Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/04/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Brian I follow the old-camera market and do a bit of vending: such profits as I realize go to support my Leica habit. On grading: many collectors are, well, unreasonable and suspicious. I always try to grade down, and not up: I'd rather someone called me up and said, "gee, I was quite pleasantly surprised", rather than, "you dirty, cheating crook". Having had both sorts of calls, I'll opt for the former. (Oh, and I ALWAYS give a 10 day MBG, no quibbles, no questions asked. I expect the same when I buy.) Having said that, here's a rough guide for the industry standards: MINT: no visible wear. camera is completely functional in all respects. vulcanite is complete and in good shape. no wear marks on top or base plate. (I reserve MINT when I sell to items still sealed in their original box: that way, if the buyer is disappointed, he can't blame me!) EXCELLENT PLUS: Like MINT save that the most minute wear is allowed. EXCELLENT: Above average in condition given its age. Completely functional. EXCELLENT MINUS: about average for its age. Completely functional. VERY GOOD: below average, may have mechanical defects or missing vulcanite, &c. I'd recommend you have someone else grade your gear: we all overgrade our own stuff! As to values on a IIIf: these are retail, and a dealer would offer you about 60% of these figures: IIIf bd: $200 to $500 IIIf rd: $300 to $600 IIIf rdst: $500 to $1500 The IIIf rdst's are now the HOT collectibles, as there simply are very few IIIg's available any more. Hope this helps! Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!