a friend of mine (Frank Hermes, Dunlap, IL) Died recently. Just info I'm trying to get for his widdow. So far looks like about $3,000.00. Why so? Last of the screw-mounts?

-- j h lucas (j h lucas@sgt.grit.com), December 11, 2001

Answers

wow, are they that high now? i think the reason is that they were the last & best of the smaller screwmount design; also, coming out after the m3, they probably didn't appeal much to the hard users and tend to have been treated better than either an m3 or a IIIF, and while i've never paid much attention to production figures i suppose they're thinner on the ground as well.

rick :)=

-- Rick Oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), December 11, 2001.

I don't know where you got your information, but a IIIg body by itself is NOT worth anything close to $ 3000, unless perhaps it is totally new (never used) in the box with warranty. The actual value depends on several factors: 1) cosmetic condition (excellent is a meaningless term to a collector unless it is applied according to a very strict standard, eg., that adopted by the LHSA); 2) functionality; and 3) the presence of the original box, instructions, a case, etc.

Functionality includes whether the shutter is working properly at all speeds (including the slowest speeds), whether the VF and rangefinder are bright, and whether or not the camera needs needs a CLA to bring it up to specs.

Depending upon these factors, a IIIg body may be worth from about $ 1000 to $ 2000, with very few in such outstanding condition to be worth $ 2000. Of course if lenses and accesories are included, the package will be worth more, but each lens or other accessory will be judged according to the same standards. I know of no cases in which a IIIg body would sell for $ 3000 or anywhere close.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), December 11, 2001.

Ditto Eliot above.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), December 11, 2001.

Just saw a very clean, perfectly working one sell on ebay with a 50mm Summicron for $1250. Very common to see the body alone fetch just a tad over $1000 unless (like was stated above), it is basically in new condition. I'm curious where you came up with such a figure as $3000.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), December 11, 2001.

I purchased a IIIg body in Exc++ shape a few months ago. A mint one would bring $2000, maybe.

The only IIIg worth $3000 or more are the black Swedish 3 crown ones.

What lenses come with it?

-- Tony Oresteen (aoresteen@mindspring.com), December 11, 2001.

Hi, I purchased my own 111g camera in totally mint(9.95/10) condition with original box and instructions,plus a totally unused ERC in its own box,plus a 50mm f2.8 Elmar lens also mint with plastic bubble but no box for $US1,600 four months ago.

-- David Seaman (david@leicam.freeserve.co.uk), December 12, 2001.

In 47 years I've never won a lottery or anything of consequence so I have no trouble with my story. IIIg 35 Summaron, 50 and 90 Elmars, mint condition (insturctions, warranty cards but no boxes). All for $300.00 CDN (about $200.00 US - yes two hundred). Completely legal (our local university was getting rid of it and it had long ago been depreciated to no value). Eat your hearts out ;-) ..........

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001.

That's Bob's annual Christmas story, designed to make us all suitably sad. Boo Hoo!

-- Wuhluhm (bmitch@home.com), December 12, 2001.