User opinion on Kevin Cameras [Archive]

waileong

05-24-2005, 14:37

Very responsive seller. He responded to all my queries by email before I bought. Much of his stuff is overpriced, but he does have some user stuff that's more reasonable.

Wai Leong

don't know yet...i just purchased a canon 35mm 1.8 from him...i'll let you know if it arrives safe and sound :)

i've been emailing him throughout the transaction and kevin seems responsive with questions and emails

furcafe

05-24-2005, 20:16

I've purchased a few items from him & had no problems. Communication was good & prices were fair. Not much more to say. I'm in the U.S., but don't see how the experience would be much different assuming you used standard forms of payment (credit card, PayPal, etc.) & didn't require any special handling.

Doug

05-25-2005, 13:54

I've had one transaction with him that went well. He does seem to concentrate on more expensive items, and the quality matches the price!

back alley

05-25-2005, 15:06

I've had one transaction with him that went well. He does seem to concentrate on more expensive items, and the quality matches the price!

i think that's the key. the quality is there and he did all the legwork.
as a buyer, if i want some pristine piece of gear without the hassel of looking for it myself, i can go there and get it.

some times that seems like the more economical route.

joe

Per

05-26-2005, 08:52

I bought a Canon 50/1,8 from him, delivered to Sweden. No problems at all, good communication and prompt shipment.

xcapekey

05-27-2005, 11:16

i just received my canon 35mm 1.8 from kevins camera....excellent description as described...definitely reputable and good to deal with...

Tom M

08-05-2005, 13:28

Tried to buy from him in July 2005 but he wouldn't take visa only paypal or mailed in check so I didn't purchase. He was nice on phone though. Web site was a bit confusing to get around but had best pictures of items on the web. He also had more hoods than anyone elese I've dealt with. I would consider a future pay pal purchase.

ddimaria

08-05-2005, 14:09

I've had great experiences with Kevin. Highly recomend. The stuff he sells is clean.

roundg

08-05-2005, 20:17

I bought one lens from Him. Very smooth deal and good communication.

wlewisiii

08-05-2005, 20:28

Does "I drool on my keyboard everytime I make the mistake of looking at his Contax listings" count?

:D

William

Honu-Hugger

08-05-2005, 21:21

I have had a different experience with Kevin Cameras; he sells under "Kevin Cameras" and buys under "Kinche 1;" he keeps his "Kinche 1" feedback private and quite likely for good reason. A friend that also collects Alpas has had three items returned by Kevin and I know my friend and his auctions -- he is fair, honest and a stand-up guy. He's been too kind in allowing Kevin to return the items he has. I sold an Alpa lens that was clearly described as a good user condition lens with minor coating marks but still an excellent performer. Kevin paid a low price for the lens and then wanted to return it: the real problem was he paid fair market value for it and didn't steal it for a song like he usually does -- he buys cheap under "Kinche 1" and then sells very high under "Kevin Cameras" -- he's been blocked from placing any further bids on my auctions.

back alley

08-05-2005, 21:28

that's an interesting bit of 411.

x-ray

08-06-2005, 05:07

I purchased a older 90mm sm elmar and had a very good experience. All brokers buy low and sell higher. That's how you stay in business. Fair dealing is another matter however.

My particular favorite over many years of dealing on leica and nikon gear has been Jim Kuehl in Des Moines. Jim buys fair and sell low and has always represented his equipment as it should be. If I remember correctly Jim was previously a Leica rep and knows his equipment. I've purchease and traded equipment and never had any issue.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

www.x-rayarts.com

FS:

Imacon 343 Mint

Epson Pro 1680 scanner Excwww.ellent condition

Mazurka

08-06-2005, 14:06

Does Jim Kuehl have a website? All I can find is his address and phone number.

ddimaria

08-06-2005, 15:10

Kevin will also entertain offers lower than his list prices. He IS a dealer afterall.

flamingo

08-06-2005, 15:24

My experience with "Kevin" was negative. I attempted to negotiate a fair price for a 35/2.8 Summaron lens that he had outrageously overpriced and he had it in his 3rd round listing with no buyers. Yes the lens was mint- (according to him), but he just would not budge on the buy it now price.
I ended up buying the same model and vintage lens from another person on the 'Bay for almost half the price Kevin wanted to charge. Granted the lens was not "mint", but a $125 trip to Focal Point in Colorado brought it back to me minty, and I still ended up saving almost $200 in the long run over "Kevin". So , needless to say, "Kevin" is off my list.

Jim Kuehl, on the other hand, is a joy to deal with. He only deals over the phone, the "old fashioned way", as he describes it. His prices are more than fair and the condition of the items he sells are impeccable, sometimes new in the box.

Honu-Hugger

08-06-2005, 15:41

I have dealt with Jim and recommend him highly -- first rate all the way. If you deal with Kevin go in with your eyes wide open -- he sells higher than anyone else I am aware of and if he gets it more power to him, it is a free market afterall.

Here's an example I found amusing: Kevin had a used 100/2 Kinoptik for $3500 firm (I called); Karl Heitz sold the same lens brand new (with warranty) for $3900, going rate for used is ~$2800. Why buy from Kevin?

x-ray

08-06-2005, 15:54

Jim Kuehl does'nt have a website unfortunately. He has advertised in shutter bug for many years and often gives much better prices than advertised. He's a first rate guy and has some unusual items from time to time. Just recently he had a 105mm mountain elamr listed. I've probably purchased twenty thousand dollars in equipment from him over the years.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

Stephanie Brim

08-06-2005, 16:22

Where in Des Moines is he? When I go looking for my M finally, that's a good, close place for me to go. I can just walk into his shop. ;)

andrewch

08-06-2005, 19:17

Kevin is responsive to queries, and very conservative with his grading. I bought an 8 element 35mm Summicron from him recently, which he described as having pristine glass and 98% mint. It turned out that it was almost mint except a tiny rub mark on the barrel. I highly recommend him.

PaulN

08-07-2005, 05:16

I purchased an EX+++ 50mm Rigid Summicron from Kevin, and after an hour of use, I was finding paint chips all over the room. Apparently the lens was "touched up" by the previous offer. I ended up returning it to Kevin, but I was still out shipping. That one experience has tainted my view of his operation. If he is a collector and can perform CLAs as I was told, he should have noticed that the entire lens barrel was coated in cheap silver paint. I got my $$ back, so things could have been worse, however.

The lens is still on his site though, no remarks on paint chips, just a tiny 1mm coating mark under the letter 'z'.

Ronald M

08-17-2005, 06:33

Jim is wonderful guy. Please mention my name. Ronald Moravec.

515 225 0110 phone

515 226 0295 fax

If you are lucky, the phone will not be busy. Send him a fax with your phone # and list of what you want. He will check inventory and call you back.

He has much more than that listed in Shutterbug.

Shipment are normally done the same day UPS ground. I get mine the next day.

SolaresLarrave

08-17-2005, 06:54

I contacted Kevin about a lens I wanted to buy. Not immediately, of course. After some e-mails, I saw the lens surface on eBay and it sold.

Was I mad? You bet! :( However, he's a dealer, out to make money. However, when he thought I was going to buy the lens he told me he'd take CC payments over Paypal.

BTW, it was an Elmarit 28/2.8 at $725, with hood (cracked) included. You guys know that Elmarits go for a lot more, without the hood.

Oh, well... I'll keep checking his website anyway, because some of his offerings, however pricy, sound really nice.

I've heard of Jim Kuehl a lot in P.net. I think I'll fax him in a couple of months. And, of course, I'll mention your name, Ronald (I've seen you post in the Leica forum in P.net! :) )

darkkavenger

08-17-2005, 07:05

I guess you've got czech origins, Ronald! Your name is very common here in Czech Republic *giggles*

Joseph Low

01-09-2006, 18:18

Can you please share the coordinates of Jim Kuehl - I live in Singapore

Thanks - Joseph Low

rpj

07-07-2009, 17:52

This thread is a little out of date I think. Jim Kuehl is no longer in business, I understand. Either retired or in ill health. I have purchased from him in the past and gotten very good service, but I understand that is no longer available.

januaryman

07-08-2009, 04:16

Well, it's an old post thread, but since I've bought from him, allow me to say that although I had thought the 28/3.5 Canon lens was overpriced at the time, it was an absolute gem, immaculately clean, perfect glass, very smooth if not the smoothest lens I own. If I had bought this lens elsewhere, I fully expect that a CLA and extra cost would have ended up being a worse deal and more hassles. Kevin deals in quality gear. Remember that when looking at his stuff.

Bill58

07-08-2009, 10:00

I wish I knew someone who could put a new, curved front glass in my Canon 28 VF! Any ideas?

benmacphoto

07-08-2009, 11:32

I'm sorry, he describes items as being mint but mentions flowering separation or slight cleaning marks. In my book that is not mint. A "mint" lens should not have optical flaws, other wise its like a BGN grade lens don't you think? One thing though, he is honest in his descriptions.

examples.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-M-Chrome-50-1-4-Summilux-1845309-Minty_W0QQitemZ270291081964QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCame ra_Lenses?hash=item3eee9a9aec&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|293%3A1|294%3A30
http://cgi.ebay.com/Leica-SM-85-1-5-Summarex-823110-Complete-Minty_W0QQitemZ280275007613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCame ra_Lenses?hash=item4141b1387d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1234|293%3A1| 294%3A50

I live in the UK and often buy from Kevin.All my purchases have been really excellent and worth the money because if Kevin says it is mint, it is MINT.
If you want quality you have to pay for it, this applies to anything you buy.If you want to take a risk then try Ebay but you might get your fingers burnt.
There is nobody in the UK or Europe that can touch Kevin for the quality of his secondhand stock.I would recommend him completely, he is an honest and very knowledgable dealer and even purchasing from half way around the world I have complete confidence in my purchases from him.
Kevin, your a top class dealer and your items are worth every penny.
Long may you remain in business.
__________________

sevo

07-08-2009, 11:40

I'm sorry, he describes items as being mint but mentions flowering separation or slight cleaning marks. In my book that is not mint. A "mint" lens should not have optical flaws, other wise its like a BGN grade lens don't you think?

Strictly speaking mint is "untouched", which does not absolutely exclude "totally screwed up". Of course, mint with cleaning marks can't be - you can't clean a lens without touching it. But mint with separation can - some lenses have been notorious for out of the box separation even when new.

Sevo

benmacphoto

07-08-2009, 11:45

This is true, and he does mention if a lens has not been opened for service. I just think he needs to grade a little better that is all.

I do love going to his site and looking at all the nice rare gear I wont ever own, haha.

Strictly speaking mint is "untouched", which does not absolutely exclude "totally screwed up". Of course, mint with cleaning marks can't be - you can't clean a lens without touching it. But mint with separation can - some lenses have been notorious for out of the box separation even when new.

Sevo

DanOnRoute66

07-08-2009, 12:10

He had a black Olympus Pen FT listed on the big auction site a couple of years ago that he described as "mint" but, which to me, looked as if the paint had been touched up -- and not very well. I sent a message asking if that were the case. He sent a reply threatening to file a lawsuit against me. Needless to say, he didn't post my question, either.

f16sunshine

07-08-2009, 12:15

Have not negotiated a purchase with him successfully yet (price always too high).
I did sell him a lens once though (Yashica ML 1.2/55).
It does seem that sellers like this change the value of items by stockpiling. I suppose it's a fair practice but can be frustrating. BTW he did pay top dollar for that ML 1.2 . Maybe the reason some of his items are so expensive.

maajka

07-08-2009, 12:33

He bought a lens from me for 89$, He lists the same ones on his website for over $200. A little too much. But I guess that's what dealers do, somebody's misfortune is another one's fortune.

David Murphy

07-08-2009, 12:39

I have had a different experience with Kevin Cameras; he sells under "Kevin Cameras" and buys under "Kinche 1;" he keeps his "Kinche 1" feedback private and quite likely for good reason. A friend that also collects Alpas has had three items returned by Kevin and I know my friend and his auctions -- he is fair, honest and a stand-up guy. He's been too kind in allowing Kevin to return the items he has. I sold an Alpa lens that was clearly described as a good user condition lens with minor coating marks but still an excellent performer. Kevin paid a low price for the lens and then wanted to return it: the real problem was he paid fair market value for it and didn't steal it for a song like he usually does -- he buys cheap under çand then sells very high under "Kevin Cameras" -- he's been blocked from placing any further bids on my auctions.
I searched on eBay and could not locate a member with the name "Kinche 1"

ZeissFan

07-08-2009, 12:53

Like Photo-arsenal, Camera$ and Henry Scherer, he has his supporters and detractors.

At the most basic, he's a "flipper." Buy as low as possible and then sell it as high as possible. I wouldn't pay half of what he asks, but he gets what the market will bear. I wonder if he reports this income to the IRS.

But I've never met him. Never will meet him. Will likely never do business with him. His life and business impacts my life in no way.

gdi

07-08-2009, 13:32

I searched on eBay and could not locate a member with the name "Kinche 1"

He changes his buying identity every so often. I can't remember the last one he used during one of my auctions.

Nokton48

07-08-2009, 15:22

I've sold a few things to him, without problems. He used an agent. Paid promptly and without any issues.

And bought my lenshood from him for my Canon 85mm F1.5. Nobody else has had one to sell, as near as I could tell. He had several of them available. He did answer my email questions promptly and to the best of his ability IMO.

stesm

07-08-2009, 15:40

I searched on eBay and could not locate a member with the name "Kinche 1"

It's "kinche-l" that's a lower case L. At least that's the name he used when he won a few of my auctions several years ago. If he sold the items for the prices he listed on his site, he did quite well. His feedback was not private then.