How is this possible?

[pepeguitarra]

$8,400!!!


"I have for sale from my personal photographic museum :

Leica M3 Black S/N 1155939. Single Stroke. One of only 2 or 3 M3's painted by Don Goldberg in his entire career. It was a labour of love, took over 12 months to finish. Many parts were sourced from Don's Leica parts bin with genuine period black paint, like the advance lever.

Project was finished in around 2010. Camera has been to DAG for CLA 2 or 3 times, last time in around 2013, to re-align the focus to make it perfect-perfect at 1m and also at infinity (since I am a perfectionist and I drive Don mad!).

Viewfinder is clear and critically accurate. Bright and clear and high contrast. All speeds smooth of course and accurate all the way down to 1 sec.

A classic M3 Black Paint you may never come across again."





http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M3-Bl...GvPq8mCZT8iCUwQ8SDV3Y%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[xayraa33]

Simple really, some people have more disposable income then they have common sense.

 

[CameraQuest]

Don Goldberg was one of the giants of the camera industry.

With documentation, its worth that much or more.

Look at what 1913 cameras personally assembled by Oskar B are selling for.

 

[KoNickon]

Provenance, baby! Still seems pretty high to me, but if it comes with some sort of lifetime warranty from Don, that's a major benefit.

Don is still active, is he not? (I was wondering why it took him 12 months to paint it.)

 

[pepeguitarra]

(I was wondering why it took him 12 months to paint it.)

That question can be answered easily by anyone here, who has sent something to Don. 😉

The seller put another similar camara for sale today and sold immediately for over $5K. A serial collector?

So, an authentic blacpainted M3 would go for....?

 

[Timmyjoe]

When I looked at the auction that was linked, it said the camera went for $4100. While Don is a great Leica repair technician, and has done numerous cameras for me over the years, I'm not sure I'd call him a "giant in the industry". He's a good guy who does good work, but we're not talking Oscar B here.

Who knows why people pay what they sometimes pay for things on eBay. I once was convinced by a friend to list some old motorcycle bodywork on eBay, that I had planned on just pitching in the trash, and someone gave me $1400 for it. I was flabbergasted, but as they say, "What the market will bear."

 

[Fraser]

You would think someone would rather have an original black paint M2 or M4 for probably less, the paint looks a bit thick on the top!

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

I bought a IIIc that DAG built, restored, built up from parts, whatever. He sells misc. cameras on his website, sells them for just regular money too. I think they are a bargain, considering his experience.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

That's absolutely absurd.

 

[agoglanian]

I find the way basically everything in the Leica world is priced absurdly, and though I respect Don and his undeniable skill as a camera technician, I wouldn't pay some huge premium for a repainted camera. (I've utilized his services multiple times and every experience has been done correctly, promptly and courteously, which is more than I can say about having anything repaired by Leica.)

Hopefully whoever bought the camera is happy, that's really all that matters in the end.

 

[mpaniagua]

Rather than absurd, I suppose somethings worths as much as someone is willing to pay. I mean, look at Stradivari violin, Picasso paintings, Van Gogh, etc. People pay huge amounts of money (being realistic) a bunch of wood, fabric and paint. I suppose their uniqness boost their value but even so...

 

[kb244]

That question can be answered easily by anyone here, who has sent something to Don. 😉

The seller put another similar camara for sale today and sold immediately for over $5K. A serial collector?

So, an authentic blacpainted M3 would go for....?

Kind of like asking why does it take 6 months or more to have a Urushi lacquered and Maki-e artwork done on a fountain pen when sent to be hand done by a Japanese artisan.

 

[mpaniagua]

pretty valid point. If there is someone that is willing to pay for it, most likely there is someone willing to sell it. Nothing wrong with it.

Regards

Marcelo

 

[Spanik]

Rather than absurd, I suppose somethings worths as much as someone is willing to pay. I mean, look at Stradivari violin, Picasso paintings, Van Gogh, etc. People pay huge amounts of money (being realistic) a bunch of wood, fabric and paint. I suppose their uniqness boost their value but even so...

I think that is a generalisation too far. They pay (through the nose and not always realistic) for something unique. But for a repainted industrial made piece?

 

[Steve M.]

"But for a repainted industrial made piece?"

That is basically the long and the short of it. Nice looking camera, but I agree, better to have a factory painted one.

This is all conjecture on my part. I always wanted something that worked like it was supposed to. What it looked like was of no consequence.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

Yeah, I mean, I totally understand paying that much for a real BP M3 that's been certified or whatever but this is pretty much a glorified repaint. I don't get it.

 

[xayraa33]

I think that this sale catered to a specialised group of user/collectors who besides acquiring factory original rare Leicas also specialise in acquiring "Star" camera painters and painter/tech examples and are willing to pay a good price for the privilege. So a painted camera by Shintaro or one painted/serviced by DAG would be highly desired.

This is no different than in say car restoration or in the guitar replica business, a 59 sunburst Les Paul guitar accurately reproduced by MAX for instance, can sell for 40,000 dollars or more.

 

[ellisson]

Emotional Investments

Emotional Investments

Rather than absurd, I suppose somethings worths as much as someone is willing to pay. I mean, look at Stradivari violin, Picasso paintings, Van Gogh, etc. People pay huge amounts of money (being realistic) a bunch of wood, fabric and paint. I suppose their uniqness boost their value but even so...

The 650 or so existing Stradivarius violins made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari are a good examples of "emotional investments" that have value far exceeding the high quality of materials and workmanship that created them. And their value continues to increase. No one debates the unmatched sound quality of these violins. Seemingly analogous to DAG's black re-paint of the OP's example, Stradivari used a unique deeply red lacquer that gave his violins more than a rich look: It also gave specially vibrational properties to the wood, enhancing the sound. But its hard to imagine that black paint actually enhances camera function!

Stradivari violins go at auctions for 2-3 million USD, bidding usually starting at $1 million. Unique sound quality, but these are also emotional investments that contribute to the artistry of the player.

Stradivari also made Cellos and guitars. Only 5 guitars have been found, of which only one is playable. Sounds great though! (http://www.stradivarius.org/stradivarius-guitar/)

I think a part of Leica gear ownership is also emotional investment. Not all, but part.

 

[mpaniagua]

I think that is a generalisation too far. They pay (through the nose and not always realistic) for something unique. But for a repainted industrial made piece?

well, its unique isn't? 😛

 

[mpaniagua]

The 650 or so existing Stradivarius violins made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari are a good examples of "emotional investments" that have value far exceeding the high quality of materials and workmanship that created them. And their value continues to increase. No one debates the unmatched sound quality of these violins. Seemingly analogous to DAG's black re-paint of the OP's example, Stradivari used a unique deeply red lacquer that gave his violins more than a rich look: It also gave specially vibrational properties to the wood, enhancing the sound. But its hard to imagine that black paint actually enhances camera function!

Stradivari violins go at auctions for 2-3 million USD, bidding usually starting at $1 million. Unique sound quality, but these are also emotional investments that contribute to the artistry of the player.

Stradivari also made Cellos and guitars. Only 5 guitars have been found, of which only one is playable. Sounds great though! (http://www.stradivarius.org/stradivarius-guitar/)

I think a part of Leica gear ownership is also emotional investment. Not all, but part.

Not arquing the collector and investment value of a Stradivarious, but there had been lots of test to compare them against modern violins and guess what? Players preferred modern violins over Stradivarious.

http://www.thestrad.com/blind-tested-soloists-unable-to-tell-stradivarius-violins-from-modern-instruments/


Yes, Stradivarius violins (like Leica lens) command high prices, and yes, they hold their value (again, same as Leica Lens).