Garyn Posted December 2, 2011 Share #1 Posted December 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) So what would you do with this camera ? Although its not a particularly rare camera in anyway, it's just your usual run of the mill 1930's Leica, no gold plating on this one ! it's also not "brand new" like out of the box nor do I have the original box, but others have said it is in beautiful shape for its age, comments I have have received are "It looks like it came out of a time capsule". it shows some very minor wear here and there. I have had it recently CLA'd so it operates as good as it looks. I recently picked up the little Leica III with nickel finish including the 50mm Summar lens and leather case, also included was a import card with serial numbers for both the lens and camera body from E. Leitz, London England dated 1936. I don't know a whole lot about the history of the camera, I bought it at a used camera store and was told that the camera had been brought in by the granddaughter of the original owner. I am intrigued to know who owned it and how did he keep in such good condition all these years? I was not looking for a shelf queen when I bought it, as I would rather put it to good use and make pictures with it but it was just so enticing and beautiful so I bought it. The little Leica is really a joy to use, despite using 1930's technology, I have had fun using it. A good friend commented, that life is too short, that I should just use it and enjoy it. In my mind cameras are made to be used, although I can see why people want to collect them and put them behind a glass case or on the shelf, especially a beautifully built camera like the Leica or other well engineered cameras of the 20th century. Before I got the camera serviced I asked if I should have it worked on as some might think that it would have diminished value, in its "original" condition. The answer was pretty clear, get the camera serviced and use it. Someone suggested though that I should use it sparingly, do not use it daily because wearing off the finish does diminish "value". I thought that was an interesting answer, but then the question arises, so just how much do I use it ?, I would like to carry it around with me on a regular basis but then there is more of a chance of wearing off the nice finish. No sense in leaving it at home I say, where it would get the most amount of protection, I may as well use and see what kind of pictures I can create with, as the saying goes your best pictures are the ones that come from the camera that you have with you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 2, 2011 Posted December 2, 2011 Hi Garyn, Take a look here 1936 Leica III: Shelf Queen or User ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaques Posted December 2, 2011 Share #2 Posted December 2, 2011 use it! as your friend said- life is short. If you use it, take brilliant photos, become famous: then the camera will be worth more even if it is worn looking because it came from a famous photographer with good providence.... or if you don't feel like becoming a famous photographer: use it around the house only- and wear white gloves when you do! But use it. As a side point: I have been dealing in second hand cameras for many years now. One thing I found was that Mint condition cameras sometimes have flaws- right from the factory. This is how they stay mint: the original owner is not happy with the results and the camera languishes in a cupboard until they die and it goes to an estate auction... Conversely cameras with heavy signs of use can operate very well: the heavy use is proof that someone kept coming back for more... Of course this does not apply to all cameras... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerzy Posted December 2, 2011 Share #3 Posted December 2, 2011 it is beautifull camera in extraordinary good condition for it's age, Is it upgraded model? If not than SN shall be in a range of 120xxx-140xxx. Summar is Nickel as I could see.120.xxx SN range? Cyrrying case looks to be as well in a good shape - simply beautifull! And hardly to find in such condition. For what the camera is worth you could get at least 2 of this model in user condition. Maybe not black, maybe not Nickel, but with "patina".I would use this one ocassionaly only, so that it does not "die on the shelf" but for the regular photographing I would take an user condition camera, which as jacques wrote, if properly CLA'ed could be as well technically perfect. just my 2 cents - I'm more collector than photographer:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garyn Posted December 2, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted December 2, 2011 Jaques, Thanks for your insight, yes you concur with my friend's advice, I really do want to use, I'm just throwing it out there to hear what other might think, I have been showing it around to other photographers, and non-photographers, its interesting to hear what people say. Jerzy, No I don't believe its an up graded model. I looked up the serial numbers, 191466 for the body and 249541 for the lens, I did find a list and it matches with 1936 or so, also the Import card says the body was imported by E. Leitz ( London ) 20 Mortimer Street, London, March 16, 1936 and the lens was imported May 23, 1936. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 2, 2011 Share #5 Posted December 2, 2011 I join the advice to USE it !!! Not only is pleasant to... it will give you also the opportunity to partecipate again in THIS forum... ... the RIGHT place for people who owns, love, use such fine cameras (and, by the way : a warm welcome here !). The only Leicas which are for the shelf only are the super rares in the hands of few lucky collectors : the other "normal" bodies are best kept with a regular even if not too hard usage: for instance... I have a IIIc and a IIIf, which originally were in similar conditions... I sometime use the IIIf, and don't use by >10 years the IIIc... result is that IIIf looks and sounds finer... ... and similar for a M2+M4 couple... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted December 2, 2011 Share #6 Posted December 2, 2011 As I have said before here, I am not a fan of screw-thread Leicas, but this one is a jewel. Congratulations! Cameras are made to be used – they NEED to be used. People who permit a fine old camera to slowly die behind glass or, horribly, in an original carton with unbroken shrink wrap (yes, I have seen that) are perverted camera murderers. At a minimum, it should be patted as you sit before the fire in the evening, checking the focusing and the rangefinder, and the functioning of all the shutter speeds. But preferably with film in it, as long as film is to be had. Check the stitching of the eveready case and the condition of the strap. Have repairs made if necessary. Give the leather some conditioner to keep it alive, and then use the camera in the case! That case is one reason why the camera is in such a good condition. The front lens of that Summar is very soft. Be careful. For real use, maybe a good 5cm Elmar is to be preferred. The old man from the Age of the IIIa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted December 2, 2011 Share #7 Posted December 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I also think you should use - and thereby enjoy - the camera. I have a II that was originally a I from 1931, which I bring with me in my briefcase every day. There are so many nice photos around to be photographed so why not take them using a great camera. Keep this camera in the case and it'll maintain the lovely state it is currently in. And be careful with the soft glass in the front element. philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted December 2, 2011 Share #8 Posted December 2, 2011 My III was mint when I inherited it, only approx 25 rolls through it (I have them all) before the original owner was killed in WWW2. Malcolm Taylor overhauled it and I now enjoy using it regularly. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted December 2, 2011 Share #9 Posted December 2, 2011 so just how much do I use it ?, I would like to carry it around with me on a regular basis but then there is more of a chance of wearing off the nice finish.. You have the ERC to protect it as it was built for and have the same care as the previously owner No sense in leaving it at home I say, where it would get the most amount of protection, I may as well use and see what kind of pictures I can create with, as the saying goes your best pictures are the ones that come from the camera that you have with you. Absolutely, it was built for that goal ! Enjoy it ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted December 2, 2011 Share #10 Posted December 2, 2011 I've not come across the term "Shelf Queen" before, but it is descriptive! I am very much in the "use it" camp. Put your own patina on there. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 2, 2011 Share #11 Posted December 2, 2011 Use it! Yours is not a rare model as you know, nor is it a mint example but rather a carefully used one. As such, unless you completely trash it somehow, you aren't going to affect the value of it at all by using it. I have a nice lllf, again not mint but certainly nicer than many others I've seen. I really don't think the condition has changed since I bought it about 27yrs ago, and yes, I do use it regularly! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garyn Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted December 4, 2011 luigi: Thanks for the warm welcome and glad to hear that you found cameras in similar condition that have gone on to good use, I hope you have been able to make some great images with them ! lars: I was never really all that keen on buying a screw-mount Leica either, but as you say this one was a jewel that really did catch my eye. Thanks for the advice on the front lens of the Summar that is very soft, this one is quite clean with a few marks here and there, it does seem to have something what others have described as "blooming" it looks almost like it was coated, but I know it wasn't. philipus: I will indeed enjoy the camera, like I said having a camera with you is what its all about. gyoung: 25 rolls of film !!!!, Wow ! thats what I call mint, I'm sure you have enjoyed using it, and good that you know who the original owner was, I am still trying to find a little about the original owner of my camera. jc: I agree, it was built to take pictures ! bill: I had nerve heard "Shelf Queen" either, I read it on a couple other forums. earleygallery: Great to hear that you have been using your IIIf for 27 years…you know 25 years from now if I am still able and on this earth I could be using my 100 year old Leica III, that would be pretty cool ! its all ready 75 years old now not that long to go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
St.Valentine Posted December 6, 2011 Share #13 Posted December 6, 2011 Sure enough this camera is a piece of history and I can understand the reluctance to use it for actually taking pictures. But you´ve got to remember that in using the camera you add to history as well, you become part of the cameras history. One day when you pass it on (or pass away) even the scratches and dents you´ve added are historical scratches and dents. I have a IIa, a IIIf and a IIIg and use them all regularly and prefer them even to my M6. Enjoy! Frank Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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