War photographer's camera sells for £1.18 million.

[Airframes]

A camera used by 'Life' photographer David Douglas Duncan, was sold at auction in Vienna earlier this week, for a record £1.18 million ($1.9 million).An item in 'The Daily Mail' (UK) describes the camera, a Leica M3D-2, as only four made specifically for Press photographers, "who liked it because it was fast and nearly silent to use".
This example was used by Duncan during the battle at Khe Sanh, in 1968, and some of the photos taken then were included in the sale, to a private collector, at the Westlicht auction, in Vienna.
Maybe I should have kept my old Leica, and the Olympus pair I replaced it with .......
(Photo via 'The Daily Mail')

 

[A4K]

Damn. Should have kept my Leica too!

Don't understand how a camera could be worth so much, even if only 1 of 4 made.

 

[Crimea_River]

I have a couple of Pentax K's I'll let go for just 50 grand if anybody wants 'em!

 

[evangilder]

If cameras could talk, I am sure that one would have some amazing stories. While it seems a steep price, One of 4 made and it's provenance are what make it valuable. If it had been one of the other three that sat on a shelf, it would be worth a fraction of that.

 

[Gnomey]

If cameras could talk, I am sure that one would have some amazing stories. While it seems a steep price, One of 4 made and it's provenance are what make it valuable. If it had been one of the other three that sat on a shelf, it would be worth a fraction of that.

Exactly Eric, and what stories it would tell if it could talk.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

AMAZING!

 

[GrauGeist]

I heard stories about how the Germans would keep thier eyes open for the Leica cameras...there were prized even then.

 

[Wayne Little]

Fricken amazing!

 

[Lucky13]

Think my dad used to have a Leica, what a camera, what pics!