What should I do with this Leica Kit (M3 and lenses)?

Leica M3, Summarit f = 5cm 1:1.5, Elmar f = 9 cm 1:4, and Summaron f = 3.5 cm 1:3.5 with Leitz Wetzmar finder

What should I do with this Leica kit? The camera, an M3, was exposed to high heat in a house fire a couple of years ago. As you can see, the vulcanite finish fried and cracked. Or MAYBE the finish cracked before the fire — I've seen old Leicas that were never in a fire and still had similar skin problems. ;-)

I'm a Nikon / Fuji guy and not a film shooter, much less a film rangefinder shooter, so I don't know if any of the functional parts on the outside or inside were damaged. All looks OK to me but what do I know...

The lens that was on the body at the time is a Summarit f = 5cm 1:1.5. It looks to be fairly spotless, though I can see a slight depression on the edge of the subtly serrated metal ring all the way in the front. The other two lenses were in their original leather Leica cases and don't seem to have been affected at all by the fire/smoke. They are: an Elmar f = 9 cm 1:4 (telescoping design); and a Summaron f = 3.5 cm 1:3.5 with a Leitz Wetzmar double viewfinder attached.

All three lenses look surprisingly clean ...a few dust specks inside when I shine a penlight through them but no visible mold or front-element dings.

I have no way of checking out the functionality of any of these items but I'd like to find out if they still perform well — and if not, whether it would be worthwhile to have them serviced prior to either using or selling them. Obviously the finish on the M3 will have to be replaced, just for starters...

Any Leica enthusiasts want to weigh in? After the camera is refinished and if everything is found to be in good condition, what is the approximate value of the kit? Thank you!

Go to a Leica dealer and try it out on any M-digital and see if things work?? If there is no Leica dealer, ask a good camera store if they know of any local Leica M-digital users.

Donate it to a local photography school? Get a small tax break from it.

Best,

Steve

So, why can't you buy a $5 roll of film and take some pictures? Go to Walmart and get them developed as 4x6.

As far as value goes, go to eBay and look up completed sales of Leica M3s and those lenses to get an idea of what people are paying.

did you cycle the shutter to see if its working and reasonably consistent? if the winding mechanism is working and the shutter cocking when you fire the shutter at a very slow shutter speed you should hear an after wherr, Smell inside the camera if there is fungus it will smell bad. check the two curtains for holes or cracking or other damage. from the outside look it really doesn't look as if it suffered much in the fire but who knows. If after all the sniffing probing flashlight shining et al and the shutter is opening and closing when you push the go button, don't be cheap go buy a roll of slide film and test the lenses if for no other reason that to satisfy your curiosity. you might be surprised at just how good film can be.

quadraticadder said:

Donate it to a local photography school? Get a small tax break from it.

Best,

Steve

Click to expand...

I am a small charity donate it to little me

The vulcanite is fairly easily fixed

Do not let anyone talk you into selling it without talking to people to get a real value

TAKE SOME PICTURES!!!!!!!! The entire thread is mostly assumption and speculation.

In spite of their good intentions, it is dangerous to put film in it and test it.

Many photographers were inadvertently bitten by the Leica bug when innocently using a Leica M series and seeing the results, they never recovered. Don't be another victim.

If you really need to test it, keep copies in a small size and DO NOT try to compare them to other photos. It might put the seed of the doubt in your mind.