What Model is it?

[andy_wagner1]

Can someone help me identify this camera? Its a mint black leica ser#30xxx, not a typo, 30 thousand.Top speed on it is 500 in the old increments ie 30,40,60,100. It came with an f2 summitar again old increments2,2.2,3.2,4.5 etc does have seperate range finder and view window. Thanks in advance

[Rob F.]

30 Thousand, not a typo? By the serial number, it would be a model

I. The problem comes in when you say it say separate range- and

viewfinder windows. Andy, the model I has no rangefinder. The

viewfinder resembles an accessory finder, clipped on top, not built

in. Even if it were # 300,000, it would be a "standard," and the

same comments apply. Question: does this camera have a full top

housing, with built-in range/viewfinder? If it does, something's

wrong with the serial number! A copy, perhaps? Can you post a

picture of it?

[wilhelmn]

Possibly a I factory converted to a II or III?

[andy_wagner1]

The view and range are integral as you would find on a 3c or

somthing. When I first saw this camera I misread the ser # and

thought it was 300thou making it a 3c. I picked it up for 50 bucks.

Upon closer insection and checking my resources I came up with a

model 1 also, but the range/view setup threw me for a loop too.

Unfortunatly I can't post right now, seems my scanner and computer

don't like each other.

[david_seaman1]

Andy,

Posting the FULL serial number would help positive identification.

[roger_michel]

as above, it is likely just a factory conversion. these are very

very common (as these things go).

[john_collier2]

A Russian copy?

[william_m._carson]

Hi Andy, I have a very similar camera: Mine is S/N 73XXX. It is

chrome. The shutter speeds are Z (Ziet for Time), 20, 30, 40 to 500 on

the top dial and T Time), 1, 2, 4, 8 & 20on the slow-speed dial;

notice that the top dial has a "Z" and the front dial has a "T" for

"TIME". This eliminates it as "Factory Original". It has the Infinity

adjustment on the ViewFinder Window. The Bottom Plate has both English

and Deutsch; auf-open and zu-close. I have been told that it is a

Gertman model II, originally black, that was converted to chrome and

the slow speeds added at Wetzlar. Mine is in almost Mint condition.

Does this agree with the evaluations that you have received on your

camera? Regards, Bill

[andy_wagner2]

the whole ser # is 30789. It's definatly not a copy. Top plate is

engraved Leica D.P.R. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar. Anyways thank you for all

the help. I'm going to push a roll through it and see what I get.

[andy_wagner1]

Bill yes it does. Looks like we're getting closer to solving this.

Thank you for the info.

[kelly_flanigan1]

The retired craftsman in the Ukraine live on little money. To make

extra money they produce leica clones.. There are thousands of

variations of these around; with different markings; serial numbers;

logos etc.....Do not be so sure that the camera is really a

Leica...These craftsman may create 1 camera per week and double their

meager retirement..send the photo to the leica copy experts that hang

out on the russian camera boards at www.beststuff.com ; they live and

breathe Zorki and FED cameras...Kelly