Is this leica II a good deal?

[keithslater]

I was looking at Ebay today and came across this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7570200177&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

While I do not have the cash right now, it seems like a good deal. It has only been on a couple hours.
How do you know this is not a "fixed up" Russian camera?

Keith

 

[captainslack]

Well, since the seller is in the US and not in the FSU, I'd say it's probably a real Leica and not a clone.

 

[zpuskas]

Unfortunately the photos are somewhat out of focus so you can't get a really good look.

 

[remrf]

Based upon having both a Zorki 2c and a Leica IIIa and having visited a few of the sites that discuss the fake Leicas I think this is a real one. In the last photo of the group (bottom row extreme right) you can see the open bottom of the camera. There is a long spring tension bar with a gentle curve in it running across the solid center of the body. It has a circular end on it . This is how a Leica tension bar looks. The Zorki bar is straight and thinner and looks kind of cheap.

It looks to me like there is no take up spool in the camera. That would be something I would ask about before bidding.

 

[je2a3]

This looks genuine even if the picture is a bit out of focus. Seems to have the later RF housing wherein the VF shroud has a rounded corner instead of the notch in the 1932 black D models.

About 15,000 Ds were manufactured in chrome vs. ~36,000 in black. However, the black early type with lavatory shaped RF housing attracts more collector interest.