Leica advice please

[jmccl@yahoo.com]

My local Craig's list has a posted 1954 Leica with 50mm summmicron and a canon 135mm serenar. They call it a "IIIf red", I presume this to be an "M3". Don't know what the red might mean. I figure every camera enthusiast should own a Leica at some point in their life, so I'm attracted to the deal. Please give me an idea of what a "I got a good deal" price would be assuming it is as clean as the seller claims. There is no mention of a case with the camera.

Thanks for your input.

Jim

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Sounds like a screw mount Leica, model IIIf, with red-dial flash-delay settings. Very nice and also collectible.

See it here:

https://www.cameraquest.com/3frdst.htm

Also check eBay for "sold" values.

 

[MattKing]

A "IIIf" is a screw mount body, not one of the later M mount bodies, like an M3.

Here is Ken Rockwell's take on one: http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/screw-mount/iiif.htm

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Hmmm... I thought all red-dial IIIf's had a self timer -- looks like I was wrong.

 

[summicron1]

Hmmm... I thought all red-dial IIIf's had a self timer -- looks like I was wrong.

Nope. They made both kinds. Self timer ones are a bit more pricey, but all are nice.

 

[trythis]

Make sure the curtains are in good shape. They often have holes burned in them or are dried and cracking. If the shutter speeds sound slow or sticky you'll have $100 - $200 in repair costs to consider. Check you lenses for fungus and "cleaning marks"


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[02Pilot]

The Canon is a sub-$100 lens even in great shape - make sure it comes with a viewfinder or you'll have to buy one. The Summicron in excellent condition can command ~$400, but they have soft coatings and are prone to have wear on the front element - check carefully. The body is the hardest to assess, since you can't really see much from the outside. Curtains may have failed as noted, and you can expect the beamsplitter mirror to have faded, making the RF patch faint or nonexistent, and old lubricants may have hardened, affecting the speeds and overall operation. In great shape with a recent CLA it might bring as much as the Summicron, but without it and in unknown internal condition, maybe ~$150-200 depending on cosmetics.

Budget ~$200 for a CLA on the body and ~$75 per lens if you're not able to do the work yourself.