Leica LTM really? 20k "leica" ohhhhh... this must be a collector's item

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Im not sure, could be legit but if i had the cash i wouldnt buy because the sellers only been on ebay for a few weeks and has no feedback
 
Jake Mongey said:
Im not sure, could be legit but if i had the cash i wouldnt buy because the sellers only been on ebay for a few weeks and has no feedback
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Wanna buy a bridge, huh?

Nope, nothing legit there, it is a Zorki, in superficial make-up. They did not even bother faking up a Leica style finder window, just for a start.

And for future reference, that engraving itself proves it is not authentic, even if the camera were based on a genuine Leica. The official emblem of the 1936 Olympics has no resemblance to it, and did not even contain a swastika: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...36_berlin_logo.jpg/220px-1936_berlin_logo.jpg
 
There's a similarly priced Leica at KEH, which surprises me as they're usually upright with their pricing.

~Joe
 
I checked the serial # against this database http://www.summilux.net/numeros/index.php It says that the camera is a IIIa manufactured in 1936. Any smart forgery maker will make sure that the model #, serial # and date of manufacture will match up with a database like this, though; the fact that they add up according to this database in no definitive indication of authenticity.

This camera does not set well with my limited knowledge of Leica collectibles. The engraving is WAY off.

Also, the seller has an eBay track record of zero transactions. That's a HUGE red flag, given that the starting bid is $20,000 USD. And the posting says "seller does not offer returns."

I smell a rat...




UPDATE
I would bet money on it being a counterfeit. The viewfinder window is wrong both front and rear; take a look at these IIIa cameras and compare them to Zorki in drag in the eBay listing: http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/screw-mount/iiia.htm
 
noisycheese said:
I checked the serial # against this database http://www.summilux.net/numeros/index.php It says that the camera is a IIIa manufactured in 1936. Any smart forgery maker will make sure that the model #, serial # and date of manufacture will match up with a database like this, though; the fact that they add up according to this database in no definitive indication of authenticity.

This camera does not seit well with my limited knowledge of Leica collectibles. The engraving doesn't look right.

Also, the sell has an eBay track record of zero transactions. That's a HUGE red flag, given that the starting bid is $20,000 USD.

I smell a rat...
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nothing is right about this ---

"whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt" ~ Sam, Ronin
 
JoeV said:
There's a similarly priced Leica at KEH,
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Where?

Mind, there are 20k Leicas (there even are 200k ones). But the one here is not even a Leica. And while I have encountered collectors of Russian counterfeit Leicas, these won't even spend fifty on such a very common specimen...
 
Just having the name "LEICA" so poorly engraved on the top cover edge where it does not belong is worth the price of admission.
 
I've yet to see a legit Leica on eBay when the seller is out of eastern Europe. That's sad as I suspect there may actually be a few but they're being harmed by these fakers.
 
Disappointing. I haven't seen a really good Russian fake for a long time. A few years ago there were some really nice looking fake Leica Standards that required quite close scrutiny to tell they used to be Zorkis/FEDs. Come on all you fakers, put a little effort into it!
At least it isn't a FED 2C or some other camera that bears only a passing resemblance to a Leica.

Cheers,
Dez
 
Dez said:
Disappointing. I haven't seen a really good Russian fake for a long time. A few years ago there were some really nice looking fake Leica Standards that required quite close scrutiny to tell they used to be Zorkis/FEDs. Come on all you fakers, put a little effort into it!
At least it isn't a FED 2C or some other camera that bears only a passing resemblance to a Leica.

Cheers,
Dez
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Hi,

I've noticed a few 'pure' Zorkis given the black paint treatment so perhaps they are turning to that trade. A pity they don't set up shop offering these things instead of trying to flog them off to the unsuspecting.

Regards, David

PS The upside down 1.25 on the focussing scale is usually what I look for on fakes, then I start looking for the other details but it makes life easy looking there first.
 
It's not a Zorki, I don't think but it's certainly a fake. The wide bowl around the shutter release bears more than a passing resemblance to a FED 1(g) and I don't think that's a coincidence. Especially when the seller is in Bulgaria! Totally wrong engravings for a Leica too and brass not gold.
 
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