Leicaflex SL question

I have the opportunity to buy a Leicaflex SL (chrome) with a 50 mm

Summicron and a 200 F/4 in excellent to mint condiiton (always kept

in cases). I am very familiar with M camera and lens pricing but I

know very little about Leicaflexes, etc. Can anyone tell me what

this might be worth? Thanks in advance...Robbie

Low end around $650. The Leicaflex SL is a really rugged camera with an outstanding viewfinder. Given its age, it might need a CLA, and the meter recalibrated to accommodate modern, non-mercury, batteries. Doug Herr, the wildlife photographer, has been a strong proponent of the SL for a number of years. DAG did a great job on reconditioning mine two years ago when I was assembling a kit. The R lenses are generally excellent, albeit to the purist just a half step below the M lenses. If you like SLR cameras, there's not much to not like about an SL.

Robbie,

I think you will find the SL to be an excellent companion to the M system. I use mine for most 135mm and everything above shooting. For close-up (macro) the viewfinder is outstanding. The 2 cam lenses are available at very low Leica prices. One major word of caution. Look through the viewfinder very carefully without a lens. If you notice cloudy/seperation area or too many black/dirt spots, watch out! The problem is with the silver coating on the mirror and prism. The repair is expensive. Hope you located a clean one because you'll love this Leica. -- Sid

If you don't mind stop-down metering you can find old single cam lenses for next to nothing!

I've been using a Leicaflex SL that I bought in October of this year. I paid around $200 for mine, which I considered a steal. The camera was not too beat up, the meter and shutter speeds had been tested, and the camera had already been recalibrated to take 1.5v batteries. I've seen many cameras going for similar prices on e-bay, but many times they haven't been tested or used for a long time.

 

For a camera like the one I bought, I probably would have been willing to pay $350-400. If I found one that had recently had a CLA, I might have paid more. Hope this helps.

<< I have the opportunity to buy a Leicaflex SL (chrome) with a 50 mm Summicron and a 200 F/4 in excellent to mint condiiton (always kept in cases)>>

 

I don't know a lot about Leicaflexes because I don't collect them, but there's a huge difference in price between excellent and mint, and you didn't specify which item is which.

 

But for sure the 200/4 should be worth in five figures, since Leica never made one for production and I've never read of a prototype.

Thanks everyone and Vinay, Thanks for your expertise. Let's make that a 250 f/4. So the breakdown would be: How much for an excellent plus chrome SL body; How much for an excellent plus 3 cam 50mm summicron R; How much for an excellent plus 250 Telyt F/4. I am not collecting here...

Leica R lens price guide:

 

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