I have seen a SM camera labelled "Ernst Leitz" painted a briliant azure blue with an eagle on the cap of the collapsable 50mm3.5 lens(labelled Leitz Elmar)and carrying the word "Kriegmarine" which I know means Navy in German.

The price is way below the price of "real" Leics, so I suspect it is a Russian counterfeit. The dealer here in Singpore is very coy. When asked if it is a Leica, he says "It says Ernst Leitz".

It seems to be better built and finished, except for the gaudy blue paint than Zorkis or Feds but the price tells a lot. Is it a Russian copy? The focus square is VERY dull, but I have seen that on some Leicas as well.

I understand there is a narrow niche market for Leica copies and I wonder if this would be collectable in that world.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001

Answers

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

OOOPS, Sorry:

The heading of my posting should have been typed without the Caps Lock on. It should have been: Imitation Laicas"

Thanks

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

You bet it's a fake alright! I've seen several of such fake military Leicas in Hong Kong, and their owners are just collecting them for fun as these camera are not particularly expensive. They shouldn't be expensive; I mean, what's the point of paying Leica money for a Zorki in Leica skin? Anyway, check out these highly interesting articles from Stephen Gandy's website if you haven't already read them: fake Leica from Russia; more fake Leica from Russia; another one.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Thanks

OK, I was right-they are Russian counterfeits. Would one be worth about 150-170 US?

Shey Shey

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Might as well pick up a "Rolex" to go with it. Thousands of each of these copies were made, and at any given time you can usually find all sorts of them on EBAY.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Andrew:

I suspect that, but one of the links in Mr Lee's answer says these are all hand made by one guy. Maybe that is as much an Urban Myth as the fact they are Leicas.

Thanks, but I already have a "copy watch" and it keeps perfect time after 5 years & 2 batteries. Bought it for 10 bucks in Chinatown NYC. If I could get that kind of service and reliabilty out of a blue Kriegmarine Leica copy, I'd snap it up in a flash.

Cheerio & Thanks

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

I would be more interested in a fake, Russian made black paint M3.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Hey guys, this is hilarious!! Here's a site that sells exclusively Russian fake Leicas; check it out: vanilla copies; Luftwaffen copies; some really strange copies.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Oops, goofed on the last link; here it is: some really strange copies.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

I guess it isn't worth their while to Leica try and protect their copyright.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), July 27, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Has anybody used one of these fake Elmar 50/3.5? I wouldn't mind having a black one for my II(D) if they're decent at f:8.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), July 28, 2001.

Response to iMITATION lEICAS

Bill:

I saw one yesterdy in a shop in Singapore as a giveaway if I bought a IIIF. It had some fungus which is easliy cleanable and a can of black spray paint would do the black trick!!! The lenses are great, as you probable know. The 3.5 Elmar also mascarades as the Industar 50mm 3.5. Sorry, no Factory black copies tho'.

-- RICHARD ILOMAKI (richardjx@hotmail.com), July 28, 2001.