Why is this M2 so low?

fraley · 11-09-2005

Why is this M2 so low? Am I missing something?

http://cgi.ebay.com/The-very-Rare-Le...QQcmdZViewItem

kmack · 11-09-2005

Hong Kong and wire transfer only would be my guess

shaaktiman · 11-09-2005

Probably because it's in china and this guy only accepts western union transfers as payment.
Guaranteed you would never see that camera if you won the auction.

Gabriel M.A. · 11-09-2005

The bid right now is low, it doesn't mean that the price for it is low; notice there's a reserve. Who knows if the reserve is high or low.

JoeFriday · 11-09-2005

someone asked if the seller would accept Paypal and he agreed as long as the buyer picked up the paypal fees.. so you'd be covered by your credit card company if the camera never arrived

I would never pay by Western Union, but I'd feel somewhat safe buying this through Paypal with a credit card

shaaktiman · 11-09-2005

Thanks Brett, didn't see that.
But I'll bet it's still why not too many people have gone for it.
W.U. request to china just sets off alarm bells for lots of folks, myself included.

laptoprob · 11-09-2005

WU is tricky, very true. But this guy has sold various camera equipment to everywhere. No reason not to trust him. Over 4 hours to go...

Rob.

Honus · 11-09-2005

Part of his problem might be his listing title. By using "M2R" rather than "M2-R" he excludes anyone who searches specifically for "M2" (including moi. I've been searching M2's on eBay since Oscar Barnack was in grammar school). Asking only for Western Union transfers is also a major turn-off.

If I hadn't just bought an M2 about 12 hrs. ago I would be all over this one.

paulh · 11-10-2005

I would be surprised if this will remain low at the end of the auction. Lets see

Brian Sweeney · 11-10-2005

People hate reserve auctions for rare cameras. No clue to what the reserve is. The camera is in "user" condition. He would have done better to set a reasonable starting bid and forget the reserve.

Pherdinand · 11-10-2005

$650 and reserve not met.
Is that low??? [sorry for the ignorant but honest question]

Hektor · 11-10-2005

If it's a genuine article I would have expected it to make over $1000

elcud35rc · 11-10-2005

I believe that by using paypal it is trackable and you have protection if don't recieve the item.
But by using other methods of payment, they can't track it and if you don't get your item, your money is down the drain. eg. cash

fraley · 11-10-2005

Oh well, it didn't end up low. Even though 650 wasn't enough to meet the reserve. When I looked at it first it was 73.00 or some such thing.. a few hours makes a difference

Gabriel M.A. · 11-10-2005

I'd say $650 and the reserve was not met, no: the M2 is not "low".

The question is: why is this M2 "so high"?

xayraa33 · 11-10-2005

the Leica M2-R was made after the M2 was out of production(1967), in not too great a quantity, It came equiped with a dual range Summicron & if my memory serves me correct, with a quick film load system, alla Leica M4.

Doug · 11-10-2005

I was looking at the auction pic that shows the baseplate off the camera, and I don't see a quickload gizmo at the takeup spool end, at least not one resembling the add-on quickload in my M2... And I can't see the takeup spool itself either...

xayraa33 · 11-10-2005

the one I saw for sale in 1980 had the quick film load system, I also double checked the"Leica Illustrated Guide" by James L . Lager, page 53, he says," it is basically an M2 with self timer, equipped with the rapid film loading system of the Leica M4". Serial number range was: 1248201- 1250200.

xayraa33 · 11-10-2005

The baseplate in that Eb*y picture clearly shows the " steering wheel" that engages the three pronged film leader catch, that is inside the camera body, just like on a Leica M4.

Doug · 11-11-2005

Ok, I saw that "steering wheel" in the auction pic but didn't know it's part of the M4-type loading. Quite different from the earlier add-on quickload kit, which has a sort of blade to urge the film upwards to make sure the sprocket holes are engaged. Takeup spool must be significantly different too.

jaapv · 11-11-2005

That camera is extremely cheap compared to this guy's website-whew!!
http://www.schouten-select.com/
A (albeit mint) M2 for 1700 Euro???

ezio gallino · 11-11-2005

last week thare have been 20 or 30 MP and M7 from a german who claimed to live in china. 150 feedback positive but all in buying small cheap things with nothing in common with photostuff. 2 days later all offers disappeared. Ebay for costly stuff is dangerous.
I placed an offer for a noctilux and some day later a certain "tania rank of london" proposed me to buy 5 at $5000 through Western Union. Noctilux as eggs....