Help with this Leica Please!

[dougcee]

I just got this from my sister in law---cheap. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I've got here. Shutter seems to work fine and viewfinder and rangefinder are OK. Came with a nice, but badly fogged serenar 3.5 collapsible lens.
Question is what is it? Quick check shows body from 1930, but doesn't seem to jive with that body's layout, features etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!:bang:

 

[Greyscale]

Leica I converted to Leica II.

 

[Greyscale]

Or to a III

 

[mpaniagua]

Serial says its a Leica I, but I dont think Leica I had a build rangefinder. So Leica I update to Leica II?

 

[NeeZee]

Well, a Leica II does not have the slow shutter speed dial on the front. Looks like an update to Leica III.

 

[02Pilot]

I'd like to see more details on the lens. Must be quite early, as the later Serenar 50/3.5 had a wider lip on the end containing the aperture adjustment.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well, a Leica II does not have the slow shutter speed dial on the front. Looks like an update to Leica III.

Exactly. And updates were quite common. When I was 20 my girlfriend had a II with a 5-digit serial number. She paid £20 for it, with an Elmar...

Cheers,

R.

 

[dougcee]

Guys, thanks so much for the fast, helpful replies. Here's the nice looking but MASSIVELY fogged Serenar. Any other thoughts on this, please chime in!

 

[dougcee]

quick question

quick question

Anybody got an idea what this body would be worth in working condition? Thanks!!

 

[dougcee]

side view

side view

Should have included this view too.

 

[02Pilot]

Lens is a Type 5, manufactured between 4/49 and 12/51. Not as late as I thought, but uncommon nonetheless. I have a later one and I quite like it. Not hard to disassemble and clean if you're so inclined.

 

[dougcee]

Lens is a Type 5, manufactured between 4/49 and 12/51. Not as late as I thought, but uncommon nonetheless. I have a later one and I quite like it. Not hard to disassemble and clean if you're so inclined.

Wow, I would be so inclined. A few basic tips on where to start and how to proceed would be very helpful. I THINK the major haze is on inside of rear element.

 

[02Pilot]

Wow, I would be so inclined. A few basic tips on where to start and how to proceed would be very helpful. I THINK the major haze is on inside of rear element.

It comes apart more or less like an Elmar, with the exception of the aperture adjustment ring. This video gives a pretty good starting point for getting it apart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQf01iHqf-I

After you get the optical block out of the barrel, it's just a matter of unscrewing the various retaining rings, cleaning the elements, and putting it back together. It's only three groups, so it's not terribly complex.

 

[dougcee]

Thanks O2Pilot, that's a big help!

 

[Dralowid]

I converted to III pre war and subsequently recovered. With retouched paintwork and poor re-covering it will fetch less than a normal similar III in comparable but unmolested condition. Conversion still do not carry a premium. Sorry not to be more helpful.

For prices check out Ebay sales history or a dealer in your country.

 

[dougcee]

Thanks Dralowid, that's about what I had thought. But I got it really cheap--appreciate your thoughts on it.

 

[02Pilot]

You could recover it pretty easily, which would go a long way to improving the overall aesthetics I think. I was very pleased with the IIIa covering I got from Hugo Studio recently.

 

[dougcee]

Thanks everyone for their input on camera and lens. Lens cleaned up nicely and camera passed the film test.🙂