Wow! looky what I found! info anyone?

[Pakmanpdx]

So I was hanging out at home when I decided to go out for a quick cup of joe. I thought maybe I would go to a coffee shop further afield as I love their coffee and I could also haunt one of my favorite thrift stores. Lo and behold but what should be hanging out in the camera bins but a Zorki 4 w/ Jupiter 8 and a strange (yet familiar looking) Kardon with a 47mm Ektar with a focusing wheel and a tall shutter release. I had read a little online about the Kardons but wasn't aware how rare they seem to be. It is in pretty good shape; apperantly it's a military model from what I can glean online but someone has wiped the lettering off the back plate(!). The lens is in fantastic shape and the body fires pretty accurately it seems to my ear! I'm super excited but am thinking maybe it's worth a kings ransom and I should sell it? Anyone know anything about these beasts...it also has the original case and had a Leitz 5cm brightline (SBOOI) attached to the strap. (sorry for the crappy pictures BTW)

[photobizzz]

Not really sure about how much the Kardon is worth but the SBOOI is worth about $50-150 depending on how good shape it is in. PM me if you want to get rid of the SBOOI.

[emraphoto]

yup, it's worth a few bucks. i saw a BGN civillian version over at keh? (can't quite remember) for about $550. the millitary will fetch more. i also saw an original case for 250 BUCKS?!?!? wow!
SCORE!

[emraphoto]

does it have a millitary "badge" of sorts on the back?

[photobizzz]

I just looked up the Kardon Military and there is one going for $2395 from collectiblecameras.com! You may have really hit the jackpot! I would contact a few of the senior members like our bartender or LeicaTom for a bit of help so you dont get ripped off.

[emraphoto]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kardon-Cold-Camera-w-47mm-Ektar-lens-case_W0QQitemZ7631256995QQihZ017QQcategoryZ15234QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

double score!

[emraphoto]

http://www.ritzcam.com/catalog/index.php?category_id=530

[nikonhswebmaster]

These are funny cameras, I have never understood who wants them, or why, but they always sell easily, and bring a good price.

From the eBay sale @ $1400

The Kardon story is a sad tale of technical success accompanied by financial disaster. During World War II, Russian immigrant Peter Kardon of Brooklyn's Premier Instrument Company produced a US-made copy of the Leica IIIb that arrived too late in the war to recoup its enormous production expenses. A second chance for Kardon was the 1948 military-spec "Cold Camera" version of the Kardon, with overside advance knob and extended shutter release to allowed gloved operation (it also worked well in intense heat). It too was a technical success and a financial fiasco for Kardon, who collected less than ten cents on every investment dollar. This Kardon (#1398) comes with its standard 47mm f/2 Kodak Ektar lens #ES 1616 and leather ever-ready case with an owner's name irritatingly penned on the top. The shutter and rangefinder both operate, but the camera does need work to be A-OK. I have an estimate from camera restorer Ken Ruth for $255 (I'll fax it to bidders), covering "Correct stiff focus, adjust infinity focus shims, repair bottom of camera and its latching, adjust rangefinder, clean finder system, lubricate camera as needed." After all this time such repairs make sense for a camera that was manufactured at great loss by a patriotic immigrant determined to aid his adopted country in time of war.

[Pakmanpdx]

Thanks for the replies! Wow, I guess I did hit the jackpot..I figured it was worth something but had no idea it might be worth that much- too much money to shoot, thats for sure. and yes it does have a badge on the back but soweone took paint remover or something to it, as it just has a serial number on it, but it does hav the extra large wind knob and tall shutter release with no serial on the top plate. as for the 5cm brightline it looks "sweet" on top of my IIIc!

[LeicaTom]

Very kool.....I know a friend`s looking for one of these, so check out your email, I sent you his infos :)

Tom

[David Murphy]

Your camera is rare and valuable -- congratulations. I found a Leica I in a thrift strore $20 once -- the Kardon however is extremely rare.