Need Some ideas on this one

[octoma]

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Hi all. I'm not here seeking value for my Leica find. I just want some advise.

 

Long ago in a galaxy far..... about five years ago. I was helping my father cleaned out a basement (foreclosure clean out) when I came across a suitcase that made a thud when I picked it up, so I opened it up and found this cool looking camera. After a year or so I decided to find out about the camera and get an appraisal on it just for knowing sake.

I called a few camera shops who asked me to send pictures of the items. one guy in NY said he's seen plenty of Leica cameras but never on with a full set of lenses in a case like this he said it might have belong to a journalist (blowing smoke? who knows?). He wanted me to send the camera so I could get a better appraisal... Pshhhh, yeah sure thing

 

any hoo. I just moved and came across the camera again + had a baby boy and I want tons of pictures or so my wife tells me. I don't want to hassle with trying to sell this thing

I just want to trade it for a Nikon D/SLR 50-60-100-200 With a good lens. am I crazy, or is this a good trade?

 

Got Pics

 

 

 

 

 

[J_Thompson]

Congratulations, that's quite a find!

 

According to my information, the camera is a IIIc dating from 1946-47. Others on this forum are better informed as to the collectablity of all the kit you have there, but were I in your position, I'd keep the lot. It will only appreciate over time and you can have a lot of fun learning how to use it, as well.

 

For the baby and family pictures, why not just get a used, good condition Canon or Nikon DSLR or a simple point and shoot? There are plenty around and you can pick up one that's a few years old for cheap, without breaking the bank. One thing for sure, that camera won't be appreciating!

 

Welcome aboard!

[andybarton]

It looks like a rep's sample case to me.

[doubice]

It looks like a rep's sample case to me.

 

Actually, the first compartment cases that Leitz produced were of this variety - flat and meant to be laid down to open and use. I don't believe this to be a sales rep's case at all rather, a case that belonged to a rather well heeled photographer. The equipment in this case was worth a lot of money in the post-war era.

 

Over-the-shoulder cases as we know them today, came later. Here is another example of a similar case, filled with Leica IIIf, contemporary lenses, accessories and other paraphernalia.

 

Best,

 

Jan

[andybarton]

I stand corrected

[lars_bergquist]

An ensemble like this is of course highly collectible -- worth much more than the summed-up values of the individual items. Two things worry me. First, while the case looks like the ETTRE case, Leica fitted cases of this type always had a compartment for the camera body itself, at the top (side with the lock). So this one may have been modified, unless of course some items have been simply crammed into the camera compartment.

 

Second, you mentioned a basement. These places are often damp, and death for any camera (fungus!)

 

If you want to keep the outfit, the camera body at least should be checked out by a competent camera technician in order to prevent deterioration. Any camera survives longest by being kept in working condition, and taken out for a spin occasionally.

 

The old man from the Age of the IIIc

[Pecole]

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An ensemble like this is of course highly collectible -- worth much more than the summed-up values of the individual items. Two things worry me. First, while the case looks like the ETTRE case, Leica fitted cases of this type always had a compartment for the camera body itself, at the top (side with the lock). So this one may have been modified, unless of course some items have been simply crammed into the camera compartment.

 

Second, you mentioned a basement. These places are often damp, and death for any camera (fungus!)

 

If you want to keep the outfit, the camera body at least should be checked out by a competent camera technician in order to prevent deterioration. Any camera survives longest by being kept in working condition, and taken out for a spin occasionally.

 

The old man from the Age of the IIIc

 

Untrue, dear old man: I had three of these "lenses and accessories only" cases in my Fontenelle collection. I cannot find the code reference now, but I can confirm that this kind of product was available for quite an extended period of time, since one of mine was designed for a.o. the Mountain Elmar, and the most recent one was similar to the one illustrated above.

As for the value, the IIIc and the Elmars 3,5/5/9 plus Hektor 13,5 + VIOOH etc are the most common and cheapest pieces available to Leica collectors. But I agree that the value of the set - even if modest - is higher than the sum of individual pieces.

[luigi bertolotti]

..... I just want to trade it for a Nikon D/SLR 50-60-100-200 With a good lens. am I crazy, or is this a good trade?

 

 

... This is NOT the right forum to pose such a question... ... many of us would consider a BLASPHEMY such a biz...

 

(Welcome to the forum, anyway !!)

[andybarton]

... This is NOT the right forum to pose such a question!

 

Indeed.

 

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-collectors-historica/78771-inherited-leica-trying-find-valuation.html