voxish Posted November 3, 2011 Share #1 Posted November 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) hello, i'm planning on picking up a used m9 and had a few questions. is used worth the slightly lower price? and have there been any common problems (in the earlier m9s, say) that i should look out for (like the m8's red line)? is there anything in particular i should ask the seller to make sure it's all up to speed? thanks in advance. cheers, sarah Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 3, 2011 Posted November 3, 2011 Hi voxish, Take a look here buying a used m9 - what to keep in mind?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
M. Valdemar Posted November 3, 2011 Share #2 Posted November 3, 2011 If you're not getting a really big discount, I would make sure you have some sort of warranty for it. There is a very good chance something could go wrong with it, and the price for repair could be astronomical, wiping out everything you saved on buying used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesk8752 Posted November 3, 2011 Share #3 Posted November 3, 2011 I would hesitate to buy a used M9 unless it was a factory refurbished unit with a factory warranty or a demo unit from a reputable dealer who would provide a warranty of at least one year. If you know the seller personally and they will stand behind the camera you might be OK, but sometimes friendships wither away when money is involved... Regards, Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stateowned Posted November 3, 2011 Share #4 Posted November 3, 2011 the maxi i would pay for a second hand m9 would be €4000 if its sold by a shop which offers waranty on the product €4500 would be nice... if not the price gets too close to a new one i'dd think.. what to check for.. just things like the shutter.. use the speeds on the shutter dial to see if they work properly. also check out the viewfinder if the lines work and if there's not lose components anywhere check out the sensor aswell.. i would just look at everything you could see from the outside from the camera.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted November 4, 2011 Share #5 Posted November 4, 2011 Totally relies on what condition the used M9 is, and what the cosmetics look like ... and ask what the service history is ... which would require at least knowing the seller to some degree. If the camera has had a good record, it is likely that it'll stay that way ... at least that has been my experience. Sometimes a used M9 works better than a new one and avoids all the trouble with sending a new one back and forth for calibration and all that. As far as a warranty is concerned, you can buy a new one from Leica if it's important. I agree, a used M9 should be about $5,500 to $5,800 if in good condition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxish Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted November 4, 2011 thanks, all. this is very helpful. i shoot with an m3 and m6 to this is a big change for me. have there been any common problems among m9s? also, i didn't know you could buy a leica warranty for used cameras, how do you do this? can you get a warranty for any used leica, or only those purchased from an authorized dealer? cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted November 4, 2011 Share #7 Posted November 4, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) hello, i'm planning on picking up a used m9 and had a few questions. is used worth the slightly lower price? and have there been any common problems (in the earlier m9s, say) that i should look out for (like the m8's red line)? is there anything in particular i should ask the seller to make sure it's all up to speed? thanks in advance. cheers, sarah Sarah, ...some remarks for the price: if a M9 recently purchased and still under warranty, the prices are low enough as here ! french Leica forum or also Leica Classifieds LUF : Google Traduction or here (sorrry in french cannot be translated but look at the price) guaranteed until July 2012 : summilux.net :: Voir le sujet - Leica M9 noir et accessoires ...because the seller have financial problem and need the money or do not fit the range finder So 2 solutions buy from a Leica dealer with guarantee or purchase a second hand M9 (as new) that some vendors sell with guarantee for the rest: -the sensor must be perfect (no dead pixels: visible at high ISO) (a change of sensor costs approximately 1600 Euros only done in Solms) -number of actuations as little as possible -rangefinder well fixed ... try to take some pictures (with your SD card memory) with a lens attached and see the focus ! Good choice and good luck Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted November 4, 2011 Share #8 Posted November 4, 2011 hello, i'm planning on picking up a used m9 and had a few questions. is used worth the slightly lower price? and have there been any common problems (in the earlier m9s, say) that i should look out for (like the m8's red line)? is there anything in particular i should ask the seller to make sure it's all up to speed? thanks in advance. cheers, sarah it depends on price, condition and who is selling it like anything else if it is still in warranty (2 years in UK), it doesn't really matter who you buy it from as long as the exterior condition is to your liking Outside warranty I would take some test shots at base ISO and max ISO. Check max iso for green or red lines down most or all of the sensor. If they don't extend across the whole sensor they are generally hot pixels which can be mapped out. If you find a problem send it back (ebay or dealer). If you don't find a problem then immediately buy Leica's 1 year warranty (at €290). Leica Camera AG - Service - Warranty Extension M9 saying all that, most of the M9s are extremely reliable. I never had any issue with the M8 or M9 (one hot pixel on a M8.2). rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 4, 2011 Share #9 Posted November 4, 2011 Keep in mind that you're buying a piece of computer equipment and one for which the supplier of its key component - the sensor - is in financial difficulty (i.e. Might go belly up). If your s/h computer can't be repaired are you happy to write off the cost? Buy if you're happy to take the risk and consider whatever life span your M9 may have to be of value - make the most of it and take as many photos as you can! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark2 Posted November 5, 2011 Share #10 Posted November 5, 2011 Just go ahead and buy it. Not to worry even if it's broken Leica will repair it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted November 5, 2011 Share #11 Posted November 5, 2011 I'd avoid ebay on this purchase. Too many issues to justify the savings. Find a reputable dealer and pay a few dollars more, often times they are flexible on used prices and you can purchase the camera for less than private parties or ebay. A dealer will normally let you put the camera through its paces and allow returns if any major issues arise. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 5, 2011 Share #12 Posted November 5, 2011 You can assess the amount of work the camera has done by the number of actuations, new they have from 50 to 300, so above that number you can assume those are what the owner has made. The number of actuations is not the file number of the image, it is a Hexadecimal number found in the EXIF file under 'Image Unique ID'. Ask for the Image Unique ID number (all the preceeding '0's are not needed) from the last image taken and put that into a Hexadecimal/Decimal converter that you can easily find on the internet. The decimal result is the total number of actuations. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 5, 2011 Share #13 Posted November 5, 2011 I'd avoid ebay on this purchase. Too many issues to justify the savings. Find a reputable dealer and pay a few dollars more, often times they are flexible on used prices and you can purchase the camera for less than private parties or ebay. A dealer will normally let you put the camera through its paces and allow returns if any major issues arise. Good luck! +1 Buy from a dealer. The risk is not worth the minimal cost savings, which will be quickly forgotten if any issues arise. Leica M9's are wonderful cameras, but they are also complex electromechanical devices that can be very expensive to repair. Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted November 5, 2011 Share #14 Posted November 5, 2011 Like the OP I shot film and was convinced I'd stay that way (M6, M7). I deliberated for months about making the switch to the M9 and ultimately decided to buy a new M9 from a dealer, trading in my used M7 under passport. I figured the few hundred euro/dollar/pounds saving I'd make by buying a second M9 would not be outweighed by possible defects and the hassle of buying a used M9 from someone I'd never get to meet (the eBay issue). The dealer I bought the M9 from from is local to me (FotoModerna in Siena, Italy), knows me, has an amazing Leica collection and I know that if anything goes wrong he'll lend me a spare M9 or find one for me. He gave me a demo on a used M9, I had a think, and then bought a new one. I think the M9 is a super camera, even better than I thought it would be, and that's saying something if you know me. I am glad I bought new and feel that little bit safer because it is new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PBatemanJ Posted November 5, 2011 Share #15 Posted November 5, 2011 There are some excellent official Leica dealer in eBay like Ken Hansen NY. It is wise to have good connection with such dealer in the long run especially for Leica equipments. SATOKI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted November 5, 2011 Share #16 Posted November 5, 2011 There are some excellent official Leica dealer in eBay like Ken Hansen NY. It is wise to have good connection with such dealer in the long run especially for Leica equipments.SATOKI +1 I believe Ken Hansen has some ebay auctions from time to time, but I think he does the majority of his business direct with his customers via email/phone. In fact now that I think about it there are many authorized dealers who put at least a selection of items on the auction site. Stephen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted November 17, 2011 Share #17 Posted November 17, 2011 Samy's Camera in Los Angeles has a used M9, chrome, $5700.00. I didn't look closely but it appeared to be in beautiful condition. The last used M9 was $5500.00. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxish Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted November 21, 2011 thanks, all. i think i'll go for a new one, as i can get it tax free, which is basically the same price as the reliable dealer used m9s. ...or do you think that next year's anticipated announcements at photokina (m10??) will have any effect on used m9 prices? would it be better to sit it out a few months and see if the mysterious m10 is preferable to the m9? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted November 22, 2011 Share #19 Posted November 22, 2011 ello ello ello...duty free you say? hrh won't be too pleased. joking aside, you could be in for a long wait. hypothetically speaking, even if it was announced at photokina next year it would be highly unlikely that you would even see one on the shelves for sale new within the year following that.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kevster Posted November 24, 2011 Share #20 Posted November 24, 2011 Sarah, I bought my M9 (and lens) second-hand from a very reputable dealer (RG Lewis) in London - it was mint, boxed, complete and only three months old and, most importantly, had a full warranty. I saved myself £1,000, a not inconsiderable sum. I'd never have bought secondhand unless it was from a Leica dealer to be honest, there's too much at stake. I'd also make sure that it's boxed, complete with all the packaging, cables etc, just in case you need to sell it on - that way you'll get a decent price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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