Is this a good deal?

ywenz · 09-11-2005

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7542953197

I saw that lens on bhphoto for over a $1,000 brand new!!!

chug · 09-11-2005

It looks like it was a good deal. Too late now tho

richard_l · 09-11-2005

The seller seems to have good feedback and the return policy is fair. If the items are in good condition, I would say it's a good deal. Yes, the 50mm Cron is over $1000 new, but that's a comparative bargain since it's such a terrific lens. The only cheaper Leica lens in current production is the 50mm Elmar, also a great lens but a little slower than the Cron.

ywenz · 09-11-2005

hmm.. here's to hoping for a prompt shipment and everything is as advertised.... That lens might prove to be too long and good for me.. I might sell it and get a 40mm Nokton.

richard_l · 09-11-2005

No no no NO!!!!!! Want a great 40mm? Get a Minolta M-Rokkor, one with the serial number on the lens barrel instead of the filter ring. It's multi-coated and takes standard 40.5 mm filters instead of whatever crazy size the (single-coated) 40mm Summicron C takes.

Anyhow, a Leica body really deserves a Leica lens! But you were kidding, right?

So.....

is it a plain vanilla Leica M6 or a Leica M6 classic?

Richard

ywenz · 09-11-2005

who knows.. maybe after owning a leica for a while i'll get lazy tongue and just called it the M6 ;-)

I really hope this item is not shady.. price seems a bit on the low side, given the condition the seller claims.

richard_l · 09-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ywenz

who knows.. maybe after owning a leica for a while i'll get lazy tongue and just called it the M6 :wink:

I really hope this item is not shady.. price seems a bit on the low side, given the condition the seller claims.

Lazy tongue, eh?

Anyhow, seller seems to be okay. Just hold him to his word. When you get it, examine the lens carefully with a flashlight, check how the shutter speeds of the M6 sound, and shoot a couple rolls of film through it as soon as possible.

Richard

ywenz · 09-11-2005

What would I be looking for with the flashlight? hair/dust inside the lens elements? is that all I can do short of shooting a few rolls?

back alley · 09-11-2005

look for any haze with a strong light.

joe

richard_l · 09-11-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ywenz

What would I be looking for with the flashlight? hair/dust inside the lens elements? is that all I can do short of shooting a few rolls?

Ignore hair and dust and superficial scratches. There shouldn't be any haze, unless it has been stored in a really weird environment.

However, even the latest Cron can get fungus. Look for fern-like 2-dimensional growths in the lens. It doesn't look like anything else. It starts at the outside edge. On the latest Cron a fungus might not have had enough time to etch the glass, so a CLA ($100 more or less) might get it out. (Lens fungus secretes salicylic (or is it fluoric?) acid, which can etch glass.)

Richard

richard_l · 09-11-2005

To see why I like the Cron 50 so much, take a look at http://pw2.netcom.com/~rlsaylor/m6/mill.htm

Richard

ywenz · 09-11-2005

With all the talk of Leica lenses being very good, how are these lenses when compared to say Canon's L-line? I'm coming from a SLR background so I'm familiar as to what to expect from the various L lenses.

Brian Sweeney · 09-12-2005

Congratulations on the M6 and Summicron, you will find them both real pleasures to use.

Here is a write-up on the Minolta multi-coated lenses on Stephen Gandy's website. He advises that they are excellent lenses, but had some production problems with the multi-coating. Minolta repaired some free-of-charge years ago, some never had a problem, but some are still around with white spots and separation. These would be good choices for not buying "as-is/No Return".

http://cameraquest.com/cle.htm

rover · 09-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_l

No no no NO!!!!!! Want a great 40mm? Get a Minolta M-Rokkor, one with the serial number on the lens barrel instead of the filter ring. It's multi-coated and takes standard 40.5 mm filters instead of whatever crazy size the (single-coated) 40mm Summicron C takes.

Anyhow, a Leica body really deserves a Leica lens! But you were kidding, right?

So.....

is it a plain vanilla Leica M6 or a Leica M6 classic?

Richard

Great advise about the 40 Rokkor. Take it to heart.

richard_l · 09-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ywenz

With all the talk of Leica lenses being very good, how are these lenses when compared to say Canon's L-line? I'm coming from a SLR background so I'm familiar as to what to expect from the various L lenses.

It's all hype about Leica lenses. Pay it no heed.

ywenz · 09-12-2005

Which is why I might part with the Cron and opt for a faster and wider 40mm Nokton..

Brian Sweeney · 09-12-2005

Keep the Summicron. It is a sharp lens, with a well-deserved reputation. The 40mm Nokton is not an expensive lens, and would fit in well with the Summicron. The 40mm Nokton brings up the 50mm framelines, as the Leica and Minolta 40mm lenses do. (Poor Choice, the 35mm lines would provide closer to 100% viewing) I have a LOT of Nikkor glass, from a 1950 5cm F1.4 up to the 70~180 ED-AF Micro-Nikkor zoom. The Leica glass has a character all of its own, and renders a very pleasing picture.

1957 Summicron, Wide-Open

richard_l · 09-12-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ywenz

Which is why I might part with the Cron and opt for a faster and wider 40mm Nokton..

Are you really serious?

I would sooner part with my M6 than my Leica glass. A Bessa will take pictures just as good as a Leica.

ywenz · 09-12-2005

very true, but I'm lusting after that Leica body. Maybe i'm buying a leica for the wrong reason...

Brian Sweeney · 09-12-2005

That's Okay.

You stick around here and We'll Have You Lusting for Leica Glass and Leica Bodies in no time. We'll have you Lusting for More Canon Glass in LTM to use with that Leica Body.

Let us be your Inner Voices of Reason.