a mech control/refresh on a good body is not too costly and you obtain really a very usable and fascinating item: the "double stroking" has a specific taste...

[echorec]

Thanks for the advice guys, I will let you know what happens.

 

Gunnar

[telewatt]

..a M3 is allways a great thing.. ..you will love it!

 

regards,

Jan

[RichieC]

I have been offered a Leica M3 serial no 7025XX. I know that the first batch of 600 cameras is valuable to collectors.

 

The seller is asking more than a "regular" M3 costs so I wonder of this camera has a collectors value even though it is not from the very first batch.

 

Thanks,

 

Gunnar

 

600 Euros would be too much for an early M3 in the USA unless of course it is in near mint collectible condition. If you are just looking for a user M3, you can get them much cheaper on Ebay or from US stores like KEH.com. KEH has an early one in stock for US$546. Here's the link:

 

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=LM029990878340&brandcategoryname=35MM&Mode=searchproducts&item=0&ActivateTOC2=false&ID=&BC=LM&BCC=1&CC=2&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=&KW=

 

You might have to budget for a CLA if you plan to use the camera on a regular basis.

[gogopix]

The referred camera is BGN which means 'bargain' which means barely usable.

 

600 euro doesnt sount that off.

[sparkie]

"Early" - in 'collector' realms usually refers to the first M3's made in the approx 700 000 - 700 450 range with specific characteristics such as the sharp corners in front of the frame counter. A lot of people seem to extend this 'range' to the first 600 or 700. But the sharp corner is usually lost in these later cameras.

 

If you are a real collector head, then the Nullserie M3 cameras are the 'ultimate' of the early M3s. These were the variant prototypes. Museum level gear for sure

[echorec]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

I have not looked at this camera yet but I found another (748xxx) DS that I really like. I love the sound of the shutter and the solid feel of the doublestroking

 

Gonna get my first roll of film taken with this camera developed tomorrow.

[Rik]

"Early" - in 'collector' realms usually refers to the first M3's made in the approx 700 000 - 700 450 range with specific characteristics such as the sharp corners in front of the frame counter. A lot of people seem to extend this 'range' to the first 600 or 700. But the sharp corner is usually lost in these later cameras.

 

If you are a real collector head, then the Nullserie M3 cameras are the 'ultimate' of the early M3s. These were the variant prototypes. Museum level gear for sure

 

There is one for sale on schouten-select.com........

no affilitation , apart from both being Dutch

[sparkie]

the Null Series camera looks like the real deal. I saw one in the flesh about 3yrs ago in Germany. Lars had one, maybe its the same one. Very very VERY rare.

 

The M3 700288 interestingly enough doesnt have the sharp corners.