Excellent price for a well used Leica

The thing I don't understand is how this camera used(likely heavily) by a photojournalist, has a hell of a lot less brassing then some of the cameras posted in the threads on that topic.

Kinda just cements my idea that most of those people are putting their cameras in unnatural situations to get the heavy brassing one sees here on occasion.
 
burancap said:
Would love to know the details that made up the "D" specification.
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One mention was of a softer shutter noise. Maybe TomA's Mr. B softie release. ;-)

I have an M2 with, I believe, M4 frame lines, well, it has four frames, though I get the feeling people with M3s want the M3 frame lines?

Obviously it has a winder?

Perhaps the paint as well?

I would not recognize the coating on the lens by looking at it, but perhaps the lens was part of the set?

I saw an M2 at a local show recently with what looked like the original owner's name factory engraved- I know they did this for dealers' personal cameras with the M4, along with a 10% discount off wholesale. The owner of the shop I worked at had ordered those more than once, and I saw his.

More than likely, everyone here knows more about Leica details than I, and I have certainly never special ordered a camera from Leica. Interesting they made a series of four of them.

Regards, John
 
Boherk said:
The thing I don't understand is how this camera used(likely heavily) by a photojournalist, has a hell of a lot less brassing then some of the cameras posted in the threads on that topic.

Kinda just cements my idea that most of those people are putting their cameras in unnatural situations to get the heavy brassing one sees here on occasion.
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Article said Leica made four (4) for him.

This camera might be a backup (or a backup for a backup).

Hell, it might not have taken any of the pictures he's known for.

I mean, I'm sure there's a way to know or not: did he get all the cameras simultaneously, or were they ordered individually (or in pairs); check out repair records; historical photos of Duncan; a gamut of things, I'm sure.

The camera may have been repaired/repainted (perhaps multiple times).

Again, all of these things would be verifiable.

In terms of auction price, this camera looks like it has a lot going for it in terms of collectibility.

-Famous provenance

-Rarity inside of rarity

-Strong associations with various collectible markets (Picasso, Vietnam, Photography History, Photojournalism, Leica)--i.e. crossover appeal

So, yea, the price is outrageous, but I can rationalize it.

...Another thought--maybe Duncan just kept his cameras nice?

Is that so hard to believe? This would also make the camera more attractive to buyers. Duncan kept his gear nice, and now his stuff still looks good and works. I'll buy that.

I mean, not all photojournalists are Dennis Hopper, Apocalypse Now, insane.
 
I tried to "keep my cameras nice", but when I was shooting in the field, or in photo journalism, the equipment condition was secondary to getting a significant shot, and sometimes an insignificant shot.

I dented, scratched, and dropped a few, banged some against others, and wore the finish off a few lenses, but I also have heard of people taking sandpaper to inflict patina.

Gravity won once on a gravel slope with a camera in each hand, a personal record. Two relatively new cameras, and a leg that looked worse than the cameras. One voided warranty and the leg healed.

I would guess this camera was not kept in a Luigi case in the field.


IMO, not a rational price, interesting, but not rational-- any money left over to purchase any of the images from the camera?

Just think how much the price would have gone up if he had only kept the box. ;-)

John
 
charjohncarter said:
If the top bidder drops out, bring it to Velas this year. I'd like to see it.
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I may well be w/o Leica, and w/ Fuji, but w/ adapters. Am told my third adapter is in, Contax G .

Still should have a LTM to fit the Bessa?

If you want to get out to some small towns, am game-- some great photos will be out there-- am sure. When are you there?

J
 
This is just an eccentric phenomenon and likely tied to the fact that it's a Leica. For instance, other cameras used by equally famous photographers have been shown to have little added value in the market because of their provenance. There are notable exceptions of course, but generally speaking...
 
Have any of HCB cameras been brought to the market, at what values I wonder? Probably they are on display or in the vault at his museum in Paris?
 
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