How much would you pay for a visoflex iii?

[woodleica]

I am thinking of getting one and wondering what people would pay. The prices seem all over the map and I don't want to overpay for something I will use occasionally. Also what are the good quality lenses for Viso - is the 65mm 3.5 a good lens? Thanks for any info.

 

[Roger Hicks]

What's it worth to you?

Pay that, or less, and you won't have overpaid.

Not trying to be funny, but there's really no other way of looking at it. I'd pay twice as much for a good Viso III, from someone I trusted, than for something over the internet from someone I'd never heard of.

Cheers,

R.

 

[woodleica]

Well, unfortunately the internet is my only source. If I had a trusted source, I would not worry about the price because I would trust them to not fleece me.

 

[xayraa33]

I would not pay very much, I would rather use an SLR.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I would not pay very much, I would rather use an SLR.

Yeah. Like I can afford an 18MP SLR as well as an M9.

Besides, M+Viso IS an SLR. Just not an especially convenient one (though easier to figure out than most).

Cheers,

R.

 

[jack palmer]

Instead of a non answer like those before me ,I think you can get a really nice maybe Mint example for around $300.00 on ebay. I would certainly pay that much and maybe a bit more.

 

[David Murphy]

$200 or so in good condition with no adapters. Perhaps a bit more if minty with a box.

Oh yes, they are very nicely made and work well - the best mirror box seen. The whole system with lenses and adapters is of course expensive, but who cares - one is paying for fun and the quality is high.

 

[Tom A]

The housing in good shape usually goes for $175-200. The finder should be included in that. The "chimney" finder is usually $70-90 and if you have to buy a 90 degree finder - they tend to go for similar price.
The chrome 65f3.5 arond $400-450 - the black 65f3.5 is consoderably more expensive $650-700.
The focussing helicoil for the 65 $50 and the other adapters vary, from $10-15 and up, depending on which one it is and how desperate you are to get one (dealers can smell this).
Ideally you should be able to get a "kit" with most of the stuff for $300 (not including lenses though).
It is not bargain basement, but there are enough Viso stuff out there to keep you happy for a long time - trying to figure it out.
The god thing is that Viso dedicated lenses are reasonably priced, 200f4, 280f2.8, 400/560 f5.6 and 8 are cheap for the quality.
It is a speciality item and you might have to scrounge around - best 'source is swap-meets and old, established camera stores that have been flogging Leica for a long time and places like "Real Cameras" in Manchester.UK who know what the stuff is and if they dont have it in stock, knows who has it and can get it.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss and stores take in a box of the stuff, not knowing what it is and are willing to part with it cheap too.
My rule is that if I see a Viso item and it is cheap, I buy it. It might not be useful, but can be used as a "trade" for something that I need ( or want). Even obscure bellows adapters can come in handy (though why I have 4 of the Hektor 125f2.5 adapters is beyond me - they must have been really cheap).
Enjoy the hunt
Tom

 

[xayraa33]

Yeah. Like I can afford an 18MP SLR as well as an M9.

Besides, M+Viso IS an SLR. Just not an especially convenient one (though easier to figure out than most).

Cheers,

R.

I know M+Viso IS is an SLR Roger.
That is why I would not bother with a Visoflex because it is not convenient compared to a real SLR.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I know it is an SLR Roger.
That is why I would not bother with a Visoflex because it is not convenient compared to a real SLR.

And you can afford both? That was my point.

Cheers,

R.

 

[xayraa33]

And you can afford both? That was my point.

Cheers,

R.

Yes I can Roger.

 

[raid]

I have a like new Visoflex [no clue whether II or III] with a few adapters. I have the boxes and the paper wrap in it.

 

[woodleica]

Thank you to everyone who replied - that gives me an idea

 

[woodleica]

The housing in good shape usually goes for $175-200. The finder should be included in that. The "chimney" finder is usually $70-90 and if you have to buy a 90 degree finder - they tend to go for similar price.
The chrome 65f3.5 arond $400-450 - the black 65f3.5 is consoderably more expensive $650-700.
The focussing helicoil for the 65 $50 and the other adapters vary, from $10-15 and up, depending on which one it is and how desperate you are to get one (dealers can smell this).
Ideally you should be able to get a "kit" with most of the stuff for $300 (not including lenses though).
It is not bargain basement, but there are enough Viso stuff out there to keep you happy for a long time - trying to figure it out.
The god thing is that Viso dedicated lenses are reasonably priced, 200f4, 280f2.8, 400/560 f5.6 and 8 are cheap for the quality.
It is a speciality item and you might have to scrounge around - best 'source is swap-meets and old, established camera stores that have been flogging Leica for a long time and places like "Real Cameras" in Manchester.UK who know what the stuff is and if they dont have it in stock, knows who has it and can get it.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss and stores take in a box of the stuff, not knowing what it is and are willing to part with it cheap too.
My rule is that if I see a Viso item and it is cheap, I buy it. It might not be useful, but can be used as a "trade" for something that I need ( or want). Even obscure bellows adapters can come in handy (though why I have 4 of the Hektor 125f2.5 adapters is beyond me - they must have been really cheap).
Enjoy the hunt
Tom

Thanks for the detailed reply!

 

[Beemermark]

One word of caution, the Viso II and Viso III are almost identical. However the Viso II 90 deg finder will not fit on a M6 or M7 because of the slightly higher top deck of those cameras. I would assume it would not work on the M8 or M9 either.

Anyway I have a nice Viso II that I love playing with. Ebay prices are generally ridiculous but you can do better scrounging in camera stores.

 

[Nokton48]

I bought a mint Viso III with Viso III Prism for $150, I thought that was a good deal. It fits M5 and M4-2, with the Viso II prism. I bought the Viso II with Viso II Prism for $80 and I thought that was a good deal. That goes onto M2, can be Viso II or III. Don Goldberg sold me the M5 release arm for $10.

I find this stuff to be alot of fun to use, build quality is amazing, and no regrets at all. I have the 90mm V1 Summicron helical, the 135mm F2.8 Elmarit helical, the 200mm F4 Telyt w/OUBIO, the 280mm F4.8 Telyt with OUBIO, and the 400mm F5 with OUBIO. All great very usuable fun lenses. I use them on all my camera bodies, more frequently than you might imagine. And I do not find it to be slow to use at all! It's as fast as you can be, once you are used to it.

Lots of bang for very little buck. Lots of expensive out there, I pass on that stuff.

 

[zerobuttons]

I am thinking of getting one and wondering what people would pay. The prices seem all over the map and I don't want to overpay for something I will use occasionally. Also what are the good quality lenses for Viso - is the 65mm 3.5 a good lens? Thanks for any info.

I just paid £ 149 for a minty Visoflex III with the 90 degree 4x finder with original boxes and documentation. I found that this price was all right.
The 65mm f/3.5 is being mentioned as a good Visoflex lens by several people - Tom Abrahamsson and Jonathan Eastland to mention a few - and I for one will certainly be looking out for good deals on such a lens, to use with the Bellows M II that I also purchased recently.
I haven´t even recieved these items in the mail yet. We should share experiences as we go along.

 

[Nokton48]

Here's My Visoflex System

Here's My Visoflex System

As described further above:

The 65mm F2.8 is the one I am still looking for. Seems to go around the $500 price range, with focusing mount, in good condition.

 

[Ronald M]

$250/300 for a mint one with the eyepiece.

Chrome 65 not bad, black 65 is optically improved, 90 2.8 elmarit, 135 4.5 perfect from F8, 135 4.0 teleElmar close to APO, 135 2.8 more than good enough ( 55 mm filter version is a tiny bit better), 200 4.0 280 4.8 400 6.8 560 6.8 are all good lenses.
Tried a 135 4.0 Elmar ( different from tele Elmat) and was not impressed. Most people like the lens

The screen allows you to focus at 8.0 unlike an slr. Take the screen out and use aerial image if you want.

The soft release gives you nice sharp pics without mirror vibration. If you get a 400/560, get the M tube version which is shorter for the viso.

Forgot 125 2.5. Probably my favorite lens. Works nicly on Nikon digital D700 too. Camera Quest Leica/Nikon adapter.

The trick is finding all the adapter rings and short focus mounts to make it all work. I had a hard time 20 years ago. You need to go to a short focus mount for RF lens to focus to infinity on the viso.

 

[Dralowid]

The M tube for 560mm seems to be as rare as hen's teeth!

Chrome 65 is really better than not bad, indeed I'd go so far as to say good...

I enjoy Viso talk, still cannot bear to rid myself of the beast despite the temptations of an SL.

Michael

Viso III on M6TTL 65, 200, 280 and 560 (still with no M tube!)