Cost for IIIf ST

[joe_kallo]

Sorry for the banal nature of this question, but what would a good price for a

IIIf self timer in user condition be? It has no major dings but looks like it has

led a very active life, no dings or major scratches, but the vulcanite kinda

looks smoothed from use like Winogrand's last M4 as seen on Stephen

Gandy's site (if you haven't seen it go check it out--incredible). There is a

service sticker in the base plate from '98, but the 1, 1/2 and 1/4 speeds are

sorta sticky. Rangefinder seems fine. The guy (a friend) wants $350 for it. I've

checked ebay, but there has been nothing similar sold recently. Thanks all.

 

Joe

[vic_.]

Joe, try browsing at www.ritzcam.com They have an extensive selection of all kinds of cameras and are a good source of price estimation. I don't know if they're at the higher end or not, but it's better than nothing. Click on "View our online catalog."

[jean_david_borges2]

Joe,

 

IIIf's have been surging in price lately, at least on e-bay, perhaps spurred by the high cost of the g's. I have seen mint+ examples there well bid at $500.00. Figure a CLA at about $150-200.00 and you'll have the real cost. As to the appearance, unless you plan on it sitting in a curio cabinet, it should not be a great factor. I'd offer 250, settle at 300.

 

Jean-David

[al_kaplan1]

If you can live without those slow speeds go for it. They might loosen up anyway with exercise. But if he's not a reader of this forum (and won't see this post) offer him $250.00. Might just get it for three bills even!

[mike_elek]

Joe, about six weeks ago, I bought a very clean IIIf (no self-timer) for $385 with the 50mm f/2.0 Summitar. There is a small amount of brassing on the slow-speeds dial. All of the speeds run smoothly.

 

Given that, maybe $350 is a bit high. I'd probably tell him $275 or $250, because you will need to put some money into it to get it back into shape. The CLA cost shouldn't be unreasonable, but it's not free either.

 

Here's my IIIf:

http://host.fptoday.com/melek/pages/cameras.html

Click on the Leica link.

[roger_michel]

you cannot compare non ST iiif prices with ST prices, the latter

commands a premium of 100% in many cases, even more for

really mint examples. iiifST prices soared when the iiig prices

soared a few years ago. it was seen as a poor man's iiig (which

it is). as iiig prices have tumbled, so too has the iiifST come

down. a mint minus example can still fetch 5-7C or more, a nice

user body is well worth 300-350. these are really great

cameras, and with the availability of tons of new LTM glass, very

usable. don't let a good one get away for thye sake of $50. and

remember, the more you pay for it, the more you will like it.

[skip_williams]

A couple of months ago, I sold two IIIf, Red Dial, Self Timer bodies. One with the old slow speeds & a red dial for $425 and another with the newer slow speeds for $400. The cheaper one needed a CLA, as the speeds were off and should have brought $500. The other was almost perfect. $350 is an average price, IME, especially if it needs a CLA. As someone else mentioned, the ST models command an unfair premium, IMO, as they don't offer significant functionality differences over the IIIf BD's without the ST. But they do look prettier.