First: congrats. :) Second: What was the price of the Rolleiflex? :) Third: consider edit the video, the serial of the Leica is exposed in one shot and maybe some false owners could appear...
I think he's shaking because this is absolute made up bullshit. "The reason it took me so long to upload the video is because I scoured the webz with the serial number because this had to have been stolen!" Goodwill are not idiots in 2024 there's protocol on pricing shit and what to do when they come across items that are worth a decent amount of money. An M3 did not get taken to Goodwill, and even if it had, there's no way a big youtuber is the one who found it. THEN even if a big youtuber did happen to find the one M3 at a goodwill, there's no way that someone just priced it at $30. This story is made up.
I wouldn’t even bother trying to “find the family”. They donated it to the thrift for a reason. Many times they’re trying to clean up the estate of the loved one who passed. Best you can do is hang on to both and honor the legacy by using the gear and taking beautiful photos! Great finds!
Agree, and when you consider an estate (with someone who previously owned a Leica), they were highly likely very financially established. When you consider a 1k camera in comparison to a multi-million estate, it's pennies. Just enjoy the camera.
At first I was a little jealous of the two amazing finds you made, but your story and how you approached ensuring that they were not stolen was heartfelt and incredibly thoughtful. You are a very honorable man, and I am happy that you found these and that you intend to keep them together. Well done!
No reason to be Jealous, regardless if our Video Host did theft checks or not. Seems like you got some emotional issues to work out, if watching a Video of a Thrift Find is making you Jealous. If it can happen to him, it can happen to you as well. So instead of just sitting and stewing in your Jealousy, why don't you get out there and thrift around, or look at the Used Market online and see if you can find a treasure too.
I once stupidly tried to help someone who didn't know the significance of a black m2 + 50mm. I could have bought at a low price as they just wanted to get rid of a whole collection of cameras (incl rollei as well). Told them the real worth and then they went to a shop and got ripped off there anyway. Moral is I wouldn't expect the people who dropped these cameras off to appreciate them as much as we would, so just enjoy them!
WHATTT?!?! That’s the endgame of camera thrifting. It’s like finding a Birkin in the thrift store at the price of an extremely worn bag. Congrats on this find 🙌🏼.
The fact that this is your 335 Thrift episode just shows how hard it is to find such a camera during one of those searches. Cool to know you did though!
Also another great tip that i learned is go to rich cities to thrift 👍 i have found gems in more affluent communities than regular cities. Most well off people or retired folk just donate a lot of their top tier items. Cameras, clothing, decor 👏. Trust me this is a big tip!!
I had a similar experience a week ago, when my friends wife who is working at a college, contacted me, because the college was getting rid of all their analog cameras they had been lying around in a closet. Then she send me photos. It was a Leica M2 with two lenses and a Linhof super Technika IV 6x9 with 3 lenses. In the end I got these cameras for free. I also had my heart beating when I first saw the pictures. So I can relate to you and I can only congratulate you on these great cameras.
Awesome story and thrift man! I guess the original owner would love someone like you continue to use her/his camera. A few weeks ago I got myself also a M3 from a private sale, because the son wasn't interested in photography. We had a great chat and wanted to make sure this inherit M3 will continue to be used, when I bought it. The first image I took with my M3 was of the seller, the son of the M3 owner and after developing the film I sent it to him. It made him very happy to see the M3 continue to be used. I made and uploaded my own short video on YT about the story of my M3, but it really blows my mind and somehow honours me to be a owner of a Leica M3 I know the history, when and where it was bought and being the second owner after 70 years! Would love to see future videos about your M3 after it being serviced. You did your best to check, if it was stolen, but I also think your theory is correct, since it is very similar to my M3. Keep up your great work. Until now I was just a silence watcher :)
I agree with your assessment of someone getting old and the camera's being donated. Ultimately those cameras went to the right person. The previous owner would be happy. Subbed
Ended up going to a yard sale a little while ago and the guy was selling a camera from a professor in Arizona in the 90-60-70s. Had a talk with him because I love collecting cameras too. The guy ended up giving me a Minolta SRT102, a Cine-Kodak Magazine 8, a TDC Bell & Howell Stereo Vivid, and a Bell & Howell PZ3000. Then on top of that, a BUNCH of photos (with PanaVue things) from 1950-80 for 25$ lol. Definitely a steal!
Outstanding! My dad bought a Voigtlander Vito B in 1957 when he was in the Navy in Morocco. He and I used it until the early 1980s when I seized up. My son has it and plans on getting it fixed. I bought an identical one from a guy in Germany that is fully functional with the original case. It’s great.
I'm always on the lookout for a Leica find and have instructed my wife to always look for camera's and send me a picture when she finds one.. That's a heck of a find... Grats
I’ve been following you for a while man and you definitely deserve that awesome find! Especially after the way you were so thoughtful about finding a possible owner who may have gotten it stolen. Keep up the great work man!
So, I'm fortunate enough in my life to have owned some lovely expensive items. Things like luxury handbags or jackets, artists grade painting supplies, etc. But from my mother I also inherited this ingrained belief that if you aren't enjoying an item to its fullest, it is just sitting dead on your shelf. While I often resell items like these, I just as often decide the money has already been spent, and someone else deserves to enjoy them. That is the most important thing, is to not being greedy with your joy. I can't tell you how many very valuable items I've donated to goodwill just for the knowledge that someone might find a holy grail piece with shaking hands like you did. They probably think Im stupid for giving something like that away, but the point of owning wonderful things is to SHARE them. These cameras made it to you the way they did, and while it's admirable that you hope to return them to the original family... YOU are the one who saw their value when no one else did. You DESERVE this gift. You are worthy, just by seeing their beauty. Im so so happy for you, and you deserve this!
I went to an antique store today, and found a 1955 Zeiss Contaflex II with the leather case, for $40. Its very clean, and still works. Waiting on my 35mm film to come in.
Hey bud, I think you are quite admirable for being so considerate of someone's old cameras. I shoot as well, and seeing your sincere response to trying to find the original owner.. hit me in the feels. Keep carrying the flame :) Much love from the Pacific Northwest of USA.
As a Goodwill employee, I can tell you that we receive a lot of fascinating and valuable donations. Sometimes donors contact the store to reclaim their items, but other times, items like CIB video games, consoles, early-to-mid 2000s Pokémon cards, and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and audio equipment are left behind.
Absolutely unbelievable. That's the dream find, we all hope for. Glad to see that you tried to find out who the owner was. That's very honorable of you. I probably just would have enjoyed the camera and given it a new life at my side without really thinking about the possibility of it being stolen or anything like that. Thanks for widening my horizon on that matter. I will keep that in mind in case I ever find anything remotely similar.
I have a same stroy. I got into photography as an old man passed and we were cleaning up his house. unfortunately the camera was already taken or sold but I got a lot of gear for the Pentacon Six. So I went online and bought a broken Pentacon. It was a mess but eventually I did a clean, repair and lube and now it's working like a charm. Soon on I got more into photography and my life changed with it. Im very happy to still hold the gear of an old man and use it for my new hobby.
I truly respect the level of care you're showing for that camera, its photographer, and their family, but honestly, I think you'll take so much better care of that than they would have. I imagine they would have sold it to the highest bidder if they'd known. But again, respect your effort for sure.
Wow. What a find. I have been looking for an M3 1856 as that was the year I was born. Well done buddy. I’m so pleased you are going to be looking after it and honouring the former owner. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I find one here in the U.K. 👍🏼
Congrats on your treasures. We're cut from the same cloth. I, too, am a vintage camera collector and user of film cameras with over 1100 cameras, many types of lenses, and vintage photography books. Good luck in your next hunt!
I got an m3 earlier this year and it’s the greatest rangefinder I’ve ever used. I absolutely love shooting with both eyes open on the 50mm. As someone who has been using a rangefinder for a while now it was a transformative experience to be able to upgrade to it. Make sure you give it a good CLA.
Love what you do/did here!! Amazed at how "good" you are... very rare. The effort to find the owner is remarkable. More info and shooting results for BOTH is very welcome. I'msure everybody down below are saying..."Why doesn't this happen to me" I'm glad it happened to you. (Umm BTW that motivational speech was inspiring..headed out looking for gear)
Man what an incredible thrift find! I’ve always hoped something like this would happen, but I did get super lucky and have a family member who asked if I wanted some older cameras they had from a deceased relative. Got my Rolleiflex 3.5F that way and bought my DS M3, but man. What finds and great cameras.
Wow KJ, amazing find-- -$30?? for a Leica, that's literally a steal! killer deal, love your honesty in going down a rabbit hole with the serial numbers etc. awesome!!
Incredible man, what a dream come true. I like the lengths you went through as well to do the research and make sure it wasn't stolen or anything of the sort. I would've felt the same way 😂 too good to be true. love this and the way you handled it
My goodness, you are lucky to have so many second hand stores nearby and at the same time, they have many models of cameras. Here in my country there are few and the models are always the same... Enjoy it and keep looking for cameras, I do it because of you.
You've done your due diligence, which many would not have likely even thought to do. In the meantime, get it serviced and use it. It's something that has stood the test of time. Great video!
All I can say is wow!. Glad to see your the kind of guy to be honorable about trying to find out if it was hot and to seek out the original owner or family. That's really cool of you.
Congratulations on such a goldmine of a find, and kudos to you for your integrity and honesty. That speaks volumes to who you are and the love for the community of photographers that you have. You have my deepest respect! I would try to see if Leica itself has any leads. Maybe the original or last owner had it serviced or registered the camera with the warranty when it was first purchased. It's a long shot, but it's worth the try. I hope you find the owner's family and if not, enjoy!
There are no degrees of uniqueness, KJ.... unique is an absolute, and means, "no other like it"! A Leica?! I probably would have passed out on the spot!
I thrifted a Leica M9 about 2 months ago. The second I grabbed it and saw the red logo my heart dropped and my hands started shaking. Got it for $50, unfortunately needed the money and flipped it for $2k. Profit was really nice and I know I’ll NEVER get that lucky at the thrift again. Would’ve really loved to keep it and use it
Congrats on the awesome finds!!! Last January, when I needed to buy a film camera for Darkroom, I was lucky enough to get a Leica R3 because it and a lens were going to be the same price as a Nikon F3HP and a lens. When the R3 showed up, it was engraved with a name and year. Quick Google search turned up a former Leica employee a few hours away. I found them on Facebook and sent a message. No response, so I just focused on class and made photos. The day of the final critique a friend calls me asking about a camera that I might be interested in. I reply send me pictures. The pictures arrived of a Rolleiflex with original box, leather case and strap. Show my professor after class and he freaks, so I go get it for him to look over. Turns out it is a 2.8E. I got the camera for a awesome deal due to being a student, friend and was going to keep using it. Almost a year after messaging the person with their name on the R3, he responds. Turns out he’s tickled pink his camera is being used by a student. We still message each other and I share my work. Use the cameras and make new stories with them.
Thrift stores are awesome for finding hidden gems like cameras and other hard to find items. I’d be shaking too if I ever came across a Leica at a thrift store!
Haha, I felt that excitement through the screen 😂. Congratulations! I love thrifting, and always dream of finding something like this. I think someone passed away and left these behind as well, and it’s honestly pretty cool that they ended up with someone who appreciate them and understand what they are, like the previous owner did but their relatives didn’t :)
Glad to hear you’re gonna keep them and put them to good use, this is the way. My wife purchased a rolleiflex from a friend whose wife passed away, she was a photographer. The funds were donated to charity on her request so we all felt good about the transaction full filing her wish that the camera went to a good home for use and it raised funds for a good cause. Good on you for doing the right thing and looking around in case it was stolen but it seems more likely someone donated it without having any value for it even sentimental.
glad you got a nice thrift find! got mine a few months ago, exakta varex vx with a P. Angenieux 50mm type s21 lens, paid $125 and flipped it a month later for $9k! still kinda in disbelief about it lol
We have all dreamt of thrifting a Leica, you did it, living the dream! Totally understand the shakey hands, best camera thrift find ever caught on camera? 😄
Agreed, consistency and patience, gotta put in the work. The more you thrift the more opportunity! You could easily shoot an old folder. Find one that shoots 120 film, watch a RUclips video or two, and have a blast!
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! I think the previous owner of both of those cameras would like nothing better than to have you take some really nice shots with them.
You lucky bastard! I'm nearing my mid 50's and that NEVER happened to me! On the other hand, you're right about what often happens with belongings of people who passed away. Happens all around the globe...
Once some items reach a certain age, or come to represent an era, we're just the custodian, with the responsibility to care for them and make arrangements for them to be passed to those who will appreciate them. I have two cars, an antique radio, lots of antique guns, several 200+ year old maps, and of course numerous cameras that fall into this category. Wow, the way you attacked that Rollei case...ouch 😢
KING : this is a very nice video about the Love of a Legacy ; thank you for sharing. I have purchased Leica and my M3 is a Single Stroke , but with buddha ears .. very rare , the gentleman in ITALY purchased it through Bellamy Hunt at JCH then Bellamy had it CLAD by KANTO of Japan , then sent to the man in Italy , I now have this lovely SS Leica that is of a " run " of less than a year , very rare M3 that used the DS body and had updated inside built by LEICA for a very short time , my example has a new leatherette wrap applied by KANTO and the unit works better than my MA Leica , yes: BETTER it is indeed their best as the view finder is so bright and my 64 year old eyes can enjoy that beautiful finder ... I hope to pass the cameras I have on to children , or Grand children God willing. Ah , yes there are certain cameras that carry a heritage of love with them and indeed I also feel very blessed to have the opportunity to use a beautiful M3 from the 1950's . 🙏🏻
Congrats on the M3 and like you said, honour whoever owned it previously by making the best pictures you possibly can. Whoever donated it to the thrift had no idea or just didn't care. Nevertheless it's in good hands now. Good luck!
Watching this again. That FE2, and that Rollei 🔥.... Man I could only believe it once I got home and see the damn thing in my hands again for real🤣 10:41 The face of a happy, very happy man.
Thats exactly what I see every day at our store. Family members do know or see the value of cameras and just dump them on a store. Look just keep the cameras and do what the original owner would want and that is you use it to create more memories. Your hands were shaking and I het your heart was pounding out of your chest. Those cameras were meant to be yours. Just enjoy them, I know you will.
Enjoy them. i have donated my late father’s items (including cameras and lenses of some value) to goodwill hoping it will give someone a chance to continue to create photos with equipment my father loved.
Drop a like for more thrift videos! Hope you all enjoyed this one ❤
where is the thrift stores that you go and search for cameras? I’m curious to know 😮
First: congrats. :)
Second: What was the price of the Rolleiflex? :)
Third: consider edit the video, the serial of the Leica is exposed in one shot and maybe some false owners could appear...
How much did you buy Rolleiflex f2.8?
That's my Rolleiflex & Leica
You bought Rolleiflex for $49.99. Is that right?
Dude is shaking cause he ripped the shit out of that rollieflex case lol😅
I think he's shaking because this is absolute made up bullshit. "The reason it took me so long to upload the video is because I scoured the webz with the serial number because this had to have been stolen!" Goodwill are not idiots in 2024 there's protocol on pricing shit and what to do when they come across items that are worth a decent amount of money. An M3 did not get taken to Goodwill, and even if it had, there's no way a big youtuber is the one who found it. THEN even if a big youtuber did happen to find the one M3 at a goodwill, there's no way that someone just priced it at $30. This story is made up.
Yeah : Excitement 😂
The poor Rollei Leather case... bro please...🥺
This is exactly what I was thinking that shit was shredded 😂
Yeah that actually made me mad
glad i wasnt the only one who noticed
The family won't be happy when he returns the shredded leather ✌🙊
@@rayrayg9 🤣
the shaking hands has me weak omg 😭
I wouldn’t even bother trying to “find the family”. They donated it to the thrift for a reason. Many times they’re trying to clean up the estate of the loved one who passed. Best you can do is hang on to both and honor the legacy by using the gear and taking beautiful photos! Great finds!
I agree 100%.
Agree, and when you consider an estate (with someone who previously owned a Leica), they were highly likely very financially established. When you consider a 1k camera in comparison to a multi-million estate, it's pennies. Just enjoy the camera.
Exactly!
@@roundingcorners totally!!
I agree as well. The best we can do is to give a second or a third life to gears, else they would throw it into a trash
Dream find! This just goes to show that when you're thrifting for anything, the secret is to go consistently and regularly.
100% good stuff is there when you least expect it
I agree! When I go thrifting I never go with the mindset of looking for a specific item. That way I always keep my eyes open for unexpected finds :)
just like gambling
oh wait
Found a Brownie Beau blue like this, for $13 and a Contax 137 with a Zeiss 50mm f1.4 for $10
Seconds count.
I've walked into thrifts only to see someone buying an item I wanted.
C'est la vie😢
At first I was a little jealous of the two amazing finds you made, but your story and how you approached ensuring that they were not stolen was heartfelt and incredibly thoughtful. You are a very honorable man, and I am happy that you found these and that you intend to keep them together. Well done!
Yes.
No reason to be Jealous, regardless if our Video Host did theft checks or not. Seems like you got some emotional issues to work out, if watching a Video of a Thrift Find is making you Jealous. If it can happen to him, it can happen to you as well. So instead of just sitting and stewing in your Jealousy, why don't you get out there and thrift around, or look at the Used Market online and see if you can find a treasure too.
@@Cocytus It was just a joke, man. Relax.
A stolen leica doesn't end up in a thrift shop!
I once stupidly tried to help someone who didn't know the significance of a black m2 + 50mm. I could have bought at a low price as they just wanted to get rid of a whole collection of cameras (incl rollei as well). Told them the real worth and then they went to a shop and got ripped off there anyway. Moral is I wouldn't expect the people who dropped these cameras off to appreciate them as much as we would, so just enjoy them!
WHATTT?!?! That’s the endgame of camera thrifting. It’s like finding a Birkin in the thrift store at the price of an extremely worn bag. Congrats on this find 🙌🏼.
Facts Lmaoo I would never buy a camera from a thrift again, that’s the white whale
The fact that this is your 335 Thrift episode just shows how hard it is to find such a camera during one of those searches. Cool to know you did though!
Hell yeah bro. You deserve this. Remember, good things happen to good people. Love ya, dude.
Also: bad things happen to good people; good things happen to bad people.
People go to pawn shops with stolen stuff not thrift stores. That thought of “it might be stolen “ doesn’t even make sense.
Also another great tip that i learned is go to rich cities to thrift 👍 i have found gems in more affluent communities than regular cities. Most well off people or retired folk just donate a lot of their top tier items. Cameras, clothing, decor 👏.
Trust me this is a big tip!!
Video was good but your character is what made it special. Subscribed 👏
I had a similar experience a week ago, when my friends wife who is working at a college, contacted me, because the college was getting rid of all their analog cameras they had been lying around in a closet. Then she send me photos. It was a Leica M2 with two lenses and a Linhof super Technika IV 6x9 with 3 lenses. In the end I got these cameras for free. I also had my heart beating when I first saw the pictures. So I can relate to you and I can only congratulate you on these great cameras.
Whoa that is nuts.
Awesome story and thrift man! I guess the original owner would love someone like you continue to use her/his camera.
A few weeks ago I got myself also a M3 from a private sale, because the son wasn't interested in photography. We had a great chat and wanted to make sure this inherit M3 will continue to be used, when I bought it. The first image I took with my M3 was of the seller, the son of the M3 owner and after developing the film I sent it to him. It made him very happy to see the M3 continue to be used.
I made and uploaded my own short video on YT about the story of my M3, but it really blows my mind and somehow honours me to be a owner of a Leica M3 I know the history, when and where it was bought and being the second owner after 70 years!
Would love to see future videos about your M3 after it being serviced. You did your best to check, if it was stolen, but I also think your theory is correct, since it is very similar to my M3.
Keep up your great work. Until now I was just a silence watcher :)
Dude, you hit the freakin lottery!!!! I've literally had dreams that went like this LOL.
Your due diligence is really commendable. Well done for being honest and lovely.
so much respect bro. What you did with the search was admirable. Now yours to own and love throughout the years.
I agree with your assessment of someone getting old and the camera's being donated. Ultimately those cameras went to the right person. The previous owner would be happy. Subbed
Having some kind soul like you find this camera, and using and loving it, is probably the best thing the family of the previous owner could hope for
Ended up going to a yard sale a little while ago and the guy was selling a camera from a professor in Arizona in the 90-60-70s. Had a talk with him because I love collecting cameras too. The guy ended up giving me a Minolta SRT102, a Cine-Kodak Magazine 8, a TDC Bell & Howell Stereo Vivid, and a Bell & Howell PZ3000. Then on top of that, a BUNCH of photos (with PanaVue things) from 1950-80 for 25$ lol. Definitely a steal!
Dude I'm shaking FOR you!!! You are such a stand up guy for trying to find the original owner. So happy for you, you truly deserve it.
Outstanding! My dad bought a Voigtlander Vito B in 1957 when he was in the Navy in Morocco. He and I used it until the early 1980s when I seized up. My son has it and plans on getting it fixed. I bought an identical one from a guy in Germany that is fully functional with the original case. It’s great.
I think that's beautiful dude. They found who they were meant to.
still fucked up how you ripped the top off that rollei case
Shit happens. If you can't forgive yourself how are you going to forgive someone else?
I'm always on the lookout for a Leica find and have instructed my wife to always look for camera's and send me a picture when she finds one.. That's a heck of a find... Grats
ive been out of the film game for a while now, just getting back, first video in a very hot min, bro is looking GOOD. glow up is fire
I’ve been following you for a while man and you definitely deserve that awesome find! Especially after the way you were so thoughtful about finding a possible owner who may have gotten it stolen. Keep up the great work man!
So, I'm fortunate enough in my life to have owned some lovely expensive items. Things like luxury handbags or jackets, artists grade painting supplies, etc. But from my mother I also inherited this ingrained belief that if you aren't enjoying an item to its fullest, it is just sitting dead on your shelf. While I often resell items like these, I just as often decide the money has already been spent, and someone else deserves to enjoy them. That is the most important thing, is to not being greedy with your joy. I can't tell you how many very valuable items I've donated to goodwill just for the knowledge that someone might find a holy grail piece with shaking hands like you did. They probably think Im stupid for giving something like that away, but the point of owning wonderful things is to SHARE them.
These cameras made it to you the way they did, and while it's admirable that you hope to return them to the original family... YOU are the one who saw their value when no one else did. You DESERVE this gift. You are worthy, just by seeing their beauty. Im so so happy for you, and you deserve this!
That’s pretty cool of you
Real
We need more people like you in this world. I am a fan now.
I went to an antique store today, and found a 1955 Zeiss Contaflex II with the leather case, for $40. Its very clean, and still works. Waiting on my 35mm film to come in.
Hey bud, I think you are quite admirable for being so considerate of someone's old cameras. I shoot as well, and seeing your sincere response to trying to find the original owner.. hit me in the feels. Keep carrying the flame :) Much love from the Pacific Northwest of USA.
As a Goodwill employee, I can tell you that we receive a lot of fascinating and valuable donations. Sometimes donors contact the store to reclaim their items, but other times, items like CIB video games, consoles, early-to-mid 2000s Pokémon cards, and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and audio equipment are left behind.
kind heart of you. keep it up! every camera, in itself, has a life of its own. quite noble you think of it that way.
Absolutely unbelievable. That's the dream find, we all hope for. Glad to see that you tried to find out who the owner was. That's very honorable of you.
I probably just would have enjoyed the camera and given it a new life at my side without really thinking about the possibility of it being stolen or anything like that. Thanks for widening my horizon on that matter. I will keep that in mind in case I ever find anything remotely similar.
I have a same stroy. I got into photography as an old man passed and we were cleaning up his house. unfortunately the camera was already taken or sold but I got a lot of gear for the Pentacon Six. So I went online and bought a broken Pentacon. It was a mess but eventually I did a clean, repair and lube and now it's working like a charm. Soon on I got more into photography and my life changed with it. Im very happy to still hold the gear of an old man and use it for my new hobby.
I truly respect the level of care you're showing for that camera, its photographer, and their family, but honestly, I think you'll take so much better care of that than they would have. I imagine they would have sold it to the highest bidder if they'd known. But again, respect your effort for sure.
Wow. What a find. I have been looking for an M3 1856 as that was the year I was born. Well done buddy. I’m so pleased you are going to be looking after it and honouring the former owner. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I find one here in the U.K. 👍🏼
Congrats on your treasures. We're cut from the same cloth. I, too, am a vintage camera collector and user of film cameras with over 1100 cameras, many types of lenses, and vintage photography books. Good luck in your next hunt!
This vid speaks volumes about your honesty, integrity and love of these vintage cameras. What a find. Well done.
I got an m3 earlier this year and it’s the greatest rangefinder I’ve ever used. I absolutely love shooting with both eyes open on the 50mm. As someone who has been using a rangefinder for a while now it was a transformative experience to be able to upgrade to it. Make sure you give it a good CLA.
Love what you do/did here!! Amazed at how "good" you are... very rare. The effort to find the owner is remarkable. More info and shooting results for BOTH is very welcome. I'msure everybody down below are saying..."Why doesn't this happen to me" I'm glad it happened to you. (Umm BTW that motivational speech was inspiring..headed out looking for gear)
So happy for you man. I understand why you went above and beyond to justify your intentions etc but there's really no need - you deserve this. enjoy!
Daaaaaaaaaaang, absolute grail find. But dang man, mad props to you to have done so much leg work to make sure it wasn't stolen gear. Congrats!!!
Such a nice person you’re. Heartening. God Blessed
I love seeing your passion for cameras, we’re all just a bunch of dorks
Man what an incredible thrift find! I’ve always hoped something like this would happen, but I did get super lucky and have a family member who asked if I wanted some older cameras they had from a deceased relative. Got my Rolleiflex 3.5F that way and bought my DS M3, but man. What finds and great cameras.
Wow KJ, amazing find-- -$30?? for a Leica, that's literally a steal! killer deal, love your honesty in going down a rabbit hole with the serial numbers etc. awesome!!
I don't know why but seeing your hands shake from excitement made me excited too LOL. Great video brother!
Incredible man, what a dream come true. I like the lengths you went through as well to do the research and make sure it wasn't stolen or anything of the sort. I would've felt the same way 😂 too good to be true. love this and the way you handled it
My goodness, you are lucky to have so many second hand stores nearby and at the same time, they have many models of cameras.
Here in my country there are few and the models are always the same...
Enjoy it and keep looking for cameras, I do it because of you.
You've done your due diligence, which many would not have likely even thought to do. In the meantime, get it serviced and use it. It's something that has stood the test of time. Great video!
Great finds! And your mission with these cameras is phenomenal.
I respect and appreciate your ethics. God blessed you with these cameras. Put them to work and make the person who provided you the blessed proud.
All I can say is wow!. Glad to see your the kind of guy to be honorable about trying to find out if it was hot and to seek out the original owner or family. That's really cool of you.
The way you were shaking! God i love that feeling! The find! How lucky are you!
Once got a Hasseblad 500c/m for about 200 and a Yashica 124G for 50. Those were my best deals.
30 bucks for a Leica M3 is BEYOND insane.
Congratulations on such a goldmine of a find, and kudos to you for your integrity and honesty. That speaks volumes to who you are and the love for the community of photographers that you have. You have my deepest respect! I would try to see if Leica itself has any leads. Maybe the original or last owner had it serviced or registered the camera with the warranty when it was first purchased. It's a long shot, but it's worth the try. I hope you find the owner's family and if not, enjoy!
There are no degrees of uniqueness, KJ.... unique is an absolute, and means, "no other like it"! A Leica?! I probably would have passed out on the spot!
I have an MA and a M6, but my everyday is a M3…the greatest Leica of all of them. Rolleiflex 2.8f. Amazing find.
BRO U DESERVE THIS FIND! good shit you hunted that - manifested - conquered.
I thrifted a Leica M9 about 2 months ago. The second I grabbed it and saw the red logo my heart dropped and my hands started shaking. Got it for $50, unfortunately needed the money and flipped it for $2k. Profit was really nice and I know I’ll NEVER get that lucky at the thrift again. Would’ve really loved to keep it and use it
The real dream find is that Guy Fieri shirt at 1:17 😅
Awesome find, good on you for trying to do right by the original owner! Enjoy the camera🎉
Glad they found their way to you, no better person to take care of them and give them new life.
Congrats on the awesome finds!!! Last January, when I needed to buy a film camera for Darkroom, I was lucky enough to get a Leica R3 because it and a lens were going to be the same price as a Nikon F3HP and a lens. When the R3 showed up, it was engraved with a name and year. Quick Google search turned up a former Leica employee a few hours away. I found them on Facebook and sent a message. No response, so I just focused on class and made photos.
The day of the final critique a friend calls me asking about a camera that I might be interested in. I reply send me pictures. The pictures arrived of a Rolleiflex with original box, leather case and strap. Show my professor after class and he freaks, so I go get it for him to look over. Turns out it is a 2.8E. I got the camera for a awesome deal due to being a student, friend and was going to keep using it.
Almost a year after messaging the person with their name on the R3, he responds. Turns out he’s tickled pink his camera is being used by a student. We still message each other and I share my work.
Use the cameras and make new stories with them.
Thrift stores are awesome for finding hidden gems like cameras and other hard to find items. I’d be shaking too if I ever came across a Leica at a thrift store!
never change brother
Haha, I felt that excitement through the screen 😂. Congratulations! I love thrifting, and always dream of finding something like this. I think someone passed away and left these behind as well, and it’s honestly pretty cool that they ended up with someone who appreciate them and understand what they are, like the previous owner did but their relatives didn’t :)
Love this! Camera Karma is real, bro. I hope you make beautiful images with that Leica.
Glad to hear you’re gonna keep them and put them to good use, this is the way. My wife purchased a rolleiflex from a friend whose wife passed away, she was a photographer. The funds were donated to charity on her request so we all felt good about the transaction full filing her wish that the camera went to a good home for use and it raised funds for a good cause. Good on you for doing the right thing and looking around in case it was stolen but it seems more likely someone donated it without having any value for it even sentimental.
glad you got a nice thrift find! got mine a few months ago, exakta varex vx with a P. Angenieux 50mm type s21 lens, paid $125 and flipped it a month later for $9k! still kinda in disbelief about it lol
We have all dreamt of thrifting a Leica, you did it, living the dream! Totally understand the shakey hands, best camera thrift find ever caught on camera? 😄
Holy cow! Lucky bugger! So happy for you. I love your take on them and your desired to treasure them. ❤
Agreed, consistency and patience, gotta put in the work. The more you thrift the more opportunity! You could easily shoot an old folder. Find one that shoots 120 film, watch a RUclips video or two, and have a blast!
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! I think the previous owner of both of those cameras would like nothing better than to have you take some really nice shots with them.
Duuuude, congrats 😁 Of all people who put in the hours & miles rolling the thriftstore dice, you deserved this strike 💪
If you find a Kodak Retina IIIC make sure to snag it! They're super cool rangefinders! Old but gold!!!
You lucky bastard! I'm nearing my mid 50's and that NEVER happened to me!
On the other hand, you're right about what often happens with belongings of people who passed away.
Happens all around the globe...
Brah shaking! Haha such a dope find brother
Once some items reach a certain age, or come to represent an era, we're just the custodian, with the responsibility to care for them and make arrangements for them to be passed to those who will appreciate them. I have two cars, an antique radio, lots of antique guns, several 200+ year old maps, and of course numerous cameras that fall into this category.
Wow, the way you attacked that Rollei case...ouch 😢
Amazing finds, and give them a very good CLA so will be perfect for the next 20 years.
The cameras were passed to a worthy holder mate. Power to you!
Honestly your reaction to finding those two cameras was the same as I'd have if all my numbers came up in the Lottery. 😆
yoo!! i’ve been waiting for this moment since the first time i watched you. nice find man and hope you can find the original owner in the future!
Ok... I thought this was fake but looking at how your hand shakes when you see the Leica... that can't be faked. Bravo!
KING : this is a very nice video about the Love of a Legacy ; thank you for sharing. I have purchased Leica and my M3 is a Single Stroke , but with buddha ears .. very rare , the gentleman in ITALY purchased it through Bellamy Hunt at JCH then Bellamy had it CLAD by KANTO of Japan , then sent to the man in Italy , I now have this lovely SS Leica that is of a " run " of less than a year , very rare M3 that used the DS body and had updated inside built by LEICA for a very short time , my example has a new leatherette wrap applied by KANTO and the unit works better than my MA Leica , yes: BETTER it is indeed their best as the view finder is so bright and my 64 year old eyes can enjoy that beautiful finder ...
I hope to pass the cameras I have on to children , or Grand children God willing. Ah , yes there are certain cameras that carry a heritage of love with them and indeed I also feel very blessed to have the opportunity to use a beautiful M3 from the 1950's . 🙏🏻
I know the original owner is smiling on you with this video! Props buddy.
You bring honour to our community - thankyou.
Congrats on the M3 and like you said, honour whoever owned it previously by making the best pictures you possibly can. Whoever donated it to the thrift had no idea or just didn't care. Nevertheless it's in good hands now. Good luck!
Watching this again. That FE2, and that Rollei 🔥.... Man I could only believe it once I got home and see the damn thing in my hands again for real🤣 10:41 The face of a happy, very happy man.
Thats exactly what I see every day at our store. Family members do know or see the value of cameras and just dump them on a store. Look just keep the cameras and do what the original owner would want and that is you use it to create more memories. Your hands were shaking and I het your heart was pounding out of your chest. Those cameras were meant to be yours. Just enjoy them, I know you will.
Insane 🙈🫠 congratulations to you!! 🎉
It’s the shaky hands for me. What a find! Congrats Jonathan!
Sooo nice of you to check to see if it was stolen gear. that is monumental! Congrats on your new pick up !
Absolutely wild find! Thought you might pass out you were shaking so much.
Enjoy them. i have donated my late father’s items (including cameras and lenses of some value) to goodwill hoping it will give someone a chance to continue to create photos with equipment my father loved.
That second thrift store was dope. What nice employees.
what about the Rollei? you destroyed the case anyway. how much was it?