Leica IIIF Swedish Army

[Jonathan-sv]

I happened to look at the lpfoto.se auction on saturday and watched a Leica IIIF Swedish Army model (with elmar lens and leather case) go for a 500 000 SEK, plus the additonal fees (22.5% + 40 sek).

That must be around 50 000 USD.

Leica IIIf No.822904 Swedish Army | Auktion

Leitz Wetzlar, Germany, 1956. Rangefinder camera 24x36mm, black paint, with Leitz Elmar 3.5/5cm No.1427070 black paint (BC), a matching black paint cap and case. Dent on base plate. A great rarity from the original series 822901-823000, - only 100 black paint and "winterized" cameras made for...

www.lpfoto.se

I guess this is not something you put film in and then go out and actually take pictures with.........

 

[beemermark]

did you outbid me?

 

[JPD]

I wouldn't buy it for €500 (unless I planned to sell it). I like the much cheaper Retinas. Why did they put the PC flash socket next to the squinty finder?

 

[beemermark]

There were some other surprises on that auction. Some turn of the century large format lenses went for bonker prices. Apo-Lanthar 30cm went for about $30000 plus 22.5 %

 

[AnselMortensen]

I'm sure that Apo-Lanthar will look nice on a Gibellini in someone's foyer.

 

[Axelwik]

A lot of crazy people with way too much money. I recently got a iiif in mint condition pretty much for free - It came with a 35mm Summaron (already have that lens) and together cost about what I can sell the spare lens for.

 

[MarkS]

The grey Swedish IIIGs have been in the top rank of collectible Leicas for some decades now. Few were made and fewer survived to reach the market. And Leica collectors tend to be both obsessive and wealthy... so whatever the auction price turns out to be, it's hard to be surprised.
Those Leicas have not been meant for taking pictures since the Swedes decided they were surplus.