Painting M3 and value

[esearing]

I'm in search of a particular year and set of serial numbers for an M3 same as my birthday. Every one I find is either beaten to death or has been repainted to look new-ish.

All the repainted ones have exorbitant prices 2-3 times normal. A true black painted original is 4-5 times normal which is understandable since it is the original finish and there were fewer made.

In my mind the re-paint from chrome to black does not add value and reduces collectibility. It is just another user with the potential for the paint to wear off and show brass.

What are your thoughts? Would you pay extra?

And I'm sick of seeing recently CLA'd and shutter sounds right. It was either CLA'd properly and tested or it wasn't.

 

[Livesteamer]

Welcome to RFF. If you take your time you will find the right camera for you. As to the price, the reason repainted M's cost more is they cost more. It's a lot of work to properly dismantle, dechrome and paint an M. If that's what you want then be prepared to pay the price. There is a member here who sometimes has repainted M cameras. Watch the classifieds for them. Good Luck. Joe

 

[B-9]

Member Flyingpalm offers repaint bodies now and then.

Leica made more M3's than any other M, it shouldn't be to hard to find what your looking for. Unless your birthyear happens to land on either the beginning or end of the M3 run, which you may pay a small premium.

The M3 is also the most affordable M, easily had for around 5-600$. Add a simple CLA from YYE (150$) and your set up nice.

Goodluck!

 

[Roger Hicks]

It takes a while, but for your next reincarnation place an order for an MP just before you pop your clogs...

Cheers,

R.

 

[esearing]

The M3 is also the most affordable M, easily had for around 5-600$. Add a simple CLA from YYE (150$) and your set up nice.

Not finding any in that range. Seems most are going for $1200+ with very few exceptions on the big auction site. Even KEH pricing is $800-1200 with no information about a specific camera. Seems to be some spring price hike going on. So I may have to wait it out.

Looking for 1963 M3 user grade. I don't mind some scratches and a ding or two as long as the view finder is bright and the shutter is consistent. Preferably in the serial numbers 1088001-1091000 (late '63).

currently shooting with a Bessa R3M, Agfa folder 6x9, and 4x5 wooden field.

 

[geetist]

I have one and I sent you an pm

 

[esearing]

Found my birth year/quarter camera with Chrome top. Also found an original black top for a mere $14,000. Of Course as soon as I find mine - 3 black paint for reasonable prices pop up here and elsewhere. I even found one with a black top that was switched and serial number engraved by Leica at the time of purchase in mid 1963.

Now to find something special to put on the my first roll through it.

 

[Rob-F]

I don't think a repaint needs to cost 2 or three times as much. I bought a stripped and black painted M2 that was done in the Netherlands, I believe by "Nobbylon." It wasn't really too much more than a chrome M2, and it is very nice work!

So just keep shopping, and don't be in too much of a hurry--"all things come to he who waits."

 

[Mike Fish]

I have an M2 painted by "Nobbylon" also. i purchased it from someone who purchased it from Nobbylon - but it was very reasonably priced. Nobbylon's work is well known on RFF, and this example is all that you would expect.

I also have a IIIf RD-ST painted by Kanto that I obtained in a trade from Youxin Ye. It also was reasonably priced because of the trade, and I think because Youxin had traded for it originally and hadn't personally paid the premium to have it painted.

Because I was curious, I emailed Kanto for a quote on a IIIf repaint and the number was about $1,450 not including the camera or shipping - with a three month wait.

The Nobbylon repaint seems "faithful" in terms of replicating an original black-paint camera. Not necessarily perfect, but obviously done with extreme care.

The Kanto, on the other hand, seems excessively perfect - if that makes sense. Like the difference between a "restoration" paint job and a "custom" paint job on a vintage car.