Marking your camera

cliveh · Sep 5, 2024

I once bought a Zeiss Contax II from someone in America and he/she or the previous owner had added a plate with their initials on the camera. Later I sold it and it didn’t seem to alter the value. If I did this with one of my favourite Leica cameras, what would be the best way of marking it, without effecting the resale value?

Paul Howell · Sep 5, 2024

Do you mean engraving?

cliveh · Sep 5, 2024

Paul Howell said:
Do you mean engraving?

Perhaps.

Chan Tran · Sep 5, 2024

Perhaps because the plate was glued on and can be removed without damaging the camera

MarkS · Sep 5, 2024

If it's important enough to you to engrave your name on it, forget about resale value and plan to keep it forever.
If you're going to sell it at some point, keep it stock. No future owner will want your name or social security number on it.

MFstooges · Sep 5, 2024

To mark an object is to personalize it. I assume there are two kind of prospective buyers:
1. Buyers who prefer to have a generic object
2. Buyers who appreciate a used personal item

If you can bring your mark right up to HCB level then you won't find problem in buying buyers #2.

mollyc · Sep 5, 2024

MarkS said:
If it's important enough to you to engrave your name on it, forget about resale value and plan to keep it forever.
If you're going to sell it at some point, keep it stock. No future owner will want your name or social security number on it.

I looked at an M4 and a franken M3 last year. Prices were relatively comparable, and the M4 is arguably the more versatile camera. But it had been engraved, and I really didn't want someone else's name on "my" camera, even some 50-60 years later. I ended up with the M3, and although the leatherette shows the age, it's now only mine.

Chan Tran · Sep 5, 2024

MFstooges said:
To mark an object is to personalize it. I assume there are two kind of prospective buyers:
1. Buyers who prefer to have a generic object
2. Buyers who appreciate a used personal item

If you can bring your mark right up to HCB level then you won't find problem in buying buyers #2.

That's right. If you make a photograph that when you posted on social media it goes viral then you have no problem selling that camera with your name on it.

reddesert · Sep 5, 2024

- Change your name to "E.Leitz 292611," substituting your serial number as needed.
- Write your name on a piece of blue painter's tape and stick it on the back of the camera.
- If you're worried the tape will fall off, stick the blue tape inside the baseplate, it'll be safe there.
- Just engrave the camera "HCB" and have done with it.

P.S. "Affect" the resale value, not "effect."

Chuck1 · Sep 5, 2024

Definitely don't put your ssn on it

Paul Howell · Sep 5, 2024

If you look for you can find a used baseplate on line, use the one in most "used" condition for engraving and keep the clean plate until you are ready to sell the camera.

Pieter12 · Sep 5, 2024

Not unless you are a celebrity or otherwise significant person. I recently met two photographers, one well-known, the other not, who had black Leica M6s with their names engraved on the top plate. Maybe so they wouldn't mix them up. If you do decide to engrave your ssn, don't forget your mother's maiden name and the name of your first pet.

mshchem · Sep 5, 2024

reddesert said:
- Change your name to "E.Leitz 292611," substituting your serial number as needed.
- Write your name on a piece of blue painter's tape and stick it on the back of the camera.
- If you're worried the tape will fall off, stick the blue tape inside the baseplate, it'll be safe there.
- Just engrave the camera "HCB" and have done with it.

P.S. "Affect" the resale value, not "effect."

I was raised by a pack of wild dogs, never did get the affection with the affect/effect obsession

mshchem · Sep 5, 2024

I remember when I was a kid, the police would loan out an electric engraver to scribe your guns etc with your social security number.

Brilliant

armadsen · Sep 6, 2024

I recently bought a Canon rangefinder from a member here. It’s engraved with a previous owners name. The engraving was professionally done in a nice font, and it doesn’t bother me at all. A shaky engraving with a handheld electric engraver would be different, though.

miha · Sep 6, 2024

I imagine engraving cameras with the owner's name is quite uncommon, but perhaps Leica owners are different. Either way, I was "lucky" that the first second-hand Leica I bought already came engraved.

eli griggs · Sep 6, 2024

Yes, never, ever, share that data with non-offical entities.

I suggest using your Driver's license, in this format
"S.C.D.L. 505 86 5934" which is easily understood and traceable by L.E.O.s.

Use manual etching tools to write clearly but small, such as a steel twist etching scribe, a diamond point etching tool or carbide scribe, all of these can be used to make tiny discreet markings.

Chuck1 said:
Definitely don't put your ssn on it

snusmumriken · Sep 6, 2024

Why are you even considering this, @cliveh? Is it so that you can find your own camera in a throng of other M2s? Is it in hope of recovery, if it gets pinched? Or to deter thieves? Is it to establish undisputed possession? Vanity? A gift for someone else?

cliveh · Sep 6, 2024

Thanks for suggestions guys and don't think I will be marking any of my own cameras, as they all have serial numbers anyway.

Molli · Sep 6, 2024

cliveh said:
I once bought a Zeiss Contax II from someone in America and he/she or the previous owner had added a plate with their initials on the camera. Later I sold it and it didn’t seem to alter the value. If I did this with one of my favourite Leica cameras, what would be the best way of marking it, without effecting the resale value?

Pieter12 said:
Not unless you are a celebrity or otherwise significant person.

Aim high, Clive. Assume you're going to become a celebrity or otherwise significant person!

I have a tonne of filters all engraved by their previous owner and recently bumped into someone who happened to also own filters previously owned by the same person. The filters effectiveness were in no way impaired and I got to bond with a stranger over something marginally amusing.
I also had a camera with case and instruction manuals gifted to me, all marked with the name of the person's father. Call me sentimental, but I like knowing whose hands these items have passed through and wondering about their stories.
Go ahead and personalise your belongings.
If it's not personal, what's the point?

guangong · Sep 6, 2024

I have two Leicaflex cameras that I bought new as dealer specials from Leitz with the dealers’ names engraved on the baseplate. Both were really good deals.
Of course, with M cameras, the base plate could be easily replaced.
I have seen some cameras with owner’s name on a sticker inside camera.

Donald Qualls · Sep 6, 2024

eli griggs said:
I suggest using your Driver's license,

Of course, if you live in Idaho, your SS# is your driver's license number. Or was when I last lived there (1986).

eli griggs · Sep 6, 2024

eli griggs said:
Yes, never ever share that data with non-offical entries.

I suggest using your Driver's license., like
"S.C.D.L. 505 86 5934" which is easily understood and traceable by L.E.O.s.

Donald Qualls said:
Of course, if you live in Idaho, your SS# is your driver's license number. Or was when I last lived there (1986).

That's very interesting to know, and IMO, is/was a really foolish thing to do, as everyone here knows the all too common dangers of Identity Thievery.

Hopefully whatever ID used, to mark out kit, it won't degrade it at all.

jwd722 · Sep 6, 2024

I don't mark my cameras as a form of identification, more as a form of adornment and loyalties...plus it gives me a use for stickers.

Pieter12 · Sep 6, 2024

I do use a label-maker to put my name and phone number on lens hoods. I have misplaced/lost a number of quite expensive ones before doing that. The label ensures I won't lose another--like the umbrella preventing rain.

Marking your camera

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