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Advice about Leica M (auction) |
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12-02-2004
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#1
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Registered User
jja is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 515
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Advice about Leica M (auction)
My first post to the RFF!
I'm thinking hard about this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3856027191
It is for an M2, low reserve, no bids as of yet.
The camera looks like it will need a CLA, but if it goes for a reasonabl price, it may be worth it. Am I missing something here? If you were in the market for your first Leica, would you bid on this one? (Yes, I know that I may be inviting competing bids, but I'm trying to learn something here.)
Thanks all,
jja |
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12-02-2004
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#2
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Moderator
rover is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Connecticut
Age: 47
Posts: 13,863
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Very tempting, have you contacted the seller and asked questions? Are you satisfied with the answers? It seems that something is wrong that nobody has bid on it. I think your assesment is right, not a bad price, and with a CLA it could be a winner. Why wouldn't there be any bidding? How is the rangefinder/viewfinder, I wonder if it is showing decementing?
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12-02-2004
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#3
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Registered User
justins7 is offline
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 155
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It seems like a decent deal. Do you have experience with other rangefinders?
I bought my first M years ago when options were more limited. It was a VERY cosmetically disfigured M3 for $450. Although I had it adjusted and it works perfectly, it was a lousy deal since it was in poor external shape. Then I wanted to use wide angle lenses and regretted that I missed an M2 for $650. That was in 1995.
Later I wanted an internal meter so I saved up and bought an M6. Best overall option at the time.
Obviously you need to think about these things as I'm sure you have.
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12-02-2004
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#4
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Registered User
jja is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 515
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I just sent an e-mail a while ago, we'll see if there's a reply in time to make up my mind. Lack of bids is certainly intriguing, esp. for a high volume seller.
I'll ask about decementing if I get a reply to my first query.
jja
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12-02-2004
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#5
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Trying to get it right
pshinkaw is offline
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,345
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Interesting.
If the Seller is Fred Sherfy he has his collection on a website,although it may be down for maintenance). I think I used it to research Pentax Spotmatics.
-Paul
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12-02-2004
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#6
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Registered User
Brian Sweeney is offline
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 15,160
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I bought a Leica M3 recently that had the same type of shutter issues. Essex in New Jersey CLA'd it for $158: corrected shutter capping problem, cleaned light haze from finder, and repaired chipped vulcanite. It was back to my house in 16 days, Priority mail up and UPS back.
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12-02-2004
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#7
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Registered User
Huck Finn is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 1,957
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If you haven't done so already, you may want to do an ebay search for recent sales of the Leica M2. Several have sold for less than $500, others have sold for more. If you study the sales & see what factors made the difference, it can tell you whether this is a good deal or not. It can also suggest some questions for you to e-mail the seller. If you make this purchase, plan to spend an estra $150-$300 + shipping for a CLA unless the seller can assure you that this has been done recently.
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Zeiss Ikon
Zeiss 35/2 Biogon, Zeiss 50/1.5 C-Sonnar, Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar, Voigtlander 28/3.5 Skopar, Voigtlander 75/2.5 Heliar
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12-02-2004
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#8
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My M5s need red dots!
SolaresLarrave is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DeKalb, IL, USA
Age: 53
Posts: 6,547
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jja, I believe the reason there are no bids on this one yet is the high initial bid. Usually, the best way to start accumulating bids is to place a low first bid (like $10 or so).
Better hurry. It does look like an excellent deal. If I could swing the funds I'd try to snatch it, but then I already have some of that gear.
Please, go for it, place a nice, juicy bid and win it. The cosmetic problems are negligible, and after a CLA at Essex, as Brian adviced, you'll have a camera with some good 25 years of potential fun.
Besides, the M2 has the framelines for the 35mm lens. This, together with an Ultron 35/1.7 would be a match made in heaven!
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12-02-2004
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#9
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Registered User
jja is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 515
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SolaresLarrave, que mal ejemplo! Nice to see you on the RFF. Did you ever get that Rolleicord you were looking for?
This auction is very tempting, and I'm awaiting reply from the seller. He appears to be the same Fred Sherfy that phshinkaw mentioned above. Anyone know him?
jja
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12-02-2004
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#10
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Trying to get it right
pshinkaw is offline
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,345
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Fred Shjerfy's Pentax page is at:
http://www.concentric.net/~sherfy/
It was dow for maintenance a few months ago and I just checked it this morning. It is up.
He's certainly knowledgable about AOC products. Didn't know he was into Leica's too.
-Paul
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12-02-2004
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#11
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peter_n is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 9,132
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Welcome to the forum, jja! 
It does look like a good deal, I don't see that there's a reserve, you might get it for $500. Seller looks reliable. If you get it and add Brian's ~$160 CLA you would have a great box. I say go for it!  |
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12-02-2004
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#12
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Registered User
Brian Sweeney is offline
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 15,160
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My M2 Came Back today from Essex! It was a long wait; the rewind gears were backordered from Leica in Germany. It ran a total of $188 for the rewind repair and the CLA. The camera was $430 on auction in September; so all-in-all a little over $600. The amazing thing is that Leica still makes parts for this 1958 camera! The VF/RF is clear and contrasty. Overall condition is about like the one now on auction; trade a small dent near the wind lever for the top plate scrapes. Mine is very early; this one on auction has the self timer and lever rewind. The SN on the one you are looking at is very late, and highly desirable. Mine is early, and not as convenient in use as the rewind button must be held down for correct operation.
I would go for it myself if I did not already have one!
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12-02-2004
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#13
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My M5s need red dots!
SolaresLarrave is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DeKalb, IL, USA
Age: 53
Posts: 6,547
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jja, are you a professor selling a Rolleicord for a very tempting price in PN? The world is really a pañuelo!
BTW... that M2 doesn't look bad at all... If I weren't bent on going digital sometime...
Ooops!  What did I say? |
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12-02-2004
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#14
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Registered User
jja is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 515
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Brian, Francisco, et. al.: Thanks for the friendly encouragement. I may pass on this, as I still have not heard back from the seller regarding my questions. So while it looks like a relatively low risk auction, I'm going to be conservative and wait a little longer.
Who knows, I may yet hear back.
jja
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12-02-2004
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#15
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ɹoʇɐɹǝpoɯ moderator
back alley is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: canada
Age: 62
Posts: 34,712
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welcome to the forum jja.
this looks good to me. the camera and the seller. he has lots of positive feedback and lots of sales. that means something.
i agree with francisco about the high initial bid and people in the know realize it will need a cla right off the bat.
it's christmas shopping season and people are scared off by the that 500 bucks in the face.
joe
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12-02-2004
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#16
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Moderator
rover is offline
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Connecticut
Age: 47
Posts: 13,863
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Two bids, $557.50.
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12-02-2004
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#17
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Registered User
Brian Sweeney is offline
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 15,160
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I'm Feeling Pretty Good about my M2 right about now! Just put the chrome Summicron on it, its loaded and ready to go!
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12-02-2004
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#18
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Registered User
jja is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 515
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Mine was the first bid, as I was on my way out to dinner. Came home to find someone snagged it 10 seconds before auction's end. Well, now I have the bug and will be watching a little more closely for good deals.
jja
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12-02-2004
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#19
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peter_n is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 9,132
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Too bad, jja. Glad you went for it though! Everybody who comes here gets the bug, we just don't tell them they'll catch it before they register...  |
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12-03-2004
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#20
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Registered User
Brian Sweeney is offline
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 15,160
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Another will be along. Wait until after Christmas, toward January which is Inventory Month here in the US. Stores must take count of items and pay tax on what they have in stock. After Christmas sells will abound!
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12-03-2004
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#21
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void
taffer is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: BCN
Age: 36
Posts: 3,460
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Yes, that's my experience as well, just stay tuned for M2s appearing like mushrooms after Christmas
And btw, welcome ! |
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12-03-2004
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#22
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peter_n is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 9,132
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Yep, as with everything on the auction site, patience is the key. A couple of used things I was watching on eBay recently went for more than the new price at retail. You need to avoid getting caught up in the excitement of the moment... |
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02-05-2005
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#23
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Registered User
aleica is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by peter_n
Yep, as with everything on the auction site, patience is the key. A couple of used things I was watching on eBay recently went for more than the new price at retail. You need to avoid getting caught up in the excitement of the moment... |
You are absolutely right. But the funny thing is that some people will buy them even though the price is so high. |
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