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Leica M2s in Black Paint


phovsho

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Hi

I understand that original condition black paint M2s go for serious money ($3,000+). I know that silver cameras repainted to original condition are not necessary that valuable. However, what about original BP M2s which have been repainted? Does this degrade their value significantly?

Thanks

M

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Uhm... tricky question ... collectors of such "specialties" put lot and lot of attention to details... first of all, it's necessary it is an ORIGINAL black paint... and this isn't difficult to verify (all BP M2s are in reknown/published batches of s/n) then it would be nice to know WHO has made the repaint: of course would it have been made, say, by Leitz NY ore some authorized repair shop, and documented, everything can be OK, if it has been made dunnowhere-dunnobywhom-nodocs... many disputations can arise from materials used etc... anyway "not original"----> value knocked down.

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The only repainted original BP M2's that would retain some value would be one's sent back to be repainted by Leitz/Leica. If the camera was so hammered and worn out to require a repaint, its just as likely that Leitz/Leica would just replace the top-plate and base-plate all together. Unless of course the photographer wanted to keep them original. As long as these serviced/repainted M2's had the original paper work then they would retain their value. Though the original paint on a Black Paint M2 would be much more sought after and valued higher than a factory repainted one, unless of course the camera belonged to a well known and famous photographer.

 

In short provenance is key.

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Hi

I understand that original condition black paint M2s go for serious money ($3,000+). I know that silver cameras repainted to original condition are not necessary that valuable. However, what about original BP M2s which have been repainted? Does this degrade their value significantly?

Thanks

M

 

A good indication of market value of a restored versus unrestored could you have on this page.

 

https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/leica-cameras-black-paint-c-1000_1003_100309.html

 

Leica shop have both in stock.

 

best

 

HÃ¥kan

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A good indication of market value of a restored versus unrestored could you have on this page.

 

https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/leica-cameras-black-paint-c-1000_1003_100309.html

 

Leica shop have both in stock.

 

best

 

HÃ¥kan

 

Hakan, I own BP M2 number 1075192, just one number below the top one on Leica Shop Vienna's "list". Although it is not on Leica Camera's "official" list, I have seen and handled several of these cameras in the 10751xx range. When Stan Tamarkin first opened his shop in New York, he had 3 BP M2 bodies in this specific range. I have a friend here in NJ who collects Leicas and he has BP M2 # 1075002 in his collection. Filippo Guinta has a book on Leica M cameras that lists 3000 cameras that are black paint M2 bodies made in 1963 from 1074001-1077000. Based on all these accounts, I believe that my camera is original. There are many discrepancies on the actual number of black paint M2 bodies. Hope this helps the OP. Russell

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Why are you saying your BP M2 isn't in "official" list ? : afaik, this should be the list of Black M2 (courtesy of Cameraquest, other sources confirm):

 

12/19/1958 M2 Black 948601 949100 500

3/21/1960 M2 Black 990501 990750 250

8/18/1961 M2 Black 1031801 1032000 200

5/11/1962 M2 Black 1043801 1044000 200

7/5/1960 M2 Black with self timer.1005101 1005350 250

10/24/1962 M2 Black 1053101 1053250 150

8/5/1963 M2 Black 1075001 1075300 300 yours included

4/8/1964 M2 Black 1093501 1093750 250

8/18/1965 M2 Black 1130001 1130300 300

11/24/1966 M2 Black 1162401 1162450 50

7/12/1968 M2 Black 1207000 1207000 1

 

I'm glad you appreciate my co-citizen Filippo Giunta's work... he made really a titanic job in his books.

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Leica offered a service to factory paint a model, say M2 sent in, thus, unhelpfully for list compilers, many Black Paint models are genuine factory jobs but not on "the list".

A std. M2 sells in the UK for around £500 a BP factory/list would be around £2000/£2500 and a repaint (not by Leica) of a list BP I saw recently in a dealer, who doesn't list on-line so I can't quote a link was £1,000.

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Why are you saying your BP M2 isn't in "official" list ? : afaik, this should be the list of Black M2 (courtesy of Cameraquest, other sources confirm):

 

12/19/1958 M2 Black 948601 949100 500

3/21/1960 M2 Black 990501 990750 250

8/18/1961 M2 Black 1031801 1032000 200

5/11/1962 M2 Black 1043801 1044000 200

7/5/1960 M2 Black with self timer.1005101 1005350 250

10/24/1962 M2 Black 1053101 1053250 150

8/5/1963 M2 Black 1075001 1075300 300 yours included

4/8/1964 M2 Black 1093501 1093750 250

8/18/1965 M2 Black 1130001 1130300 300

11/24/1966 M2 Black 1162401 1162450 50

7/12/1968 M2 Black 1207000 1207000 1

 

I'm glad you appreciate my co-citizen Filippo Giunta's work... he made really a titanic job in his books.

Luigi, I appreciate your input here. I have both of Filippo Giunta's books, they are very well done, his research is extremely thorough. In his 2nd book (Leica M), he also lists the M6 w/50 Summicron that was stolen from my office back in 1994. thanks again. Russell

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