Leica LTM Real, or a Fake?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
I think it's a fake but one of the best I've seen. The lens is definitely based on an I-22 or 50, note the ring instead of a lever. The knurling on the knob wind looks like it came from a later Zorki. I haven't check serial nos. on Laney's guide but that no. seems to belong to a body with slow speeds. Otherwise the only other fake Leica I've seen with a notched VF window like this is featured at Cameraquest. A really good copy with a roller RF cam and lens mount with a "0" engraved at 12 o'clock. It's also possible the camera is made up from some genuine Leitz, Fed and Zorki parts. The only way to really find out is to remove the top plate or pull out the shutter crate and see if the serial no. matches.

Joseph
 
Quick check ~ Jay notes a difference in the aperture adj. *here* that would suggest the lens is fake. I rather like the finish on this unit, but could live without the skin.

edit: okay, joseph you typed while I surfed... no fair.
 
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CVBLZ4 said:
Quick check ~ Jay notes a difference in the aperture adj. *here* that would suggest the lens is fake. I rather like the finish on this unit, but could live without the skin.edit: okay, joseph you typed while I surfed... no fair.
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Sorry man, I just got home from a gig and as soon as I logged on this site I saw this thread. Your link to Jay's site tells it all about the lens. Immediately after seeing the lens it made stop to think and scrutinize the pictures on eBay. My gut feel is something isn't right about that body even if there are good details......the RF/VF lenses also look more FSU than Leitz.....

Joseph
 
RF/VF lenses... yeah, I just haven't owned a L.II to be able to scrutinize well. The engravings look like "thicker" lines than my L.III, but again, can't say about the L.IIs. If it's fake, they put some effort into it. At least the guy is fairly honest, implying "dunno... it could be fake."
 
I agree that it's fake and I seriously doubt the "long ago estate sale" claim. The tell-tale signs are everywhere. The lens is an obvious fake with the ring aperture adjustment and the engraving was apparently copied from a later production lens. A correct pre-war lens for German use would have said "Leitz Elmar f = 5cm 1 : 3,5". The locking/release tab on the lens has too few concentric rings. The lens also appears to be coated.

The body..... where to begin! The accessory shoe is not correct. The serial number is too far forward of the shoe but is in the correct Model II range. The film counter arrow is too far away from the dial. The "D.R.P." should be on the bottom, below the word "WETZLAR" and there's not enough room on a correct Model II for the Fl number to be engraved where it is. The front raised border around the viewfinder window is too thick and the part with the screw is too rounded. The rangefinder window bezels are not proper. The shape of the rewind release lever is not correct.

As someone has already mentioned, it may be a collection of just enough genuine Leitz parts to fool the neophile. The pictures of the camera almost seem designed to show enough detail to entice while trying to conceal the true nature of the beast. A real case of "caveat emptor" or "buyer beware".

Walker
 
It is a fake: the Elmar's with the old F-Stop scale are uncoated. If a shot of the DOF scale had been posted, you would see the later F-stop markings- same as those of the FSU lenses.

There was a Leica "deluxe" that was gold-plated and had snakeskin body cover rather than Vulcanite. I'll look it up in the 50year Leica book that I have at home.
 
doubs43 said:
Have a look and give your opinion of this piece. Is it a genuine Luftwaffe-issue Model II Leica...... or not? Explain why it is or isn't. http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-Leitz-Luf...607337756QQcategoryZ30030QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Walker
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In any case involving this sort of "collectible" camera, I'd say it's fake unless the seller can provide authenticating documentation that it's real.

This one seems especially obvious in that real military-property cameras (of any country) are very unlikely to have fancy finishes or coverings, just like other military hardware. Pictures I've seen of authenticated Luftwaffe Leicas (and Robots) seem always to show them in plain gray paint finish -- the Luftwaffe was too cheap even to spring for chrome, let alone snakeskin and gold!
 
If I had to guess, it looks like an early Fed 1 (from the shutter release) with a coated Industar (probably a 22) from a later Zorki. The only convincing looking part is the circular rangefinder cam. The overall finish on the metalwork looks so rough that it really can't be anything more than a fake - Leicas just don't look like that! The surrounds for the rangefinder windows are also pure Fed!
 
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