How much to pay for IIIf and lenses

[LeicaTom]

........sounds like average well worn and used gear

I`d say an honest $200/$300 for the whole lot, nothing you can resell there for a profit, doesn`t sound like it`s in really good shape , it`s all user gear, nothing special, if it was pre 1945 IIIC gear it would be maybe worth $600+ but this sounds all like just normal stuff that`s all worn out and need CLA`s

....nothing to get excited about 😉

If it was offered to me I`d pass.......

Tom

 

[burninfilm]

LeicaTom, are you stating the price you'd offer ($200-$300) in terms of how much YOU would be willing to pay? I'm fairly certain the outfit would sell for more on Ebay if it was parted out, especially if the Summaron lens is the f2.8 version as previously stated. No, you wouldn't get the $400-$500 that the f2.8 Summar LTM usually recieves, but depending on the severity of the glass damage, you'd still net about $100-$200. Plus, you'd get about $100-$150 for the IIIc, $75-$125 for the 90mm Elmar, $50-$75 for the Summitar, and maybe $50 for the other smaller accessories. Even at these prices, the lowest range still comes out to about $350-$400. Of course, you'd have to break up the kit to realize these prices.

But, as you stated, the outfit isn't worth much, and especially isn't worth the $1000-$1500 the seller is hoping for. Like you, I'd probably only buy if the price was low enough (within the $200-$300 range you specified). So, I'm not really disputing what you said about the value of the kit, just providing another opinion of what the items are valued at individually in the current market.

Besides, LeicaTom, of course you'd pass! It probably isn't one of the "Half Race" IIIc Leicas!

 

[Solinar]

I had the same experience a couple of years back, someone's heirs had their gear on consignment at a local camera shop and they were way too optimistic on the price versus the condition.

Assume that camera needs a CLA, plus whatever. The lenses sound pretty beat and will probably need a CLA as well. - All in all, you need to ask is it going to be worth your trouble?

That said, about five years ago I did pick up a working Rollecord V and a Rollei 35 S for hundred bucks at an estate sale. The family was liquidating the entire household and definitely had no interest or use for fiddly contraptions.

Save your gear from your heirs and sell it before you pass on.😉

 

[LeicaTom]

of course you'd pass! It probably isn't one of the "Half Race" IIIc Leicas!

.....that`s looking at it one-sided here

While I shoot mostly with 45/46' era bodies, I use lenses of all eras, doesn`t matter, I may be partial to one certain type of body while this is what I like and work with, but when gear comes up that is in good condition and might be reasonable to use as barter material and at a good price I`d buy it without question

Read the OP`s description of the gear very carefully , ok if someone was offering me a "Half Race" in that condition along with damaged/dirty lenses, I`d more than likely turn it down, or offer them "parts" camera price

In this case and after reading what the OP posted, the camera body is more than likely the most valuable item on this list, a decent 1946/47 IIIC needing a CLA is worth $200/$225

The OP asked what the gears worth to buy, not to break down and sell, what I stated the other night was/is a fair price for what the gear is, if it was all mint/mint minus condition than I`d suspect that it would be nearing the $700 mark in a reasonable estimate......but the gear is at best EX but mostly USER condition

Also, for some gear it`s not worth the trouble of cleaning it and sending it to CLA and then posting it to the online auction, the Summaron really does`nt excite me that much, if it was a rigid Summicron in LTM then that would be a different story

Condition is everything, when you use gear or if you are a collector and also when your selling, I always try to sell/trade quality gear, it`s better for your reputation that way

There`s only a handful of Leitz items out there, that don`t make any difference what condition they are in and we are`nt dealing with a compur or a 3 digit Leica, it`s just a IIIF

Tom

PS: You can buy anything on evilbay.......that place is great for some things and for others a place to off load junk, I`ve seen great deals on there and I`ve seen junk sell for crazy prices, it`s all what people are willing to spend on it, I`ve already set my limits for gear I still want, if I get it for that amount fine.....if not it remains on my wish list

 

[Nando]

I did mention to the vendor several times that the asking price was way too high. He would just shrug his shoulders and say "He (the owner of the camera) wants $1000-1500 for it." I even had my IIIf+Summarit with me and took it out of my bag to compare. It's looks like a brand new camera and both body and lens were CLA'd. I told him how much (or how little) I paid for it just to test his reaction but he wasn't surprised. He just kept saying that camera owner wanted at least $1000 for the kit... To be honest, I think that the reason why he took on this consignment might be because the client was either a loyal customer of his father or perhaps he just thought that he would have a better chance of selling a Leica than the most of the other ancient cameras he had.

 

[LeicaTom]

I did mention to the vendor several times that the asking price was way too high. He would just shrug his shoulders and say "He (the owner of the camera) wants $1000-1500 for it." I even had my IIIf+Summarit with me and took it out of my bag to compare. It's looks like a brand new camera and both body and lens were CLA'd. I told him how much (or how little) I paid for it just to test his reaction but he wasn't surprised. He just kept saying that camera owner wanted at least $1000 for the kit... To be honest, I think that the reason why he took on this consignment might be because the client was either a loyal customer of his father or perhaps he just thought that he would have a better chance of selling a Leica than the most of the other ancient cameras he had.

I`ve had to explain to some people on evilbay that the camera`s that they were selling were`nt even user grade cameras, but good for only parts, some looking at other auctions I`ve won, convinced them that their gear was`nt worth thousand`s of dollars

Some people just see the name LEICA and get $$$ signs in their head, when in all reality there` s a select few cameras and lens combinations that are truly worth over the $1,000/$1,500 mark
(not counting M`s and modern equipment)

I`m talking about LTM here only

After the camera`s sitting there at the store for two years the seller will be happy to sell it for whatever he can get, unless someone with too much money and not enough brains comes into the store, that`s like somewhere in another thread here on the site, people have quoted it`s best to KNOW people who KNOW what the real value of gear is all about and that the lone wolf`s out there who go about getting the gear by just acting on it end up paying double or even triple what something`s worth just because they didn`t seek anyone`s advice in the first place.......


Tom

 

[burninfilm]

Tom, honestly, I think you took me WAY to seriously the last time around. My comment about you passing on the outfit because it wasn't a "Half Race" Leica was meant more as a joke than anything! Sorry if this got lost in translation, so-to-speak. Furthermore, I wasn't really replying to the original poster, who hasn't replied to this thread in a while. I was just offering another viewpoint about the value of the equipment.

Now, I get a chuckle when I see people say something like "I'd say an honest $200/$300 for the whole lot", yet then go off to say something like this:

In this case and after reading what the OP posted, the camera body is more than likely the most valuable item on this list, a decent 1946/47 IIIC needing a CLA is worth $200/$225

So basically, you'd be hoping to get the 90mm Elmar, 35 f2.8 Summaron, and everything else for free? Of course everyone likes to get a great deal, but let's at least keep this premise of yours in mind when providing information about value. Furthermore, I believe the original poster was looking for information about a "fair price", not a "really good price that'll net me some extra income". Perhaps we have different ideas of a fair price? Besides, I don't know if I'd consider a well worn, well scratched IIIc body with missing vulcanite as "decent" anyway, which was the reason why I valued the camera body at around $150.

For examples of current going prices for user 46/47 IIIc Leicas needing a CLA, check these out:
Ebay IIIc #1
Ebay IIIc #2

This one has flash sync, but is still a IIIc, and otherwise appears to be in much nicer condition, and consequently sold for slightly more:
Ebay IIIc #3

 

[LeicaTom]

Burninfilm: well, I missed reading that damaged vulcanite part..... so sorry ok it`s only worth $100 does that make you feel better? Geeze folks I don`t get people, you try to be helpful and people make a joke out of it......or mock you for what you say, etc. 🙁

All I know is I personally sold a near spotless June/July production 1946 "Flat top" IIIC about 4 months also for $225
(it was the fastest Leica I`ve ever sold, in less than 2 hours!)
and the new owner was very very impressed - he didn`t even have to get a CLA it was still "on the money" after all these years, he`s shooting passionately with it 😀

What I quoted was the VALUE what the camera`s worth, not what they are selling for, ok?
Please read and understand what I`m saying.......
$200/$225 is the going value for the postwar era pre-sharkskin 1946/47 Leica IIIC`s

The Sharkskin IIIC in mint/mint minus is very desirable by collectors
*while almost 85% of all production had contaminated chrome solution - and have damaged/pitting and peeling chrome plating*

These IIIC`S can reach up to $400+ depending on what side of the Atlantic you live on......

Take care and have a great day! 🙂

Tom

 

[burninfilm]

Burninfilm: well, I missed reading that damaged vulcanite part..... so sorry ok it`s only worth $100 does that make you feel better? Geeze folks I don`t get people, you try to be helpful and people make a joke out of it......or mock you for what you say, etc. 🙁

You wouldn't happen to be mocking me now, would you? 😛

Seriously, I'm not trying to argue with you at all. In fact, if you carefully read my first reply to this thread, I was actually agreeing with you for the most part. I've always liked reading your posts, and found your explanation of the war-time and immediate post-war Leicas very interesting. Sorry if feel I'm being overly critical of your posts. Take care, and have a good one!

Danny

 

[Nando]

I think that the original poster is currently out of town. I'm sure that he will chime in when he gets back.