KEH 'bargain' grade M bodies?

[bean_counter]

Any experience with bargain grade M's at KEH?

Good users, worn out junk, consistent/inconsistent, or???

[Ken Ford]

*Great* luck with my M3DS!

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49481&d=1189307478

[thomasw_]

KEH is great with user Ms. Try it and then return it if it isn't useful or to your liking.

[grainhound]

Run film through it, & if it's not what you want or if there are problems, return it promptly. I didn't, & now have quite an expensive BGN M3 DS.

[leica M2 fan]

I have bought many items from KEH and am extremely satisfied with their equipment . Some have been graded excellent and are, indeed, excellent and others beginner, but I can't really tell the difference between it and excellent. All in all a great place to buy.If you aren't completely satisfied send it back , they are very easy to deal with.

[Ducky]

My BGN pentax lens looks like it just came out of the box.

[cole]

I can't speak for the BGN bodies, but I recently ordered a 50/2 Summicron-M from them which was rated at 'BGN,' and I literally found less than a few insignificant pecks on the finish. It functions flawlessly. I've had nothing but great experiences with them, and would highly recommend them.

[kingjon]

Keh grading is very conservative. Many times I've bought bargain grade that would pass for excellent in auctions on the bay. I think one of the regular posters here calls Keh's bargain grade equipment, new without the caps.....Buy with confidence.
Jon

[payasam]

I bought an Olympus digital SLR from KEH which was rated better than good. It is better than good. The "bargain" SOOFM hood I bought for a collapsible Summicron needed flat black paint on the insides of the leaves.

[marcust101]

I picked up a bargain graded M3 in perfect nick except for a couple of bits of vulcanite missing. It's worked for a couple of years without a flaw

regards

Marcus

[JNewell]

BGN is all over the lot. I've gotten BGN gear (best recent example, a v1 35mm black Summicron for $850) that was anywhere from what anyone else would call EX or EX+ to literally LN. However, I've also gotten a few BGN items that were truly at the bottom end of the range - so it can vary a lot. Unlike some well-known vendors, however, they're truly easy to deal with so - go for it.

[polaski]

KEH is a reputable dealer. If I were to buy a camera that old, I would figure in the price of purchase and the cost of a follow-on CLA. That's not a reflection on KEH, It's a fact of life as years go by.

[ferider]

Like Polaski said. I've bought from KEH a lot - there is always a reason for a BGN grading, sometimes not so obvious (like a hazy or separated viewfinder). But most of it can be fixed in a CLA. You can call them and talk to them, and they accept returns with no questions asked.

Roland.

[Mr_Flibble]

I've bought several BGN (and even UG) items from KEH, and though their exterior is marked by time they all worked and had clear glass.
If the optics or mechanics aren't optimal it always says so on their website or in their catalog.

And what I've heard from others their no hassle return policy is just what it says.

[haagen_dazs]

when customers return the item to KEH, i assume that the customers will pay for shipping the item back to them.
am i right?

[ferider]

when customers return the item to KEH, i assume that the customers will pay for shipping the item back to them.

Correct.

[totifoto]

I´ve bought 2 items on keh.com rated BGN.
Contax RTS slr body, it has a small ding on the topplate but it works 100%
120 Hasselblad back, it is missing paint on a few places and could work a bit more smooth but its nothing to cry about.
I will shop for BGN again at keh.com

[fbf]

I have bought many BGN grade lenses and camera bodies from KEH. I have only returned it once due to the ugly cosmetics. Will continue shopping in KEH w/o hesitation.

[haagen_dazs]

when customers return the item to KEH, i assume that the customers will pay for shipping the item back to them.

Correct.

Thanks Ferider
Then do the customers get refunded the full amount they paid or the amount minus KEH's original shipping?

[bean_counter]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll probably take the plunge.

I need to buy something before the wife finds my M slush fund...

[JNewell]

Thanks Ferider
Then do the customers get refunded the full amount they paid or the amount minus KEH's original shipping?

Just the purchase price. Shipping outbound and inbound is on the customer unless KEH made some mistake. This is standard practice here - not sure if that mirrors practice in other countries.

[PhotoJim]

I've yet to buy a Leica, but I've had good success with KEH.

I've had two problems:

- a BGN-graded Nikkor 135/2.8 AI-converted lens had a seized diaphragm. It's too bad; the lens was otherwise in terrific condition.
- a BGN-graded Nikon F4s camera killed batteries in only about a week, whether used or not. The camera was otherwise in good user condition with no obvious faults.

I've purchased quite a few other BGN-graded pieces from KEH. Each one had a flaw, but it was never horribly serious.

I've now come to prefer EX-graded equipment from KEH where practical (although the odd time, for example 120 backs for Bronica SQ cameras, the EX-rated backs are significantly more costly than BGN-graded so I go to the lower grade). EX-graded stuff is often in fabulous condition.

I just got a pair of EX+-rated 220 Bronica backs. I seriously suspect one of them was never used. I even think the film spool inside it is a Bronica one, not from a roll of film. The other has obviously been used but is in very nice shape.

Give KEH a try. I will probably buy a BGN-graded Leica from them one day.

[Thardy]

If a camera needs recovering or minor work, where would one send it? Roughly how much would it cost?

[thomasw_]

If a camera needs recovering or minor work, where would one send it? Roughly how much would it cost?

Recovering is easy peasy; do it yourself. Get them from cameraleather.com or from Aki Asahi. Minor work....depends what you mean? A cleaning, lubrication and adjustment?

[tbarker13]

I've always had very good luck with KEH. In fact, I've been trying to decide whether to add a film M body (after selling the two I had) as kind of a backup for my M8.
If I do, I figure I will either get one from another RFer or wait for a bargain-grade model from KEH.

[bean_counter]

Bargain grade M4-P is on the way! I'll run a test roll next week and report back on how things worked out.

Figures, I go to buy my very first M, and RFF is down all weekend....

[bean_counter]

Update -

Got it - NICE camera. 2 scuffs on the top plate and one on the shutter speed dial, the usual marks on the base plate, otherwise just fine, much better than I expected. Works flawlessly - focus is fine with the VC Nokton 50/1.5 close up and wide open, speeds seem just fine (tho I have yet to run a roll of chromes through it).

A big thumbs-up from me for KEH bargain grade M's

[Thardy]

Update -

Got it - NICE camera. 2 scuffs on the top plate and one on the shutter speed dial, the usual marks on the base plate, otherwise just fine, much better than I expected. Works flawlessly - focus is fine with the VC Nokton 50/1.5 close up and wide open, speeds seem just fine (tho I have yet to run a roll of chromes through it).

A big thumbs-up from me for KEH bargain grade M's

Please show the usual photos of the "new baby".

[thomasw_]

Sounds great cosmetically. Will you be sending it off to Youxin Ye to get it CLA'd? I highly recommend it. It will be money well spent ;)

[bean_counter]

Yeah, I'll get around to photos soon.

And no, no CLA until I play with it awhile first :D

[regularchickens]

My recent "EX" M2 purchase from KEH seems more like it should be a "BGN." Shutter speeds are all on (I did a reciprocity test) and curtains are perfect, but it's got a nick on top, brassing from a meter and tripod mount, vulcanite repair spots, a sloppily repainted back door, and other general brassing here and there. On top of that, the shutter button has started getting sticky - a day after the return window ran out. I'll be sending it to Youxin Ye next week for a CLA, but I've thought more than a few times about selling this body for one in slightly better order.

But complaints aside, it's been a fine user so far, and I'll save my lust for a nice, clean, metered body somewhere down the line.