What have we here? Fake? Double Fake?

[sparrow6224]

I didn't want to begin an inquiry into this camera while it was still on sale, lest one of you had his/her eye on it and would have been thwarted by someone drawing attention to it. It sold to 1 bidder for $75, so now I'm free to ask: what do the experts think of this? Even the seller conveded he thought it a fake but it looks different from all other Russian fakes I've ever seen. Course, I don't get around like I used to once. Here's the camera:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-35mm-...oIBvoxCmFLWudkpxMxW5I%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Have at it.

 

[lonemantis]

100% fake, no question. Others will probably see more signs, but first things I noticed were the rectangular window around the front viewfinder (should have a slope on the right side), wrong lens engraving, wrong aperture dial, wrong engraving style/colour, and wrong shutter release. This is a good reference: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-213.html

 

[Robert Lai]

Fake - no loading diagram on the bottom of the shutter crate. The shutter spring tension adjusters remind me of the ones on the Zorki 1 that I once owned.

This is besides all of the other external items that aren't Leica-like.

 

[zuiko85]

The winning and only bid is also a clue. If it's operating good enough to be a user it's a little cheaper than one from Fedka and while not a bargain is within current market prices.

 

[colyn]

It's a Zorki... Very common fake..

 

[johannielscom]

Easy to spot that this is a fake.

1: has 'ridges' along the top and bottom plate, in the 'vulcanite'. Not Leica.
2: has a rectangular 'window pane' around the viewfinder window that extends up all the way to the top plate surface. Not Leica.
3: Accessory shoe is fitted with three screws only while the IIIc that this is trying to mimic had four screws and also two spring-loaded ridges that press against the accessory installed. Not Leica.
4: Has a partly covered 'B' for rewind, instead of a fully visible 'R' that Leicas have.
5: Has incorrect internal springs and curtain tensioning screws, and film loading diagram indeed is missing. Not Leica.
6: Tripod bush is secured with three screws from the outside, while with a Leica the screw heads are on the inside. Not Leica.

The shutter release is standard for a Zorki, but those bowl-shaped shutter releases were available for Leica too, as an after-market accessory. They are mostly seen on Barnacks by both Leica and other brands that come for sale in the US. I suspect they were introduced with a Japanese Barnack copy and were a short-lived sales success in the US, nowadays they sometimes surface on all sorts of cameras.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Zorki and Industar. Nothing else.
Seller indicated in the description it isn't Leica.
Still need help to distinguish?
Here are two very reputable sources :
http://www.cameraquest.com/leica_II_fake.htm
http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page367.htm

 

[rfaspen]

Zorki 1D, and I believe an Industar-22, but I could be wrong on the lens (could be Fed 50, but not likely I-10)

 

[farlymac]

Definitely Zorki, and the the back and top engravings don't jive with each other (air force on the back, navy on the top).

PF

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Zorki 1D, and I believe an Industar-22, but I could be wrong on the lens (could be Fed 50, but not likely I-10)

Fed (I-10) has different, Elmar-like, aperture control ring.

 

[wolves3012]

Zorki 1D, and I believe an Industar-22, but I could be wrong on the lens (could be Fed 50, but not likely I-10)

Only the Industar 22 & 50 had that style of aperture ring. It's likely to be a 22, which would've been original with the camera but it could be a 50. Neither of them went to f/18 though, so that bit is a lie.