Leica Ernst Leitz

How much does this camera worth?

Leica D.R.P Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Germany
NO.519178
I don’t know what the model is, above is the only info on that camera. The condition is good.

That depends.
Which model of Leica? How old is it? What condition is it in?

Okay, this should help ID it. It’s a IIIc from 1950. So all that’s left is the condition. How’s it look?

This forum might help:
http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Ew3p
This lists serial numbers and models:
http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmnum.htm

Some prices on ebay:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=leica&_kw=iiic&_ckw=1950&_trksid=p3286.m104.l1198

Leica Ernst Leitz M3 BLACK Repainted Rangefinder MINT- $2,250.00

LEICA DRP Ernst Leitz Wetzlar # 401376 $2,000.00

DRP LEICA IIIC ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR SUMMITAR LENS CASE $988.99

Leica GmbH Ernst Leitz Wetzlar + Summicron f=5cm 1:2 $890.00

Leica Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Camera $499.00

Camera Leica IIIa 1938 #274727 Ernst Leitz Wetzlar $450.00

LEICA ERNST LEITZ SUMMICRON 5CM 1:2 DR LENS 50MM 2 $409.99

LEICA f-9cm 1:2 Ernst Leitz Summicron Chrom LENS $399.99

Ernst Leitz Leica Trinovid 8×20 BCA $305.00

OLD LEICA DRP ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR 35MM CAMERA & CASE $295.00

ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR lens ELMAR 90mm f:4 camera LEICA $280.00

1955 LEICA Ernst Leitz 1954 M3 Double Stroke DS CAMERA $227.50

GENUINE ERNST LEITZ LEICA WETZLAR ZOOM FRAME VIOOH $199.99

LEICA ERNST LEITZ Macro Elmar 90 mm F4 Macro Lens $189.50

Ernst Leitz woody box for Leica camera $140.00

German Leica lens SUMMAR ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR $138.57

GERMAN ERNST LEITZ LEICA CAMERA MACRO ADAPTER – R 14256 $120.00

LEICA ERNST LEITZ SUMMICRON 35 mm f/2 wide angle lens $102.50

Leica Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Hektor 13.5cm 135mm f4.5 lens $74.99

GERMAN ERNST LEITZ LEICA CAMERA E 55 YG GREEN FILTER $70.00

LEICA ERNST LEITZ GmbH WETZLAR 5 CM FINDER W/CASE $51.00

Leica Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Elmar 50mm F2.8 Collapsible $21.50

VINTAGE LEICA DRP ERNST LEITZ Nr. 661842 CAMERA IN CASE $20.99

LEICA ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR BOOWU 4 COLLAR COPY UNITS $14.99

Bottom-Half of Ernst Leitz Lens Case Leica $4.99

1959 Leica M-3 camera ad, Ernst Leitz Inc. $4.99

1960 Leica M-3 camera ad, Ernst Leitz Inc. 35mm $4.99

1959 Leica M-3 camera ad, Ernst Leitz Inc. $4.99

1975 Leica camera ads, CL, SL2, Ernst Leitz Inc 2 sided $4.99

1976 Leica camera ad, Ernst Leitz Inc., Leica R3 $4.99

1975 Leica camera ads, CL, SL2, Ernst Leitz Inc. $4.50

Leica Cameras derive their name from a shortening of “Leitz Camera”. While on the staff at the Leitz Wetzlar Factory in 1911, Oskar Barnack set out to create a portable camera. The Wetzlar works dated back to 1849, founded by Carl Kellner, a mathematician and optician, for the purpose of developing lenses and microscopes.

Barnack had begun his career as an engineer at Carl Zeiss lens manufactory at Jena. He actually conceived of the Leica camera design as early as 1905, but for many years the design existed only in his brain. He made a 1914 photo with his ur-Leica, a compact predecessor with a retracting brass lens, that chronicled the coming of World War I. The picture depicts a German soldier posting an early mobilization order from Kaiser Wilhelm.

The result of his work formed the basis for the 35mm camera. Together with the highly-acclaimed lenses developed by Max Berek, the Ernst Leitz Company, located in the small German town of Solms (near Frankfurt), was able to bring the new Leica Camera to the commercial market in the form of the Leica I at a trade show at Leipzig.

When the Leica I was introduced, photographers were accustomed to lugging around suitcase-sized photography paraphernalia. The cameras enclosed used 13 inch by 16 inch plates, rather than the present-day 35mm film on rolls.

Because these portable cameras were so small and lightweight by current standards, Leica cameras were at first perceived as toys for a lady’s purse. That first impression was soon dispelled when the public came to appreciate the stunning images the camera produced and their extreme durability.

Carl Wolff, who bought the company in 1926, is largely credited with expanding the fame of the Leica brand. Leica was also famous for high-quality binoculars, dating back to 1907. Leica camera sales totalled 90,000 by 1932, and a million by 1961.

These rugged cameras were witness to two world wars, often from both sides of the conflict. Not only the Americans, but also the Russians, were fond of the Leica in World War II. The Soviets viewed the Leica as a guilty pleasure, despite its capitalist “fascist” origins. Ironically, many of The Leica family were Jews.

Russian Aleksandr Rodchenko, also a sulptor and a painter, shot many memorable pictures, including the 1934 “Girl with a Leica”. Fellow Russian, Ilya Ehrenburg, created a series of 1930’s images that depict the raw underbelly of France between the World Wars.

In the 1930’s, French painter Henri Cartier-Bresson migrated his art to photography. The means of his transformation was the Leica camera. His often candid black and white photos are among the finest in the illustrious Leica legacy.

The famous Times Square kiss on V-J Day was shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt on a Leica.

Photographers the world over have praised various Leica Cameras, such as the Leica I, Leica M3, Leica M3, and later the Leicaflex SL (its first SLR camera). Enthusiasts have made the brand a cult favorite, to the extent that a Leica Number 107 test market model from 1923 sold in 2007 for a world record price of nearly a half million dollars US.

About the Author:

Lawrence R. Bell is Editor for The Antiques Bible (

http://antiques-bible.com
). The Antiques Bible is an illustrated glossary of antique terms with helpful links to related resources.

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