Volksvegan Posted August 7, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 7, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I believe that I posted this in the wrong place earlier... Hello. I am new to both this forum and Leica. I have been shooting film as a hobby for over 30 years, but the M1 I recently purchased is my first Leica. I have yet to use the camera as I am trying to get as much information as possible, and getting up the nerve, before I expose film. The camera is somewhat special in that as far as can be determined it has never been used. I acquired the camera from a friend who has a camera store. He purchased it from the original owner who said that he put it on a shelf after opening it and realizing it did not have a rangefinder. The camera is pristine. It is in the original box with all of the correct packaging and documentation. There are no marks on the body. I believe that it, is in fact, a new in the box M1. I checked the serial number and the story gets better, it was built about a month after I was born. I do intend to use the camera. (I was thinking of trying a Meyer rangefinder and carrying a tape measure for the first few rolls!) I do not know what the value is unused, but it seems to me that this beautiful machine was built to expose film. I intend to do so soon. I would greatly appreciate any M1 pointers that any of the members of the forum can share with me. Thank you. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 7, 2013 Posted August 7, 2013 Hi Volksvegan, Take a look here New to Leicas. M1 suggestions?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jc_braconi Posted August 7, 2013 Share #2 Posted August 7, 2013 I think you will have benefit to acquire a Visoflex as this camera was built for scientific use on reproducing device or reflex housing with bellows or lens that can be used on the Visoflex, have a look on the Leica wiki on this forum for better documentation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2013 Share #3 Posted August 8, 2013 ... Sounds like your camera is a collectors item as described in great condition. Your friend did well not to use it. Sell the M1 completely and expensive - not to the next located dealer but to a recommended and prestigious auction house - and buy yourself for the money a good used Leica rangefinder, perhaps a M6 for film or a M8 for digital photos. For a beginner I can't suggest the antiquated and much too slow Visoflex system or other external rangefinder one needs to measure the distance when using a M1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orient XI Posted August 8, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 8, 2013 Congratulations on your acquisition! At considerable expense you could add a Leitz FOKOS rangefinder (an example – scaled in feet — is currently available S/H in London for ~ $160). As pointed out earlier a Visoflex II would extend the range into both long distance and close-up. However, whilst long focus Visoflex fit lenses are relatively cheap, often <$300, shorter focal length lenses such as the 65mm Elmar are expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted August 8, 2013 Share #5 Posted August 8, 2013 With a 28mm at a push or certainly a 21mm and wider you don't need to worry about focus If it is truly unused, never "exercised", the speeds may well be off, the lubricants will have thickened and may be "gumming" up the mechanism. Having a CLA (clean lubricate adjust) will break the seal and considerably reduce the value to a collector whilst allowing a shooter to use it... conundrum. Depending on what you paid you may well realise enough extra by a specialist sale to buy a near mint Leica with a rangefinder and a decent lens. Value would be higher with sales tag box invoice etc as you note, these increase the value to a collector and are irrelevant to a shooter. The M1 is a niche market used, the value in yours depends on the mint unused nature to a collector. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksvegan Posted August 8, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted August 8, 2013 Thank you for all of the replies. I knew that there had to be people who knew of this camera out there somewhere! I considered reselling it, but I would have no idea where to start. I also considered the wide angle lens, and use it as a landscape camera suggestion. I may ultimately use it as such, when I can pick up a reasonably priced rangefinder body, but until then I will try the add on rangefinder route. I have a Meyer pocket rangefinder that I intend to try soon. There was a bit of haze on the lens, so I am having to postpone my first use of the camera until I get the lens back from cleaning. Once again, thank you for your replies and suggestions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted August 8, 2013 Share #7 Posted August 8, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Do put a test film through for speeds, not colour neg, too forgiving (wide latitude) to show issues easily before committing to "keepers". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 8, 2013 Share #8 Posted August 8, 2013 As said above, M1 was a camera for special usage... but not too much (there was also the MD - no viewfinder at all...). If yours is "too fine to be used", better to keep it as a fine collectible, or sell;but if you like to use it, a good complement can be a Summaron 35 (2,8 or 3,5): no costly, appreciable old style lenses, no critical focus (better to use them at f4 and closer) and you enjoy the native viewfinder at its full width: a tasty and light set for film, expecially in b&w Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted August 8, 2013 Share #9 Posted August 8, 2013 I remember seeing the M1 used by press photographers. With a 35mm or 50mm lens, they guessed distance or used zone focus. This leads me to say that you can probably manage well without a separate range-finder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted August 8, 2013 Share #10 Posted August 8, 2013 I think the M1 was partly a 'low cost' intro item, cameras without rangefinders were common in the 50s, I started with an Arette and a Retina, soon learnt to estimate distance well enough for modest apertures. I still have both Watameter and Voigtlander rangefinders, you might get one cheap on auctions Get a 2.8/50 Elmar on it and go and have fun! Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted August 8, 2013 Share #11 Posted August 8, 2013 There is no range finder but there is a parallax system and two frame line finders for 35 & 50 mm focal lengths incorporated in the viewfinder Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/210343-new-to-leicas-m1-suggestions/?do=findComment&comment=2393401'>More sharing options...
Volksvegan Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted August 9, 2013 I am very thankful for the replies and suggestions. I have looked into getting a Summaron 35. I also intend to use zone focus and guessing distance after the first few rolls. I am not trying to "sell" the camera, but I don't want to find out after I have used it that an unused example was worth an outrageous amount. From what I can tell, it really is not worth much more than an M3 in good condition, so I intend to use it. I will put a roll through it in the next few weeks. Is it ok to post a few of the results here, or should they go in the gallery? Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted August 9, 2013 Share #13 Posted August 9, 2013 While I do subscribe to the notion that a camera is meant for shooting in general, yet I wouldn't start using a new-in-box Leica M1 in this particular case. It is too valuable as a collector's item, and it is virtually useless as a working camera. You will quickly become fed up with not having a rangefinder and stop using it after just a few rolls of film ... but then the damage to the camera's value will be done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksvegan Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted August 12, 2013 While I do subscribe to the notion that a camera is meant for shooting in general, yet I wouldn't start using a new-in-box Leica M1 in this particular case. It is too valuable as a collector's item, and it is virtually useless as a working camera. You will quickly become fed up with not having a rangefinder and stop using it after just a few rolls of film ... but then the damage to the camera's value will be done. I am not a collector, and am not sure where I would go to find one. Suggestions please? I am not opposed to selling the camera I guess, I just have no idea where to go to find serious collectors. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
koray Posted August 12, 2013 Share #15 Posted August 12, 2013 You can start by looking at ebay, see here is a used one sold for about $1000, and not even with a box or papers. If you list your item there with very good detailed photos and clever keywords you can get a much better price. Good luck! K. I am not a collector, and am not sure where I would go to find one. Suggestions please? I am not opposed to selling the camera I guess, I just have no idea where to go to find serious collectors. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted August 12, 2013 Share #16 Posted August 12, 2013 WestLicht Photographica Auction: Home https://www.leicashop.com/ Peter Loy - Collectable Camera Specialists Red Dot Cameras - Leica Cameras, Leica Binoculars, Metz Flashguns, Manfrotto Tripods, Leitz No commercial connection, other than as a customer An e-mail with photos and description should result in good market evaluations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksvegan Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share #17 Posted August 12, 2013 Thank you for the suggestions. I am looking into all of them. I thought that I might list the camera on ebay at an artificially high price to see what the market bears as far as offers. I will also look into the links from Chris. I have no problem in using the camera, but if, as some have suggested, it is of more value to a collector, I guess I should leave it untouched. Thank you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksvegan Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share #18 Posted September 4, 2013 Update... I decided to keep, and shoot with the camera. When I looked a bit closer at the lens I found it to be hazy... I was crushed. I sent it to a reputable repair person who explained that the balsam? glue used to assemble the lens was the culprit, and that there was no way to clear the haze that they were aware of...further crushed... I may try to shoot a roll with the lens as is to see what the images look like, but otherwise its back to putting a little money aside for another lens...seems like I am always doing that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 4, 2013 Share #19 Posted September 4, 2013 Update... I decided to keep, and shoot with the camera. When I looked a bit closer at the lens I found it to be hazy... I was crushed. I sent it to a reputable repair person who explained that the balsam? glue used to assemble the lens was the culprit, and that there was no way to clear the haze that they were aware of...further crushed... I may try to shoot a roll with the lens as is to see what the images look like, but otherwise its back to putting a little money aside for another lens...seems like I am always doing that! Which lens have you used ? The problem of haziness due to the cementing glue used until '50s is rather common, unfortunately... : it doesn't affect the ability to take decent pictures.. but eats up the contrast : an effect often more annoying in color than in b&w. Crystal clear old Leitz lenses are not so rare... but at a certain cost for 35s... the only lens which can be found in this conditions but at a decently low price is the Elmar 50, a lens which is always a pleasure to use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted September 4, 2013 Share #20 Posted September 4, 2013 My Elmar 3.5/50 had problems with the cementing of the rear pair of elements, consult Malcolm Taylor, he can deal with this Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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