Leica LTM Is This A Leica?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
I see a lot of these cameras on eBay, usually advertised and sold as "Leica Copy." I have no objection to them when sold in this way as they are being honestly advertised and they can still attract a price of about $100. But I see a few (but too many) sales posts of this sort - Usually something like - Found this in my dead grandpappy's estate, I know nothing about cameras, seems to work but I am no expert etc etc. Every time I see such words my hackles rise and I become alert for a fraud. Which this one obviously it. It is easy for an experienced user / collector to tell with a single glance in 99 percent of cases. This is one of those cases.

I have been caught once or twice usually when I ignore my intuition - and not with Leica fakes, I know them too well. The last time was with a Pentax Spotmatic which had a particular lens I wanted so I bid on it despite misgivings (eg partial description of the"I know nothing about cameras" type and low (but generally OK) feedback score) . I put my internal warning signals aside because I wanted this lens. But the camera was marginally described as "Appears to be working" etc and some slight corrosion was mentioned. When I got it the slight corrosion turns out to have been because the camera looked as if it had been dunked in a bath of water. Hmmmm even a $20 bargain is not a bargain wen the whole thing is a crock. SO I learned a lesson. Greed may be good if you are Gordon Gekko. Greed is not smart if the other fellow is Gordon Gekkos cousin twice removed ;^)
 
Peter, that camera looks TOO good. I must admit that if I was shopping for my first Leica, and didn't bother to do the research, I could have been one of the bidders. I really do feel bad for the "winner" however. Stu
 
Methinks it's a Zorki 1, probably an early one. The lack of trims says it's early, unless of course it's been re-housed in a FED shell (wouldn't be surprised at that). Rounded top also suggests early. The lens is an Industar 22. Aren't Elmars engraved f=50mm not F=50mm?

Hopefully, any Leica collector would spot it from half a mile as being fake. The top engraving looks too neat and recent compared to the rest of the camera's condition. Interesting that it reads "Leica DBP" rather than the correct "Leica D.R.P." and the GMBH is IIRC a too-recent German "limited company" designation that replaced "DRP". I claim no expertise but the remainder of the engraving isn't capitalised on my Leica either! FAKE! FAKE! FAKE!

I'm willing to bet he won't publish it if someone sends him a message either...
 
Why that`s the ULTRA RARE DBP Deutsches Bundespost (German Mail) version of the Leica!!!!!


Ok and I`m Ernst Leitz`s 5th nephew twice removed..........

RUSSIAN FAKE!

Run....don`t walk away from this one

Tom
 
a lot of money for a Zorki 1.
notice the viewfinder's metal top ridge extends to the top plate edge, typical of a FSU Leica II copy.
 
At first when I saw it, and didn't see the slow speed dial or strap lugs, I though that it was a chrome II (were there chrome II's?). But then I saw the top plate that said DBP / GMBH, and thought hold on that's not right, maybe it's a IIc, but then the eyepieces were wrong. Then the serial number put it in the 1950's, so the whole thing is kinda messed up. The lens cap doesn't even look quite right. Of course the big giveaway is the whole 'I don't know anything about this stuff' stance....that absolves you of everything, doesn't it.

Maybe it's a IIIg converted to a II....
 
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Is This a Leica?

Is This a Leica?

Stu W said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ndexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

24 bidders say it is. I say it looks like a Zorki? Stu
Click to expand...





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It's a pretty good copy but it's a Russian fake...

Looking at the top plate of this one as well as a real IIIG [see below, from Jim Lager's Illustrated History] the lettering on the fake is an extremely close copy but the real IIIG typicaly has four screws on the flash holder while this copy has three...The case is definitedly Russian...As mentioned, the lens cap is not Leica and the eyepieces are not Leica... The lens, supposedly an Elmar, should
have a serial number but this one does not...
From the Ebay pictures, the camera looks like a Leica to the novice but anyone who really knows a Leica knows -- even from the pictures -- that this is --as has been said over and over again -- is a fake Leica.

The buyer has a legitimate claim to get his money back...Ignorance is no excuse, even on Ebay...
 

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  • Leica IIIG top plate 005_edited (Custom).jpg
    Leica IIIG top plate 005_edited (Custom).jpg
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That's a blatant copy, but a nice try, nonetheless. The lettering is machined like if it were at some start-up machine shop in, well some "Red" country 😉 The lens is sooo not an Elmar; it's a redone Industar.
 
bob cole said:
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It's a pretty good copy but it's a Russian fake...

Looking at the top plate of this one as well as a real IIIG [see below, from Jim Lager's Illustrated History] the lettering on the fake is an extremely close copy but the real IIIG typicaly has four screws on the flash holder while this copy has three...The case is definitedly Russian...As mentioned, the lens cap is not Leica and the eyepieces are not Leica... The lens, supposedly an Elmar, should
have a serial number but this one does not...
From the Ebay pictures, the camera looks like a Leica to the novice but anyone who really knows a Leica knows -- even from the pictures -- that this is --as has been said over and over again -- is a fake Leica.

The buyer has a legitimate claim to get his money back...Ignorance is no excuse, even on Ebay...
Click to expand...
Aha, so actually I was wrong then and the engraving *could* have read as this? What's the "DBP" bit mean? Was Tom not being sarcastic when he said Deutsche Bundespost??
 
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