HELP! Buying a Leica

[johannielscom]

Lots of false assumptions and 'facts' again here.

Read here to get the story (more) straight:

http://www.johanniels.com/index.php/camera-gear-articles/31-leica-true-or-fake

I agree with Michael's assessment: a genuine top and bottom plate with a Zorki body shell sandwiched in between.
Wanna know what the insides are, Leica or Zorki? Ask for a picture of the rangefinder cam: if it's wheel-shaped it's a Leica, if it's triangular or hammer shaped, it's a FED or a Zorki.
The rangefinder cam is a pretty definitive answer. There was a small amount of pre-war FEDs made with a wheel-shaped rangefinder cam, but those are collectable, rare as hen's teeth by now and therefore easily worth more than a similar model Leica...

 

[Dralowid]

I am inclined to start a thread about copies, 'bitsas' or evocations of Leicas. There have been a couple of interesting ones recently.

Problem is that I haven't got one to photograph to get it it started.

I would only want to include ltm cameras that are engraved Leica, of course...

Michael
(Who would love to find a Leica Siberia)

 

[Erik van Straten]

It is a genuine camera, but not a Leica.

Erik.

 

[findlandezul]

I asked for more photos, some where you can see the cam.
Also, the plastic moulding is a late Zorki feature, so it might not be even a collectable FSU.

 

[findlandezul]

He sent me photos of the camera, which are photos from another camera. You can see them in the post. They seem photos of a real Leica.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

My money's on it being a Leica-Zorki-Leica sandwich with a faked lens. A pity but few would break it down and wait for all the other bits to turn up to get a Zorki and Leica out of it.

Regards, David

 

[findlandezul]

So, I met up with the buyer the other day, he had three of them, the first one, being clearly a Zorki, with the black trim. Another one, maybe a fed, with some edgy leather on the body, similar to the first one, and then the third and most interesting one, an almost Leica III, but with dodgy finishes, clearly a former fed. The interesting part is that all had the Leica-like rangfinder cam, and some modified brighter viewfinders (but very very low contrsat focus windows).

 

[findlandezul]

I offered him 40euros/piece, but he didn't accept, although he knew they were knockoffs. They felt "weaker" than my FSU, so some structural element might have been removed or something. Also, they had different/weird speeds, the latter had even 1/1000, but sounded like 1/500.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

A 1/1000th makes it a very interesting body or shutter speed dial, perhaps, especially with the die cast frame or whatever it is...

Regards, David

PS An easy give away on the lenses is the figure 1,25 (metres) upside down, as it is on the FED 2 photo.

 

[findlandezul]

As I said, it seemed like 1/500. What intrigued me the most was the fact that they tried to copy a Leica III, which is ver unusual, also, the top cover was handmade, as it was a bit edgy.
I really would have bought one of curiosity, to take it apart, and see how it was made.

 

[Out to Lunch]

The seller advertised the camera as a Leica replica and added -in Romanian: "A LEICA camera is sold, so write on it, I do not know if it's original or replica, so i bought it and i do not try to fool anyone, it sells exactly what is seen in pictures".

 

[findlandezul]

The seller advertised the camera as a Leica replica and added -in Romanian: "A LEICA camera is sold, so write on it, I do not know if it's original or replica, so i bought it and i do not try to fool anyone, it sells exactly what is seen in pictures".

He added this after we met, albeit with a lowered price (near 50%). I would have paid even more than 40 euros if they would have been in great shape, but they look edgy, and also don't work as smooth as my Zorki/FED 1's.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Ah! If you are in Bucharest, have a look at this place... I've had b&w film developed there with good results. http://www.allkimik.ro/

 

[MIkhail]

I don't get it.
Why do it in the first place?
Why not get a real thing, weather it's Leica or Zorki?

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Someone or some people are putting a lot of effort into making cameras up that we are all wary of buying. I can't help thinking that they'd be better employed and far more respectable opening a repair shop for FED and Zorki cameras...

When all's said and done there's enough fakes to saturate the market but repairmen are pretty thin on the ground.

Regards, David

 

[findlandezul]

Ah! If you are in Bucharest, have a look at this place... I've had b&w film developed there with good results. http://www.allkimik.ro/

That's where I get my film developed. 🙂

After I was 100% sure they were fake, I wanted one of them as novelty items.

 

[ProSimex]

thats really annoying

thats really annoying

Let a Zorki be a Zorki, no shame in it. Like Mr Hughes said, these people would be better off cleaning and repairing Zorkis, rather then this nonsense. Honestly, the only complaint I have towards my Zorki is the lack of 1/1000th, besides that its a jewel! Hope you find the right Leica for you. They do come up in need of a CLA for fairly cheap sometimes. Also, why not try a Canon LTM?

 

[findlandezul]

Let a Zorki be a Zorki, no shame in it. Like Mr Hughes said, these people would be better off cleaning and repairing Zorkis, rather then this nonsense. Honestly, the only complaint I have towards my Zorki is the lack of 1/1000th, besides that its a jewel! Hope you find the right Leica for you. They do come up in need of a CLA for fairly cheap sometimes. Also, why not try a Canon LTM?

I have something against Canikons. 🙂
I am the odd kid, using Pentax (main lineup), Fuji, FSU LTM cameras, even used Samsung NX. Also I do not find Canon cameras attractive. (I am weird, I must also like the looks of them)

 

[newfilm]

Hi,

Someone or some people are putting a lot of effort into making cameras up that we are all wary of buying. I can't help thinking that they'd be better employed and far more respectable opening a repair shop for FED and Zorki cameras...

When all's said and done there's enough fakes to saturate the market but repairmen are pretty thin on the ground.

Regards, David

The fake market will continue, simply because people who buy it are not at all concern in the actual usage of the camera, but having then as an accessory, a fashion statement. Through a friend, I meet a guy who sell "high-end" knockoff of expensive watches (yes, you'd be surprise even the knockoffs has different rating... from meeeh to oh wow that real thing?), his business all come from wealthy people who can actually afford the real thing many times over, which they buy and treat as disposable, incomprehensible as it sound, but that's the world we live in.