Leica Job Lot.....

[janrzm]

Well, it seemed like a "No Brainer" at the time.....

I've just returned home with a job lot of Leica gear for US$1500.00, I must admit it looked in better condition at the home of the seller but I'm still happy. So what do I have and what are the issues.

Leica M5 - Cosmetics good, Light Meter not working, Shutter is slow at all speeds and has what appears to be a small amount of mildew on it, also the viewfinder glass is cracked.
Leitz Wetzlar 35mm Summicron f/2 (219****) Exc++ No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the front and rear elements.
Leitz IROOA Hood 1:2/50 2.8/50 3.5/50 and 1:2/35 2.8/35 3.5/35
Leitz Wetzlar 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 (221****) Exc++ No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the front and rear elements.
Leitz 12575N Hood
Leitz Wetzlar 135mm Elmar f/4 (208****) Exc No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the rear element.
Leitz Wetzlar 35mm New Style Silver Brightline Finder Exc
Leitz Wetzlar Filters for the Summicron (Green/Red/Yellow/UVa/Polarising/CR1.5) All in Plastic cases.
Leia Meter MC Exc++ Working
Leica Meter MR Good Cosmetics appears to be dead
OUAGO 1:4/90 Exc++
2no 16464K Exc
16472K Exc
16471J Exc
M5 Manual
Brown Leather Camera Bag - Well Used....

Visoflex III Mint
Bellows Mint
What I would describe as a small grey briefcase (Not sure what this originally came in)

Leicaflex SL Good, Mirror appears to stick in up position.
Leitz Wetzlar 35mm Elmarit-R f/2.8 (220****) Exc++ No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the front and rear elements.
Leitz Wetzlar 90mm Elmarit-R f/2.8 (226****) Exc++ No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the front and rear elements.
Leitz Canada TELYT 280mm f/4.8 (229****) Exc++ No scratches or marks on the glass but there is the beginnings of fungus appearing on the front and rear elements.
14127 Adaptor Mint
Leitz Wetzlar 28mm 12 007 R Finder Mint in Box
12501 Hood Mint (I know there was an M3 and 21mm Lens in this set at some point)
12564 Hood Exc++
14134-1 Adaptor Mint with Box
Leicaflex Guide various other books.
Black Camera Case - Well Used....

I'd love to here what peoples thoughts are on this but more importantly I need the details of someone in NZ able to look at this glass, most importantly the 35mm Summicron f/2 which is a Type 1 I believe, took a couple of shots with it earlier on the M9 and they are stunning.

Cheers

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Owww! There seems to be a serious fungus problem where you live and perhaps extreme measures need to be taken (sealed boxes with dissecant, etc.).

The SL is a lovely camera, but might not be worth fixing (can be had for c. € 199 in Europe).

 

[janrzm]

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[TD="class: alt1, bgcolor: #CCCCCC"]By way of an update.....

Well, I decided to sleep on this last night.

Firstly, this may be down to ignorance on my part but the fungus, while slight is making me paranoid.....I have all manner of fantastic pristine glass in my M kit and I don't really want this stuff in the same house!!!

I am not a dealer, in fact I find it hard to part with anything camera related even when I have promised too do so!!!! However today I contacted a dealer I know.

I am keeping the Version I 35mm Summicron f/2 (Still needs a CLA) the Hood and filters. Plus the working M Meter. The rest I am letting go for the price I paid. At the end of the day I want to take photographs not get bogged down in this side of things. It's been fun and I have a great lens out of this little adventure. I probably wont get a find like that ever again.......

Thanks for the comments and feedback

Jason
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[janrzm]

Well I drove up to Auckland and had the whole lot looked at by an expert. So here's the good news, everything looks like it can be dealt with and the cost to do the work is considerably lower than I anticipated.


The bad news is I'm now talking myself in to keeping various bits and pieces and renaging on my initial promise to sell the majority of the items.......


My initial plan was keep the Version 1 Summicron and just let the rest go and get my money back. I'm now thinking along the lines of keeping these items also -

• 35mm New Style Silver Brightline Finder
• 90mm Elmarit f/2.8 (221****) - The 90 Elmarit is I believe an early version and from what I have read quite prone to flare, my current 90mm lens is the VC Apo Lanthar f/3.5. I wonder how these compare??
• Leitz 12575N Hood
• 135mm Elmar f/4 (208****) - 135mm is a focal length I rarely shoot, currently I have the Hektor f/4.5, I've read the Elmar is optically superior, worth keeping???
• M5 - I spent some time today cleaning this up, cosmetically it's in incredible shape with the exception of the issues I mentioned (Crakced Viewfinder Glass, Light Meter not responsive, Shutter Speeds, only the speeds below 1/30 appear too slow I would say and of course there is the fungus on the curtain) In all honesty I have never been a fan of the M5 in the appearance stakes but it is growing on me and its great in the hand......

Almost every time I look at this gear it surprises me, what I described initially as a "Brown Leather Camera Bag" is in actual fact a Vintage Hasselblad Pig Skin Bag and quite beautiful......


Any pearls of wisdom greatly appreciated!!


Cheers

 

[Steinberg2010]

The M5 is a great camera - get it sorted and use it before you make any decisions. It's...unconventional; but it's also a great user body.

~S

 

[Xmas]

I'd have them all serviced if they clean up their value >>$, should recover service $

90mm Elmarit f/2.8 (221****) - The 90 Elmarit is I believe an early version and from what I have read quite prone to flare, my current 90mm lens is the VC Apo Lanthar f/3.5. I wonder how these compare??

sell the Elmarit, the refractive index of glass in apo is much higher, = better off axis, unless you like single coated lens performance(SC), =lowercontrast pastel colours.

135mm Elmar f/4 (208****) - 135mm is a focal length I rarely shoot, currently I have the Hektor f/4.5, I've read the Elmar is optically superior, worth keeping???

yes keep Elmar but you wont get much for the Hector, even if mint, I'd sell both if not using 135mm.

M5 - I spent some time today cleaning this up, cosmetically it's in incredible shape with the exception of the issues I mentioned (Crakced Viewfinder Glass, Light Meter not responsive, Shutter Speeds, only the speeds below 1/30 appear too slow I would say and of course there is the fungus on the curtain) In all honesty I have never been a fan of the M5 in the appearance stakes but it is growing on me and its great in the hand......

close eyes sell M5 it has cult >>$ status

Almost every time I look at this gear it surprises me, what I described initially as a "Brown Leather Camera Bag" is in actual fact a Vintage Hasselblad Pig Skin Bag and quite beautiful......

if it has bad mildew id burn, or threat with leaher oil/wax and sell... you dont need fungus or mildew...

Noel

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

My 244**** 90mm Elmarit should be optically the same as yours.

I certainly wouldn't describe it as being prone to flare (about the same as a Zeiss-Rollei HFT 85mm, which should be among the best in that parameter).
I'm not sure about it being single coated either. In any case, it certainly *does not* have low contrast pastel colours!
It's generally a very high contrast/high acutance lens and one of the best short teles I have (I have quite a few): I very seriously doubt that the VC would do better in the corners, despite any "APO" labels...
In fact, several tests I read say the VC is actually fairly prone to flare.

 

[Xmas]

Hi

221xxx is from '66 and I don't think Leitz were multi coating in 66, at the least none of mine from that era were muti coated. Later lenses might indeed be multi coated.

Lots of people like the SC lens signatures, CV make their high volume lenses SC or MC to allow the customer a choice.

Not noticed my CV 90mm to flare, but that is subjective opine, e.g. depends on the scenario you use it in. Some of the Leica lenses were flare queens...

Noel