Leica question

[winfred]

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Hi Everyone,

 

I've inherited a Leica D.R.P. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar camera body (no lens). Black, with silver top and bottom. The number is 451361. It's in very good condition. I think I will keep it, but I'm just wondering when it was made, and how much it might be worth. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

 

Nick

[Michael Hiles]

Your camera appears to be a IIf made in 1951. Much like the IIIf, but you should have no slow shutter speed dial on the front of the camera, just a tab - so your minimum shutter speed is likely 1/20th or 1/30th of a second.

 

Quite a nice camera, well worth using.

 

Others probably have much more to say.

 

Cheers,

 

Michael

[luigi bertolotti]

N° 451361 belongs to a Leica IIf, made in 1951. A model that isn't rare, but if in really good conditions is an interesting collectible, and very usable too (you can find a classic Elmar 50mm for it at a price around 150-200 Euros). Some IIf had modifications carried on at the factory, mainly for conversion to model IIIf, which has long shutter times and 1/1000 top speed. As an idea, the depicted item (very next to yours as age) is for sale at 260 Euros at a well known dealer (Leicashop of Wien)

[ATTACH]97254[/ATTACH]

I suppose your item is identical to this.

[winfred]

Thanks to both of you for the information and suggestions. I'm looking forward to using it.

 

Cheers,

 

Nick

[luigi bertolotti]

Thanks to both of you for the information and suggestions. I'm looking forward to using it.

 

Cheers,

 

Nick

 

Good idea, Nick (and, welcome to the forum, of course !) : would you sell it, you won't be richer, and, on the contrary, with a not so high expense, you'll enjoy a nice item to use. There are LOT of people that still use this kind of cameras: to have an idea, in this forum you can find a thread named "LTM users, it's time to be counted !" full of posts of lovers of this specimens (LTM is the acronym for this generation of Leicas : "Leica Threaded Mount" : it spanned from 1925 to 1960 about, same basic design with many versions), and there is also a periodical "Barnack's challenge" with a theme in which people are invited to post pictures about (Oskar Barnack was the Leitz engineer who designed this breed of cameras).

Of course, there are many details one must learn to use this camera: not pretending to be exhaustive, I give you some basic infos :

 

- LOADING the film (standard 35 mm rollfilm) is the most difficult task, initially... very different from modern cameras.

- Other important rule : you MUST advance film/cock the shutter BEFORE setting shutter time.

- Surfing on the Net you can find the complete instruction manual of your camera, for instance, see here : Leica IF, IIF, IIIFinstruction manual, user manual, free PDF camera manuals

- Of course, you need A LENS : as I said before, the most "natural" choice is the Leitz Elmar 50 mm f 3,5, the CLASSIC for this cameras: easy to find in lot of marketplaces (Net dealers, ebay etc...). The viewfinder is for 50mm lens, so this is the obvious standard lens to search for: there are lot of alternatives to the Elmar I quoted :

a) Supercheap : 50 mm Russian lenses with Leica screw mount, available in thousands everywhere.

Brand New : 50 mm Cosina/Voigtlander lenses, not costly and very good (give a look at CameraQuest Home, US distributor)

c) Costly : more luminous old Leitz lenses (Summicron f2, Summarit f 1,5) : rather easy to find, beware of glass conditions.

- Focusing with the Rangefinder of your camera isn't difficult... but one has to get accustomed to... is the central point of Leica technology.

- You can find lot of other lenses (teles 90 - 135 mm, wideangles 28-35...) Leica and not: they all need a separate viewfinder to be mounted on the accessory shoe on the top: think of this AFTER you have acquired good experience with std. 50 mm lens.

- IF your camera should have some mechanical misfunction (shutter, advance/cocking mechanism), well, you can keep it as a fine display item at home... but keep in mind that these cameras can still be serviced by many tech shops, some of them very expert and trustables... anyway... NEVER THROW IT AWAY !!!

 

Sorry for the long disquisition... I love a lot to speak of these cameras to a newbie... hoping you'll read this post, I make the best wishes to you to find the way to enjoy this historical and fine piece of equipment.

[winfred]

Thanks Luigi; I appreciate all the info and tips you've provided.

Yes, it certainly is a fine piece of equipment. I think it'll just take some time and practice for me to get used to some of the details (such as the way the film is loaded). I will definitely read that online instruction manual - I'm sure it'll be quite helpful. Also interested in reading some of the other threads in this forum.

As for the lens, I would like to buy the classic Leitz Elmar, but I'm not sure if I can afford it right now. It's good to know there are some other options. I'll have to check out some stores in my area (Toronto, Canada), along with craigslist, ebay, etc.

Thanks again!