Something for the very rich!

[Dez]

Here's a really beautiful black paint single-stroke Leica. Just gorgeous, but the price!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LEICA-M-M3-...a224f7b&pid=100276&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=332202940170

Is that how much something like this actually sells for? I think I'll just stay happy with my M5.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Robert Lai]

Henry Scherer gives this warning in his pages:
http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_frankenstein.shtml

"NEVER EVER BUY A CONTAX FROM A SELLER IN THE NETHERLANDS. DON'T DO IT. NEVER EVER DO IT. THE OPERATORS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TOTALLY DISHONEST AND PRODUCE NOTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL FRANKENSTEIN CONTAXES THAT ARE ACTUALLY KIEVS IN DISGUISE."

I know we're discussing Leica here, but that camera looks outwardly too perfect. I think it's been repainted. Who knows what it's like on the inside.

 

[Robert Lai]

Hmmm... I see some artful brassing has been done.
For the amount of wear on the shutter release collar, the area on the back of the camera where you should see wear from the thumb winding the lever looks pristine. Also, the shutter dial looks new.
And, the person who wore out the shutter collar so much apparently never rewinds his films. The rewind knob looks untouched.

Looks like a pastiche to me. But, they only need one sucker who has $62K to waste.

 

[Keith]

I know little about black paint M3s (as to whether this is genuine) but at sixty two grand you'd need rocks in your head to buy it.

 

[Keith]

Hmmm... I see some artful brassing has been done.
For the amount of wear on the shutter release collar, the area on the back of the camera where you should see wear from the thumb winding the lever looks pristine. Also, the shutter dial looks new.
And, the person who wore out the shutter collar so much apparently never rewinds his films. The rewind knob looks untouched.

Looks like a pastiche to me. But, they only need one sucker who has $62K to waste.

And the wear on the preview lever and self timer is kind of interesting also. A lot of selfies maybe? 😀

 

[Robert Lai]

At least they were thoughtful enough to put it in the correct serial number block for a 1963 black M3.

 

[maigo]

I've never held a Leica but...
using the eBay app on iPhone allows for very good zoom in.

What are the white lines around the flash connectors?
What are the black dimples in paint on outer edge of the advance lever?
The forward left edge of the shoe connector looks like some paint is unevenly spread.
There are four black screws that are on front face of camera. Why are they are different positions?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is absolutely an original black paint M3. The lens is original too. Even the lens cap is original. This lens cap - that fits the Summilux 35mm v1 - is very hard to get. This lens in black is super rare, a collectors dream. The price seems high, but these are two very rare items. So the price is about right.

The screws in this position are completely normal.
For the white lines around the flash connectors I have no explanation. Maybe dust? Reflection of the lamps?

The black dimples are the bubbling of the paint.

Erik.

 

[Chubberino]

Henry Scherer gives this warning in his pages:
http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_frankenstein.shtml

"NEVER EVER BUY A CONTAX FROM A SELLER IN THE NETHERLANDS. DON'T DO IT. NEVER EVER DO IT. THE OPERATORS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TOTALLY DISHONEST AND PRODUCE NOTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL FRANKENSTEIN CONTAXES THAT ARE ACTUALLY KIEVS IN DISGUISE."

I know we're discussing Leica here, but that camera looks outwardly too perfect. I think it's been repainted. Who knows what it's like on the inside.

Interestingly, I just sent my Super Nettel to a repair shop in the Netherlands for a shutter overhaul and general overhaul. Now I'm interested in seeing what I get back. I've seen both good and bad descriptions for the shop I sent it to, so we'll see.

 

[hamish_gill]

Seriously? Ignoring the camera for a second...
I'm not a frequent poster here, but I find it hard not to comment on this.
This is the second time in a matter of a few days I've read what basically amounts to racism on this forum.
Just because one guy somewhere says not to buy cameras from the Dutch, doesn't mean that all Dutch people are crooks! You can't write off an entire country because one resident of that country did a bad thing once to someone who then wrote about it online!

 

[sevo]

Henry Scherer gives this warning in his pages:

Henry Scherer is not exactly the person to turn to for facts - if any, it might be said that his mechanical skills are so excellent that they make up for his deficits in theory. He has been shown to be patently wrong on some of his more controversial technical opinions on Contax cameras, and seems to hate each and every competitor - I would not trust his opinions on them.

 

[Chubberino]

Seriously? Ignoring the camera for a second...
I'm not a frequent poster here, but I find it hard not to comment on this.
This is the second time in a matter of a few days I've read what basically amounts to racism on this forum.
Just because one guy somewhere says not to buy cameras from the Dutch, doesn't mean that all Dutch people are crooks! You can't write off an entire country because one resident of that country did a bad thing once to someone who then wrote about it online!

Yeah, it's an unfortunate side effect of casual bigotry. Not sure why it persists, but the internet makes it easier for dirtbags to express their dirtbag views.

Henry Scherer is not exactly the person to turn to for facts - if any, it might be said that his mechanical skills are so excellent that they make up for his deficits in theory. He has been shown to be patently wrong on some of his more controversial technical opinions on Contax cameras, and seems to hate each and every competitor - I would not trust his opinions on them.

In regards to him, his price quote for the Super Nettel was absurd. He also said after he repaired it, it would be worth upwards of $2,000. Those proclamations made me wary of his service offer.

 

[Scrambler]

I've bought a Leica IIIc from the Netherlands previously. It was a 1950 with classic flaking of the chrome, and the shutter was painted over with rubber cement. If I recall correctly the postage cost more than the camera. Overall it was sold at the right price. That is my "camera from Holland" story. I'm not sure it proves anything other than that you can buy a low value Leica at a low price.

Ebay is full of things at high price. This Leica may be well or badly priced. But this discussion does remind a little of Aesop's fox commenting on grapes.

 

[michaelwj]

I'm with Erik. Goggled M3 35/1.4s go for 3x as much as an M2 variant, around $3.5-4k. Steel rim black 35/1.4s go for $15k. I've never seen a black steel rim M3 35/1.4 before, but I'd guess they're rare and valuable and I'd guess upwards of $25k, with all the original extras as well. Add to that an original black paint M3, and the price is probably fair. FWIW, Leica shop have a BP M3 (repainted by Leica- not original BP) for €19k:
http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en...ck-paint/leica-m3-black-paint-sku28788-1.html
and an M2 steel rim 35/1.4 for €31k:
http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en...leica-summilux-1-4-35mm-black-sku21527-5.html
That's €50k and not as original or special as this kit.

I'm not trying to justify the price, just pointing out that it isn't a far fetched as it initially seems.

 

[Wouter2]

Henry Scherer gives this warning in his pages:
http://www.zeisscamera.com/articles_frankenstein.shtml

"NEVER EVER BUY A CONTAX FROM A SELLER IN THE NETHERLANDS. DON'T DO IT. NEVER EVER DO IT. THE OPERATORS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TOTALLY DISHONEST AND PRODUCE NOTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL FRANKENSTEIN CONTAXES THAT ARE ACTUALLY KIEVS IN DISGUISE."

I know we're discussing Leica here, but that camera looks outwardly too perfect. I think it's been repainted. Who knows what it's like on the inside.

I´m dutch and simply cannot let this go uncommented. I think it´s outrageous to classify sellers on the basis of their nationality. I really think mr. HS should be questioned on this.

 

[sc_rufctr]

It looks great but the swing tag bothers me... Considering the cameras age the ink looks to good.

 

[Lux Optima]

I think it's overpriced. At Westlicht in Vienna, widely considered one of the best places to buy and sell used Leicas in Europe, and where lots of internationally renowned auctions are held (http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=4), a similar M3 is offered for not even half the the price.
Frankly, the ebay M3 looks pretty much like the top was repainted in the 60s as well and simply isn't mentioned. Otherwise, look at the signatures of the controlling, everything looks pretty much the same and very fine to me. Except for the price.

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_de...ck-paint/leica-m3-black-paint-sku28788-1.html

 

[Chubberino]

I think it's overpriced. At Westlicht in Vienna, where I bought my cameras and where lots of internationally renowned auctions were held (http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?id=4), a similar M3 is offered for a third of the price.

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_de...ck-paint/leica-m3-black-paint-sku28788-1.html

that one doesn't have a rare lens with it does it? yeah that may be why there's a price difference. maybe.

 

[Erik van Straten]

I think it's overpriced.

Maybe the seller does not want to sell it, who knows? He will get much attention with this piece. Again, 100% original in my opinion. We are in an economical hausse. Prices will go up.

Erik.

 

[michaelwj]

that one doesn't have a rare lens with it does it? yeah that may be why there's a price difference. maybe.

I would say the lens is worth more than the camera, it could be worth over €35000 to the right person, plus €20000 for the camera and we are close to $62k...
To the right buyer of course. 😀