Considering Selling my Leica M3

[NicoM]

Hey guys!

I wanted to ask if it would be okay to post photos of my Leica M3 and DR Summicron to get it appraised by you guys. I bought the kit locally last year for a very low price so I don't really know what it's worth. The reason I am posting this is because I fear that it might be against the terms and services of RangeFinderForum to ask you guy to price my M3 as it may seem like I'm trying to sell it to you guys. I haven't posted it in the classifieds section because I plan to sell the camera locally and not have to go though the stress of having to ship it.

Any help regarding this matter would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Nico

 

[ramosa]

I suspect some would prefer if you already had a price and put a listing in the classifieds. Otherwise, you're likely to generate offers for your camera without paying the normal classified fee.

Just my 2 cents ...

 

[clayne]

Saw your M3 in your photostream. Unless you really need the money, I think you should hold on to that setup.

 

[FrankS]

Check completed ebay sales and used camera dealers like KEH.

That being said, condition is important. A rough M3 sells for about $500, an excellent near perfect example for about $1000. A recent CLA would factor in as well.

 

[Pablito]

I fear that it might be against the terms and services of RangeFinderForum ....

Well, you could actually read the terms of service.....

 

[ferider]

Hey guys!

I wanted to ask if it would be okay to post photos of my Leica M3 and DR Summicron to get it appraised by you guys. I bought the kit locally last year for a very low price so I don't really know what it's worth. The reason I am posting this is because I fear that it might be against the terms and services of RangeFinderForum to ask you guy to price my M3 as it may seem like I'm trying to sell it to you guys. I haven't posted it in the classifieds section because I plan to sell the camera locally and not have to go though the stress of having to ship it.

Any help regarding this matter would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Nico

Assuming this is the combo ?

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125662

If the DS works, and the lens is clean (as you say in the thread), I would say about US 700 each, maybe a little less. That's what you would get on ebay, at least.

Good luck,

Roland.

 

[Rob-F]

OK, here's another way to approach this. Look at the completed sales on eBay; also look at the price KEH.com asks for an M3 in similar condition.

 

[kknox]

if you sell it, you might wish someday you still had you M3. I sold mine a few years ago, then wound up buying another one.

One of the best M cameras you could own.

 

[isoterica]

That is actually the perfect combo and the one I would want if I had one. No I am not soliciting.. but I am curious, why do some 50mm DR's show use of the goggles and others do not. Are they optional?

 

[stratcat]

May I ask what happened? You were so excited to get that combo (who wouldn't, it's a very handsome pair) ! Were you unable to get used to manual focusing and frame lines?

My question is completely sincere, I in no way intend to troll or make you feel uncomfortable and if this is so please simply ignore it.

cheers!

 

[sparrow6224]

isoterica -- the goggles are used when focusing down below .7m or 1.0m I'm not sure which ; the lens can focus closer than the camera coupling allows for so the goggles compensate for this. You would need to be without them on the lens for any shot longer than a meter, I guess; and without them -- if you don't own a set -- you can still always estimate distance for your cloe focus shots, especially after testing the lens and seeing how close its markings are to the real distances. So A., you don't need them necessarily and B. you generally would not have them on the lens in any case. If I have any of that wrong (I want a DR Summicron but have only the rigid version) particularly general minimum focus distance of the RF in the M3, please someone else correct me.

 

[isoterica]

Okay so dual range, you can use the goggles for the close focusing and take them off otherwise. So then, I would want this lens to use up close too which means I would need goggles or a good guesstimate of what I was doing via trial and error.

What do you mean when you say "rigid" version.

Sorry I am full of questions here but this is the lens I would be interested in so of course I want to know the info on it.

 

[MISH]

the rigid version looks very similar (it is non collapsible) but does not have the ability to focus closer than 1 meter and does not have part at the top of the lens that the goggles clips on to

maybe someone else can tell us if the glass is the same

 

[Frontman]

Okay so dual range, you can use the goggles for the close focusing and take them off otherwise. So then, I would want this lens to use up close too which means I would need goggles or a good guesstimate of what I was doing via trial and error.

What do you mean when you say "rigid" version.

Sorry I am full of questions here but this is the lens I would be interested in so of course I want to know the info on it.

There were three types of Summicrons. The most common are rigid or collapsible.

The collapsible version allows the lens to be pushed into the camera body, which makes the camera/lens combo pocketable. The rigid Summicron does not collapse, and remains permanently extended.

The Dual-Range Summicron is similar in appearance to the rigid Summicron, except for the dovetailed base where the goggles slide on. When you slide on the goggles, the focus ring can be unlocked, and this allows you to turn the focus ring more, which in turn allows for closer focusing.

 

[MISH]

here is a link to ken rockwells site that shows pictures of the various versions of the Summicron
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/50mm-summicron-comparison-table.htm

one thing I did not know until looking at this just now is that the dual range was made of solid brass and was quite a bit heavier

 

[NicoM]

May I ask what happened? You were so excited to get that combo (who wouldn't, it's a very handsome pair) ! Were you unable to get used to manual focusing and frame lines?

My question is completely sincere, I in no way intend to troll or make you feel uncomfortable and if this is so please simply ignore it.

cheers!

I still love it! The reason I'm thinking about selling it is to fund a digital Leica M! The RF experience has been great but I also want the flexibility and convenience that digital offers. I wish I could have both, but I'm a poor student. I don't have the luxury of keeping all of my cameras at this point in my life 😛

Who knows. I might end up keeping this and just save up some more for a digital M.

 

[V-12]

The M3 isn't suited to everybody, apart from the billing and cooing we always hear about its build quality there isn't much else to recommend it over the M2 or M4 which are more versatile cameras. I have owned a few and keep one in a drawer still, but it will be first to go without any hesitation. So if you can see a digital M would be more productive sell it, its just a shame it is the DR Summicron or you could have kept that.

As others have said, look at completed Ebay listings for realistic prices, but take note of the days the auctions finished and the times, this will give a clue for how the best prices were achieved. If you are not absolutely desperate to sell it right now you could start with a 30 day fixed price 'buy it now - offers accepted' sale on Ebay, at a very slightly higher price than you might normally expect and see if anybody bites.

 

[StaaleS]

Actually, I'm not sure the DR summicron is compatible with the digiLeicas. The rangefinder coupling bit is deeper than on vanilla M lenses, to allow for the close-focusing functionality, and this can interfere with baffles and stuff inside the camera.

An M3 with a DR is a sweet setup though; I have this combination myself. And whatever they may say, the M3 is the prettiest of the lot 🙂

 

[john341]

I sold my DS M3 several years ago...much regret...they are easy to sell. Problem is, you know your camera-sell it and you will have to buy a replacement and will it be as good as the one you sold?

 

[Frontman]

Actually, I'm not sure the DR summicron is compatible with the digiLeicas. The rangefinder coupling bit is deeper than on vanilla M lenses, to allow for the close-focusing functionality, and this can interfere with baffles and stuff inside the camera.

An M3 with a DR is a sweet setup though; I have this combination myself. And whatever they may say, the M3 is the prettiest of the lot 🙂

The DR will fit a digi-Leica, but whether or not the goggles will fit is another matter. The goggles will not work on the M6 or M7 as their top covers are taller. Perhaps someone else here has tried them on a M8/9?

Personally, I would keep the M3 and pass on a digital Leica. The M3 was built by craftsmen, newer cameras are built by hourly workers. A properly tuned M3 is much smoother and quieter than a digital Leica, and though I do have some nice digital cameras, they see little use, I find film to be much more satisfying to me.