Leica connoisseurs thrill at the chase, at discovering something new, at obtaining that perfect item to complete their system or collection. Behind Leica and other fine cameras there is a wealth of history.
The Connoisseurs Corner items are collectible and not necessarily warranteed. Older cameras might have shutter speeds and/or light meters that might need adjusting, and lenses and other optical items might require lubrication and/or cleaning.
The thrill of the chase begins (or perhaps ends) here...
The Hegelein Watch Camera, Nr. 381891 (81891). Also known as “Anthony’s Watch Camera,” this is the fourth known example in the world. Patented in 1894, New Yorker John C. Hegelein designed this subminiature pocket watch camera to take removable wooden plate holders for single-exposure film. The watch casing measures 2 ¼-inches in diameter, making it slightly larger than earlier examples. The front ring engraving around the meniscus lens reads, “THE WATCH CAMERA PAT’D AUG. 7. 1884 JOHN C. HEGELEIN. N.Y.”
A fascinating and ultra-rare piece of photographic – and American – history.
The Niko-Mar IV Underwater Housing set with the very rare Nikon FEA camera and motor drive, Sekonic meter and 18mm Nikkor f3,5 lens. This Niko-Mar IV underwater housing is one of only 50 pieces ever made in 1979, and these housings were delivered only to National Geographic along with the Nikon FEA camera. All Ex+
Brooks Veriwide 100 Nr. 5292433, with original front cap and Leitz 28mm Bright-line Finder engraved “Veriwide 100 Brooks New York.” Uncommon. Ex+
Leica M3 Single Stroke Nr. 1038917 in stunning Black Enamel finish. Recovered in modern vulcanite and recently serviced. Excellent +
Leica M3 Double Stroke, Nr. 709257. A very early Leica M3 camera, made in the first year of production, 1954. Ex+
Leica M3 Attrappe Nr. 12076A with 50mm Summicron f2 Collapsible Attrappe (without serial number). A very rare salesman’s sample or window display unit. VG
Leica M2 Motorized Button Rewind Nr. 931958 with E. Leitz New York Motor (recovered in modern vulcanite), body cover and base plate. Working and warranteed. Ex++
A pair of Leica M4 Black Chrome cameras, made in Wetzlar and sequentially numbered: Nr. 1381897 and 1381898. Complete in their original boxes - extremely rare and very fine. Recently serviced. Mint.
15mm Hologon f8 set Nr. 5736193 in its original box and apparently unused. With 15mm Spirit-Level viewfinder, Neutral Density filter, and even the complete and blank warranty card! Very rare, very desirable. Mint.
35mm Summilux-RF f1,4 Nr. 1765178, made for the Leica M3 camera - this is the fist version of the famous 35mm Summilux lens. Rare. This copy has a small ding on the rangefinder that des not affect performance. Ex+
50mm Summilux f1,4 Nr. 1703878 in original black enamel finish with caps and UVa filter. A stunningly clean example. Excellent ++
50mm Summilux-M f1,4 Titanium Nr. 3660939, complete in the box, Near Mint
Original "OLLUX" lens shade for the first 35 Summilux f1,4 lens. Rare. Ex++
135mm Elmar f4 Nr. 1892261 Short-Mount with Visoflex II reflex housing, 90-degree Finder OTXBO, adapter OUBIO and #16461 vertical Finder, all in boxes. Ex++
OROLF Screw Mount Lens Turret. Made in 1960, this is one of perhaps 250 ever made. Very rare. Near Mint.
Leica Standard, Nr. 222639 in black enamel with 50mm Elmar f3,5 Nr. 826229 with HFOOK (FOKOS) rangefinder. Lens and rangefinder are marked in Feet. All original. Ex++
Leica II Nr. 85302 in Black Enamel with Nickel fixtures, with 50mm Elmar f3,5, Nr. 179266. Recently serviced. Ex+
85mm Summarex f1,5 Nr. 593286 in very rare Black Paint finish. One of perhaps 276 black paint 85 Summarex lenses ever made. With original lens shade and nonmatching front cap. Engraved “Red Richards” who was a well-known auto racing photographer.
90mm Summicron f2 Canada, Nr. 1651497, in original Leica screw mount, with caps and UVa filter. A very rare and early 90mm Summicron lens made in 1959, it is one of less than 500 ever produced in screw mount. Excellent ++
Polarizing filter for the 50mm Summitar lens, with non-Leitz case. Very rare. Ex++
Lens shade SOOBK, for the 28mm Summaron f5,6 lens. Ex ++
Lens shade and aperture setting device VALOO. Ex+
VIDOM universal viewfinder in black and chrome finish, marked for 3,5cm 5cm 7,3cm 9cm 10,5cm and 13,5cm. Ex
Stereoly Stereo Device VORSA Nr. 2787 for screw mount Leica cameras, in original case. Ex+
MBROO water-tight Ever-ready case for the Leica IIIf, in good working order, but without rubber seal, Ex+
21 Super-Angulon-R f3,4 Nr. 2056107, complete with original lens shade and both caps. About 1,500 were made by Schneider-Kreuznach for the Leica SLR cameras. Recently serviced. Ex++
A rare and very clean display Leicaflex SL camera, commonly called an attrappe, after the German term. Ex++
Leica R3 Safari set Nr. 1469972 “E601” with 50mm Summicron-R f2 Safari Nr. 2879781, with ever-ready case, instruction booklet and Leica Safari literature. Very Good.
Exakta VXIIa, Nr. 852476 with Schneider-Kreuznack 50mm Xenon f1,9 Nr. 5700071, in Ever-Ready case. With Exakta waist level finder in its case and spare split-image focus screen. Camera engraved “U.S.S.R. Occupied” and the case marked “Made in Germany (East)” Ex ++
Deardorff 8x10 View Camera Nr. 6090. With original warranty card, film holders, and “f.64” backpack. A rare and very clean late-manufactured view camera. Ex ++
Plaubel Proshift 69W Superwide set Nr. 327931 with Schneider 47mm MC Super-Angulon f5,6 lens Nr. 13922431. With viewfinder, case, strap, cable release, instruction booklet and original boxes. Ex++
Plaubel Schneider Center Filter II for the Plaubel 69W Superwide camera. With case, box and instruction sheet. Very hard to find. Near Mint.