gvaliquette Posted January 4, 2007 Share #1 Posted January 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello everyone. Who would buy a Leica M4-2 with a 50mm f2.0 lens for $7,000, or more??? Any obscure history behind this combo? or just overinflated price for the military? I would appreciate any and all comments on this oddity. Guy URL: eBay: LEICA KE7A U.S MILITARY, WITH ELCAN LENS (item 330070940031 end time Jan-13-07 18:59:51 PST) Oh: Leather everready case included at no extra cost! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Hi gvaliquette, Take a look here Leica M4-2 with 50mm f2.0 lens: $7,000!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
gvaliquette Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted January 4, 2007 Correction, $9,000!!! Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted January 5, 2007 Share #3 Posted January 5, 2007 Guy, This is definitely not just a Leica M4-2 with a 50mm f:2 lens......... In 1972 Leitz Canada received a contract from the US military for about 500 (might be more or less, but very few...) special cameras based on the M4. The cameras were equipped with a specially designed 4-element (!) Elcan f:2/50mm lens (Elcan = Ernst Leitz Canada). The KE-7A body was winterized and designed to withstand brutal abuse. These cameras were inscribed ' CAMERA, STILL PICTURE, KE-7A'. Some made it to the civilian market, but those did not have the military contract numbers on the back, like this eBay camera has. A true military KE-7A is a rare collectible; it is not one of those Special Editions 'Instant Collectibles' - this was a real camera designed to be used and not collected, just like the original MP. Whether it is worth US$9000.00 is questionable, but maybe it is..... We'll find out when the auction is over..... I owned the civilian KE-7A version, sold it in the late 1980's and got US$4500.00 for it. US$9000.00 for the real mccoy, in 2007 Dollars might not be so much out of line. All the best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 5, 2007 Share #4 Posted January 5, 2007 If someone wants it at that price then yes, its worth it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_b Posted January 5, 2007 Share #5 Posted January 5, 2007 It is interesting that on this Elcan-lens the aperture ring turns in a different direction (aperture 2 is on the right side of the ring) than the rings of the standard Leica lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlancasterd Posted January 5, 2007 Share #6 Posted January 5, 2007 It is interesting that on this Elcan-lens the aperture ring turns in a different direction (aperture 2 is on the right side of the ring) than the rings of the standard Leica lenses. IIRC the Elcan was developed because the 50mm 'Chron *exceeded* the specification dreamt up by the military by too great a margin and they insisted on a lens being designed down to their standard... That's military procurement for you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsh Posted January 5, 2007 Share #7 Posted January 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) The KE-7A is actually and M4. If I were Bob Nardelli, I would buy it for posterity sake. But I am not the $200 plus Million Dollar Man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry Posted January 5, 2007 Share #8 Posted January 5, 2007 The KE-7A is actually and M4. If I were Bob Nardelli, I would buy it for posterity sake. But I am not the $200 plus Million Dollar Man. Richard, What if you were Frank Blake? ;-) Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2007 Share #9 Posted January 6, 2007 If someone wants it at that price then yes, its worth it. The bidder is a well known german leica dealer in Wetzlar with an established reputation, see here Lars Netopil Classic Cameras Wetzlar I guess he knows what he does . Best regards, Karl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted January 13, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted January 13, 2007 It's now worth $9,100, a second bidder outbid the initial bidder Karl pointed out. Unfortunately, now, one no longer knows who the bidders are. We will soon find out its real value. Bidding ends at 02:59:51 GMT Sunday January 14, ...2007 Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 13, 2007 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2007 No eBay sale notices on the forum please. (Only kidding in this case, I suppose!) It doesn't look like it's seen much action. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvaliquette Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted January 14, 2007 No eBay sale notices on the forum please. (Only kidding in this case, I suppose!) It doesn't look like it's seen much action. Andy: The action happened seconds before closing time. Go see the details. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 14, 2007 Share #13 Posted January 14, 2007 I meant that the camera hadn't seen much action, not the auction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusion Circle Posted January 14, 2007 Share #14 Posted January 14, 2007 Almost $12,000 USD.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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