Asking price for a M3 with 50mm 'crom

S

Stu :)

Guest
I was at the local shop today and the owner's daughter who knows of my fetish for rangefinders (I think she has one too, my Bessa's are normally covered in her finger prints when I leave the store) came bounding up to me with a Leica M3 and 50mm Summicron (M-mount and chrome) that was just traded in that morning.

I asked for the price and was told it was not for sale... yet.
The owner kindly informed me that he'd like to shoot with it for a while, however if I offered a price after Christmas he might be keen to sell it.

So what do I offer realistically? The body in average shape, it's not mint, but it's not run over by a tank either. The lens has seen better days. The front element has something in between rub marks and light scratches on it.

Any ideas on the value?

Many thanks in advance for your advice.

Stu :)
 
Well, there are a number of other things that factor in as well. If you could get the serial number, that would help a lot. Early M3's are double stroke for the film advance. They also may be missing many of the improvements that later M's have (preview lever, glass pressure plate changes to steel, depth of field markers in the viewfinder, newer shutter speeds (1/125th instead of 1/100th) etc. Generally, the higher the serial number, the more expensive it gets. Over 1 million is premium, and over 1.1 million is much more expensive.
An average middle of the production M3 in the description you have given could be about 500-600 USD. The lens with scratches could still be 250 dollars or more. These are just my guesses. I am sure someone else will have a better idea.
Glad to hear you might get your hands on one though!

The other Stuart from New Zealand (well, I am a Kiwi/US dual citizen. I was just born there, but I have never lived there...after our recent election, I am tempted to move back!)
 
Well, I got into Leica buying frenzy lately :(
My first was an M2, just a couple of months ago, bought with an LTM 50/2 Summitar, and a 50/2 Summicron (collapsible). Then I added some more (cheaper) lens.
Now I'm looking for a good user M3. ;)
The prices are all over the place. Just a few days ago I missed one in 1,4xx,xxx range on P.net, that went for $650!!! (very cheap for such high SN).
They can be bought for as little as $350, and as high as $1,200.... It all depends - whether it's a DS (double stroke) with very early SN, or whether it's in "collector" condition, seals intact, etc...
I'm planning on getting one in user condition for about $600 - I'll just have to wait...
Since you're buying from a shop, the price will probably be a bit more than buying from photo.net or RFF members, but you get a chance to test it with a roll of film first... It's worth paying a bit more for that, in my opinion.

Denis
 
Denis: The serial numbers of the M3 stopped at 1,16x,xxx. Either a typo or a later camera. In any event $650 for a used Leica is a great price if it is ready-to-roll. $800 for the camera and lens is a good price.
 
Last edited:
Brian Sweeney said:
Denis: The serial numbers of the M3 stopped at 1,16x,xxx. Either a typo or a later camera. In any event $650 for a used Leica is a great price if it is ready-to-roll. $800 for the camera and lens is a good price.
Click to expand...

Sorry, Brian - you're right. A typo: the M3 S/N was 1,140,xxx - made in 1966. It was a very good price - but someone else snatched it :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom