Leicavit

Is the price only 345,000 yen? I'll take two! ;-)

-- Bert Keuken (bkkn@wanadoo.nl), November 12, 2001

Answers

Black paint ones are especially rare in mint condition. If it is an original finish and not restored, it would be a very rare find.

Cheers.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 12, 2001.

That's 2,871.71 USD according to the Currency Converter (www.xe.com).

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), November 12, 2001.

Bert

I couldn't connect on that link. But i can tell you something about Leicavits. The screw mount versions (for IIIf and IIIg) are more common than the bayonet mount versions (for Leica MP and Leica M2). You can get a working SM Leicavit for $ 600-1200, depending on the cosmetic condition. The vast majority are engraved Leitz Wetzlar. The ones engraved Midland Canada are much rarer.

The Leicavit-MP (bayonet mount) is another story. These are all rare. Chrome versions (working) often sell for $ 2500-3000; and black paint versions for even more ($ 3500-4000). That is for an original black paint Leicavit-MP made to match the balck paint MP and M2. The problem is that some of the chrome ones have been converted to black paint by stripping off the chrome and applying paint to the underlying brass. I think this may be true of the black paint Leicavits that are in really nice cosmetic condition, since most of the original black paint units (like the cameras and lenses from that period) were heavily used by professionals.

If you are a user, all this is relatively meaningless. You can get a modern version of the Leicavit (called "rapid winder") for a few hundred dollars from Tom Abrahmson. The price varies according to the camera model and finish. But that price you quoted does not seem out of line if it is for an original working Leicavit-MP in reasonably nice condition.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), November 12, 2001.

Eliot here's a link to the picture. Leicavit MP I don't know if it's an original or a repainted one. It sure does look nice. I'm aware of the availability of Tom's RapidWinder. It's a pity the site is in Japanese only, they sell some very nice stuff. Kikuya.

-- Bert Keuken (bkkn@wanadoo.nl), November 12, 2001.

If you can find underpriced Leica collectibles in Japan, I would say save your money and buy the Brooklyn Bridge from me for the same price.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), November 12, 2001.

Bert

I see the item you are referring to is a black paint Leicavit-MP. Based on the price and the apparently excellent cosmetic condition, I would suspect this one was "born" chrome and was later repainted, either to enhance value or appearance. When chrome is tripped down to the brass and repainted, many smaller flaws in the chrome are removed, so the item actually looks newer than it would otherwise appear. Of course deep gouges that go down to the the brass would not be erased by this process. It is also possible that this is an original black paint Leicavit-MP that simply had the paint refurbished (less likely).

Some people like the appearance of refinished Leica items. I, as a collector, would prefer the original finish as it left the factory, even it is heavily used or beat up. The same thing is true of the original black paint Leitz bayonet mount lenses (eg., 50/1.4 Summilux, seen in versions I and II). Most of these lenses were heavily used by professionals and have extensive or complete brassing. I always suspected that the ones that appear in near mint condition have had the paint refinished.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), November 13, 2001.