Went to buy film; came home with...

[JHenry]

...a black M7.

Headed out to Beijing's photography market today to buy film for the weekend, and was even seriously prepared to buy a second hand 90mm APO Summicron that I saw a few weeks ago if it was still available.

Browsed the many small second hand shops, as I always do, before arriving at one of the stores that specializes in Leica gear. They still had the APO Summicron, but on the shelf below it was a near mint black M7. I swear it started to call my name. "Jeff......Jeff......."

Had the salesman pull it out from behind the glass, put on the white gloves (yes, for Leica cameras, until you pay for it you wear the gloves), and...wow. The original owner didn't even remove the protective plastic from the baseplate. Not a scratch or any sign of wear on the camera except on the battery cover.

I tried to be practical. I tied to resist. I even left the shop to browse some more in the hope I could overcome the temptation. But, the further away from the store I got, the louder my name was called. "Jeff!!.......JEFF!!!!...."

I went back to the store thinking my willpower could overcome the call of the M7. I tried to convince myself that the camera is just a light-tight box. I told myself repeatedly that I love my Zeiss Ikon (which I do), and that the viewfinder on the ZI is better than the M7. But then I triggered the M7's shutter....ah, the sound!

Then the salesman, without any prompting, said they would accept a credit card. It's the only store I've found at the market that will accept a non-Chinese credit card (the last time I was there I witnessed a man purchase both a 21mm Summilux and 35mm Summilux in CASH!).

I tried to resist more. But, I had already decided a few days ago to purchase a second Zeiss Ikon body, and was going to place the order this very evening after getting my film. So, naturally, I was able to "justify" the M7 as it was only a "little" bit more than buying a second ZI.

Had to tell someone who would understand both the draw of hearing the camera call my name...and the associated pain as I pulled out my credit card.

Anybody else got a fun "didn't intend to, but purchased..." story?

All the best,

Jeff

P.S. I did buy the film. Did not buy the APO Summicon...but I was tempted.

If you're ever in Beijing, be sure to make it to the photography market north of Wukesong. Over 40 little shops selling camera gear. Most focus on Canon and Nikon digital, but there are about 5 who specialize in Leica, and several more that specialize in used gear of all kinds. The market even has two shops that specialize in large format photograph.

[kully]

Well done Jeff. I popped in to the market a couple of times when I was there. It's quite the labyrinth.

[mabelsound]

Enjoy! I lusted after an M7 for two years and finally made it happen a couple of months ago....you will love it. It's my favorite camera.

The impulse buy syndrome doesn't happen to me often, but when it does, it's usually on eBay or at a music store, where I go to buy guitar strings and end up with another guitar.

[Avotius]

I have not been to the camera shops in Beijing but have in Guangzhou. Might I ask what you paid for your black M7? I have been thinking about moving up from my M6 to an M7 but I find the prices here all over the place.

By the way, you dont want the 90 APO summicron. YOU DONT WANT IT. Here are some pics:







Its a terrible horrible lens (to your credit card) and you just dont want it.

All my friends tell me I need to go to wukesong to check it out, but what I really need to look for there is a repair shop for my poor yashicamat.

[kywong]

Originally Posted by Avotius

Its a terrible horrible lens (to your credit card) and you just dont want it.

That is the most evil post I've ever seen on RFF

[kully]

Originally Posted by Avotius

All my friends tell me I need to go to wukesong to check it out, but what I really need to look for there is a repair shop for my poor yashicamat.

There is a man there, in a small store filled with old TLRs (mainly Seagulls but Japanese ones as well) who would be able to sort you out. He sold me a very nicely sorted Seagull.

[Avotius]

Originally Posted by kully

There is a man there, in a small store filled with old TLRs (mainly Seagulls but Japanese ones as well) who would be able to sort you out. He sold me a very nicely sorted Seagull.

[off topic on]

Got to find that guy then. I got a fridge full of 120 film and no camera to use it in since my Yashica died. I dont suppose you would have any other info?

[off topic off]

[kully]

Sorry, it was three years ago. All I can remember is that it was towards the rear and easily seen because the windows are piled up with bits of broken camera ;-)

[hlockwood]

Some years ago I was waiting patiently for Leica to release the much rumored M7. After a while I gave up and bought the just released Hexar RF, a great camera. Then Leica finally brought the M7 to market. The lust eventually returned, and I bought it. Now the M7 is almost always with me. It's a wonderful machine; the meter is dead on. You will not regret your purchase.

Harry

[mabelsound]

Colin, FYI, I got my black M7 (.72) from the classifieds here for $1750--a really good deal, I think. (I think I ponied up the paypal fee, so it ended up being more like 1800.) You just have to lie in wait. Or watch KEH.

[lonelyboy]

Originally Posted by JHenry

...a black M7.

Headed out to Beijing's photography market today to buy film for the weekend, and was even seriously prepared to buy a second hand 90mm APO Summicron that I saw a few weeks ago if it was still available.

Browsed the many small second hand shops, as I always do, before arriving at one of the stores that specializes in Leica gear. They still had the APO Summicron, but on the shelf below it was a near mint black M7. I swear it started to call my name. "Jeff......Jeff......."

Had the salesman pull it out from behind the glass, put on the white gloves (yes, for Leica cameras, until you pay for it you wear the gloves), and...wow. The original owner didn't even remove the protective plastic from the baseplate. Not a scratch or any sign of wear on the camera except on the battery cover.

I tried to be practical. I tied to resist. I even left the shop to browse some more in the hope I could overcome the temptation. But, the further away from the store I got, the louder my name was called. "Jeff!!.......JEFF!!!!...."

I went back to the store thinking my willpower could overcome the call of the M7. I tried to convince myself that the camera is just a light-tight box. I told myself repeatedly that I love my Zeiss Ikon (which I do), and that the viewfinder on the ZI is better than the M7. But then I triggered the M7's shutter....ah, the sound!

Then the salesman, without any prompting, said they would accept a credit card. It's the only store I've found at the market that will accept a non-Chinese credit card (the last time I was there I witnessed a man purchase both a 21mm Summilux and 35mm Summilux in CASH!).

I tried to resist more. But, I had already decided a few days ago to purchase a second Zeiss Ikon body, and was going to place the order this very evening after getting my film. So, naturally, I was able to "justify" the M7 as it was only a "little" bit more than buying a second ZI.

Had to tell someone who would understand both the draw of hearing the camera call my name...and the associated pain as I pulled out my credit card.

Anybody else got a fun "didn't intend to, but purchased..." story?

All the best,

Jeff

P.S. I did buy the film. Did not buy the APO Summicon...but I was tempted.

If you're ever in Beijing, be sure to make it to the photography market north of Wukesong. Over 40 little shops selling camera gear. Most focus on Canon and Nikon digital, but there are about 5 who specialize in Leica, and several more that specialize in used gear of all kinds. The market even has two shops that specialize in large format photograph.

Hi Jeff, by the way, how much RMB for your M7?

[FPjohn]

Avotius, I agree, the lack of appeal of the apo-summicron is only exceeded by that of a 75 lux.

yours
FPJ

[alexz]

Hmm, it appears I drew the trump with my M7 x0.85 purchase (used one, locally) Excellent condition, very few signs of use (the previous owner was very picky with his camera gear) just for 1450 US$ !
Albeit I was looking for M6 x0.85, for that kind of price I just couldn't let it go...:-)

[Tim Gray]

Damn that is a good price.

[mojobebop]

Originally Posted by mabelsound

Colin, FYI, I got my black M7 (.72) from the classifieds here for $1750--a really good deal, I think. (I think I ponied up the paypal fee, so it ended up being more like 1800.) You just have to lie in wait. Or watch KEH.

tamarkin has several.

[zerobuttons]

Originally Posted by JHenry

........
If you're ever in Beijing, be sure to make it to the photography market north of Wukesong. Over 40 little shops selling camera gear. Most focus on Canon and Nikon digital, but there are about 5 who specialize in Leica, and several more that specialize in used gear of all kinds. The market even has two shops that specialize in large format photograph.

Could you name specific street names? I´m going there in May. You call it a market - are the dealers only trading certain days of the week?

[hans voralberg]

I think it's more accurately an area full of camera shop, like Champagne Court in HK I imagine

[ethics_gradient]

Originally Posted by zerobuttons

Could you name specific street names? I´m going there in May. You call it a market - are the dealers only trading certain days of the week?

Basically, walk north from Wukesong subway station for about 15-20 minutes and it will be on the right-hand side of the road. I think it's open 7 days a week (I remember going on weekends), but I could be mistaken. Lots of interesting old stuff there, I used to kind of treat it as a camera museum and just walk around looking at everything.


Jeff, any idea what a working Seagull 203 (Chinese 6x6 folder) goes for? I didn't discover folders until after I got home... the 203 looks nice but starts at $70 shipped on eBay. I did get a lot of miles out of the Chinese TLR's I bought while I was there.

[kully]

'ethics_gradient' - I got a CLA'd Seagull with case and strap for RMB300, don't know if I overpaid or not but I was happy getting one which was sorted (and it still works to this day).

[zerobuttons]

Originally Posted by ethics_gradient

Basically, walk north from Wukesong subway station for about 15-20 minutes and it will be on the right-hand side of the road. I think it's open 7 days a week (I remember going on weekends), but I could be mistaken.
........

OK. I see. Thank you to you and Hans.

And congratulations to Jeff on his acquisition.

[Mudman]

Pics man pics

[Tom A]

Is this the "barn-like" structure with all the small shops on several levels. It is a must "go" if you are in Bejing. A friend took us there when we visited Bejing - whatever you could dream of needing - someone has it!
I did pick up some Lucky 400 ($0.75/roll) and some ERA 100 ($0.50/roll). I have to admit that they looked a bit shellshocked when i asked if they could get me 1000 rolls of the Lucky. They could not - so I bought what they had (60-70 rolls) and 30 rolls of ERA 100 (Nice film, by the way). The Lucky is more tricky and seems to change from batch to batch!
There were a couple of dealers with wooden 4x5's at really good prices too - as well as a book store.
A bit of a "nirvana" for analog's.
Oh, knock off Domke bags - better than the original! $20. If you add up what you need, it could almost pay for a ticket to Bejing and back!
The people behind the counters were very pleasant to deal with too. Overall I found the Beijing population delightful and loved the city. It is on our "must go back" list of places too.
We took the Express T-98 from Hong Kong to Bejing. A great train ride - small sleeper compartment and a big (but dirty window) - it was like watching a travel program on a big screen TV for 26 hours. Highly recommended mode of getting there!

[filmfan]

Originally Posted by Avotius

I have not been to the camera shops in Beijing but have in Guangzhou. Might I ask what you paid for your black M7? I have been thinking about moving up from my M6 to an M7 but I find the prices here all over the place.

By the way, you dont want the 90 APO summicron. YOU DONT WANT IT. Here are some pics:







Its a terrible horrible lens (to your credit card) and you just dont want it.

All my friends tell me I need to go to wukesong to check it out, but what I really need to look for there is a repair shop for my poor yashicamat.

Is this hated I feel or just envy? Sometimes I confuse the two...

[JHenry]

Thanks all for your comments.

The photo market I described is more accurately a large building the many shops inside of it. It is open 7 days per week. On the weekdays it closes at 5pm (not sure about the weekends). It is located at the northeast corner of Jin'gouhe Bridge, on the West Fourth Ring Road Middle. As mentioned above, it is about a 15-20 minute walk north from the Wukesong subway station (site of the Olympic Basketball venue). You can't miss it, because there are huge Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Hasselbad billboards on the front; also due to the number of people going there there is always a massive traffic jam near it.

Sorry to say I don't know the price of a Seagul 203. I'm a recent convert from digital, and am enjoying my rangefinders. Haven't gotten into folders yet...though the desire to try 4x5 is growing.

I paid RMB 17,000 for the M7 (about $2,500). Not as good of a price as I thought given what has been listed above, but it is the cheapest M7 price I've seen in China. Excellent second hand M6's go for about RMB 12,000. The Chinese have a thing for cameras, and second hand prices reflect that by remaining high.

I recommend going to the market on a weekend. It will give you an interesting insight into China. On any given weekend you'll see people buying 5D Mark II's left and right, some people buying Leica's, people shopping for wedding photographers, etc. Almost all paying in cash. Another thing to watch for is what happens when someone buys a camera, lens or any accessory. Before leaving the store it will be fully removed from the box, put together, tested for 30-45 minutes (by the buyer) before the buyer leaves. If there is a scratch or any small blemish on the product (that we would tend to write off as standard manufacturing variances) the buyer will refuse the product. When I bought a DSLR earlier this year, I was the first customer in years at that particular shop to buy a product and not open the box until I got home.

[meven]

Originally Posted by Avotius

[off topic on]

Got to find that guy then. I got a fridge full of 120 film and no camera to use it in since my Yashica died. I dont suppose you would have any other info?

[off topic off]

If you come back to HK, I can take you to a very good repair guy in Central (Lee Cho Tat of Panda Camera). He is very skilled and can repair any camera.