Near mint! 1931 BLACK LEITZ LEICA II with Nickel Elmar lens and leather case. Freshly Serviced CLA'd!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

There are times when camera collecting is incredibly difficult. It comes as moments when you’re asked simple questions like “What’s the best camera…?” or “Which is the most significant camera ever?” The brain starts working, the heart beats nicely and the mouth moves but if an answer appears at all… it’s a long and complicated one, full of design details, historical moments and personal rationalizations.

Fortunately answers come quicker when we are asked to feel more and think less…. Matters of the heart are easier to answer and to agree on. The eye and the heart have a directness and honesty that the brain lacks as it struggles to retain, comprehend and balance all the many details.

So here’s a simple question for the heart. What is the most enjoyable camera of the 20th century…? I don’t know about you, but I see the answer almost immediately. I can also feel it between my hands. And it’s a surprising answer because it runs counter to my technology oriented brain. What I see is not the most expensive, the rarest or even the most sophisticated. That evidently doesn’t impress my heart… which is why the heart and the mind are such a good match. They need each other for balance. The brain tells us what we think we need and the heart tells us what we want.

The most enjoyable camera ever….? I thought it would be a Pentax Spotmatic but it’s not. The winner is a screw mount Leica. It’s honest, it’s significant and above all it’s great fun to be with. The Leica is like the perfect partner that some of us search our entire lives for. It has that unique mix of something for the heart, something for the eye and something for the head. It’s that perplexing mix that insures we never tire of being close. And when you cradle it in your hands, you’re not simply picking up a camera… it’s more like being reunited with an old friend. A friend with rich sparkling stories of adventure and history, life and death, valor and treachery, lives and passion… And like a faithful friend it will go on and on recording our adventures, our children’s adventures and possibly be still there for our grand-children to enjoy and to remind them of our life, excursions and adventures.

This camera’s own life is long and colorful. The serial number indicates that it started its long journey of many roads and many years in 1931 as a Leica I. A couple of years later, it was returned to the factory for an expensive upgraded to match the specifications of the then new Leica II rangefinder. (In the 1930's you could arrange to have your Leitz dealer ship you camera to the factory for upgrades. However surviving examples of this expensive conversion are relatively few and far between, which makes them historically interesting and desirable.) The factory upgrade made focusing quick and easy and included a coupled rangefinder, the internal mechanism needed to support it and of course the lovely black lacquer top-cover to house it all. The Leica script, as well as all the other lettering is in absolutely stunning condition, which is usual for these nearly 100-year-old cameras. Naturally all the knobs and fittings, as well as the lens, are nickel plated which is also correct for this era.

It comes complete with a Nickel Elmar lens, a Leitz film take up spool and an original vintage leather case. 

Ninety-three years later this fine camera still works exceptionally well and it supports the idea that the more a Leica is used, the smoother it becomes. It’s an ideal camera for a photographer with historical interest (or a WWII reenactor) who wants to work and shoot with a vintage camera regularly.

This Leica has also been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted to help insure that it will continue working for many years to come. The shutter curtains run smoothly and are completely light tight and all shutter speeds are appropriate. The view finder is clean and bright. The coupled rangefinder image is easy to see and focusing works smoothly & accurately.

The early 3.5/50mm Leitz nickel Elmar lens is included. The glass is clean and clear. There are no scratches or cleaning marks. Focus and aperture moves smoothly and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and B&W films. (As with all prewar lenses we recommend keeping the sun to your back for best performance.)

All in all this is a wonderful collectable Leica. It’s the perfect company on your own search for that perfect picture, that perfect moment, when you discover that perfection isn’t about being perfect… it’s about being comfortable about yourself, your choices and following your heart.