I am writing this knowing many will disagree with me, but that is fine. I think this subject is worthy of a look and discussion.
There are a number classic camera repainters who cater to the classic camera owner who desires their chrome camera to be black paint -- or any other paint color they please. Its not easy or quick to do a quality repaint on a classic camera, but is it VERY easy to do a bad job by making mistakes. The value of such a repainted camera is typically the same or only slightly more than than original camera, but the owner now has the pleasure of owning the camera in the color they desire. Such repaints are primarily utilitarian and don't add much to the camera's value unless the repainter is well known and popular.
IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CATEGORY ARE RESTORATIONS OF RARE COLLECTIBLE CAMERAS!
Before the internet camera world became popular and viable, say before 1995, serious camera collectors, especially the serious Leica collectors, would not touch a restored or repainted collectible camera with a ten foot pole. Repainted original black Leica M's or screwmounts were mostly viewed as abominations, and the owners who paid to have the restoration done as having much less than average intelligence.
That many decades standard viewpoint has curiously changed with the internet. Many experienced camera collectors passed on, along with their valuable experience. They were largely replaced by collectors who had a lot of money, but did not know how to spend it wisely. Add to that equation sellers who naturally want to achieve the maximum sale.
In this brave new internet world, to some newbie collectors who don't know any better, repainted and or cosmetically restored collectible Leicas suddenly have achieved desirability. Repainted cameras that long were worth less than half of the same camera unrestored have oddly been selling for more the originals! This strange scenario has made the newbie Leica collector very happy with their new treasures, and the sellers hysterically happy on the way to the bank by being greatly overpaid.
If you are a Leica collector, its your money and your collection so you are welcome to spend it any way you like. But think long and hard before you ever consider paying as much for a repainted collectible Leica as the same camera unrestored -- much less paying a premium for it!
Stephen
There are a number classic camera repainters who cater to the classic camera owner who desires their chrome camera to be black paint -- or any other paint color they please. Its not easy or quick to do a quality repaint on a classic camera, but is it VERY easy to do a bad job by making mistakes. The value of such a repainted camera is typically the same or only slightly more than than original camera, but the owner now has the pleasure of owning the camera in the color they desire. Such repaints are primarily utilitarian and don't add much to the camera's value unless the repainter is well known and popular.
IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CATEGORY ARE RESTORATIONS OF RARE COLLECTIBLE CAMERAS!
Before the internet camera world became popular and viable, say before 1995, serious camera collectors, especially the serious Leica collectors, would not touch a restored or repainted collectible camera with a ten foot pole. Repainted original black Leica M's or screwmounts were mostly viewed as abominations, and the owners who paid to have the restoration done as having much less than average intelligence.
That many decades standard viewpoint has curiously changed with the internet. Many experienced camera collectors passed on, along with their valuable experience. They were largely replaced by collectors who had a lot of money, but did not know how to spend it wisely. Add to that equation sellers who naturally want to achieve the maximum sale.
In this brave new internet world, to some newbie collectors who don't know any better, repainted and or cosmetically restored collectible Leicas suddenly have achieved desirability. Repainted cameras that long were worth less than half of the same camera unrestored have oddly been selling for more the originals! This strange scenario has made the newbie Leica collector very happy with their new treasures, and the sellers hysterically happy on the way to the bank by being greatly overpaid.
If you are a Leica collector, its your money and your collection so you are welcome to spend it any way you like. But think long and hard before you ever consider paying as much for a repainted collectible Leica as the same camera unrestored -- much less paying a premium for it!
Stephen
