Jump to content

M8 used purchase help


BRW

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Now that I have decided to get an M8 (and my original deal fell thru), I am looking at my options.

 

Given the current market for the M8, I know that it's probably subjective in terms of "market value", but I have the opportunity to purchase an M8 that was previously purchased from popflash.com.

 

The camera has the quieter shutter and vulcanite covering upgrades with it. Would $2425 plus paypal fees and shipping be a fair price -- for me, the buyer :-)

 

I have no lenses yet, so will still need to get one lens to start......

 

It has about 3800 actuations, and is described as "excellent to mint- cosmetic condition. I have all the original boxes, paperwork, original receipt, accessories, etc."

 

Anything more I should ask about the camera....I have seen some pictures of it....I'm not in a big rush, so I can wait as well.....

 

Thanks!

Link to post
Share on other sites

if it is upgraded with the quieter shutter (which is not that much quieter), i'd say it's around market price. you can pick up a used, mint m8.2 body only for around us$2820.if bought privately, you may be able to shell out a little less

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the reply...yes, I would definitely prefer the 8.2, but haven't seen one at that price....and would definitely spring for that amount...

 

Was that a specific listing? I'd be interested to know where...

 

Thanks!

Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't say where you're located. I would personally not consider a used M8 with no guarantee at that price when you can get a Leica-refurbished and -guaranteed M8 for under $3000. If something goes wrong, $600 won't go very far. My answer might be different if it had been through Leica for upgrade service and there was documentation for that, though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Or an upgraded M8.

Jaap, you're right technically. But, I don't think the M8.2 was ever offered for sale by Leica as a product. I believe an M8 had to be purchased and then upgraded to the new feature(s). It is possible that dealers did this on their own and then offered an M8.2 for sale, but I don't think Leica offered this product.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jaap, you're right technically. But, I don't think the M8.2 was ever offered for sale by Leica as a product. I believe an M8 had to be purchased and then upgraded to the new feature(s). It is possible that dealers did this on their own and then offered an M8.2 for sale, but I don't think Leica offered this product.

 

Sorry Bill, I'm a tad confused by your post? Did you perhaps mean an 'M8(u)" instead of 'M8.2"? :confused::confused::confused:

Link to post
Share on other sites

But, I don't think the M8.2 was ever offered for sale by Leica as a product. I believe an M8 had to be purchased and then upgraded to the new feature(s). It is possible that dealers did this on their own and then offered an M8.2 for sale, but I don't think Leica offered this product.

 

They most certainly did offer the M8.2 as a product. Look at the title and details on this page from the Leica web site...

 

Leica Camera AG - Photography - M8 & M8.2

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jaap, you're right technically. But, I don't think the M8.2 was ever offered for sale by Leica as a product. I believe an M8 had to be purchased and then upgraded to the new feature(s). It is possible that dealers did this on their own and then offered an M8.2 for sale, but I don't think Leica offered this product.

The M8.2 had an "S" mode on the shutterspeed dial. An M8u (upgraded) had one or more of the features of the M8.2, but not the new diaL.

Link to post
Share on other sites

As others have mentioned, you might consider a demo unit (which comes with 1 yr warranty). Demo units range from 2600 USD. I was able to find a brand new unit (w/ 2 yr warranty) for 2999 USD from Calumet Chicago. M8.2 are about 1.5k more. Hope this helps.

Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't say where you're located. I would personally not consider a used M8 with no guarantee at that price when you can get a Leica-refurbished and -guaranteed M8 for under $3000. If something goes wrong, $600 won't go very far.

 

Wow, no faith in Leica or the Leica community huh? I've bought so many things used without any problems whatsoever... products, especially of Leica quality, just don't break down easily.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the reply...yes, I would definitely prefer the 8.2, but haven't seen one at that price....and would definitely spring for that amount...

 

Was that a specific listing? I'd be interested to know where...

 

Thanks!

 

not a listing, for sale in my local camera store, second hand m8's & m8.2's are coming onto the market steadily since the announcement and launch of the m9. the ones i've seen so far, black and silver, the condition is 85-95% like new and from us$2371 for a 2nd-hand m8 to us$2820 for an m8.2. they offered me a 3month warranty with second hand equipment i've bought there before. neddless to say they don't last very long in the window but as I say, supply seems to be steady

 

i am in Hong Kong..

Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, no faith in Leica or the Leica community huh? I've bought so many things used without any problems whatsoever... products, especially of Leica quality, just don't break down easily.

 

You were lucky enough, I think. Statistically, about one third of the used items described as in mint conditions I purchased blindly on the ebay were actually defective. Good for me that I have my own policy in force of which I never buy expensive used items there.

I have sorta feeling that within an established community there's less risk of being cheated, but personally speaking I would not invest such an amount of monies without prior seeing, handling and testing the stuff and without warranty. I prefer to be charged some bucks more but being given the chance to return the item to the shop. But that's just me and I admit to be a bit of a paranoid.

Besides, I bought an used M8 myself at my trustworthy shop and I'm VERY happy with her.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, no faith in Leica or the Leica community huh? I've bought so many things used without any problems whatsoever... products, especially of Leica quality, just don't break down easily.

 

Huh what? I have lots of faith in Leica and the community. I've bought and sold more M bodies and lenses than I can count in the last 35 years. Digital cameras are IMO different, and we're not talking about D40 prices (or D40 track records) here. I really like my M8, but if you look at the chances of a failure and the costs, buying without a warranty is exactly what you labeled it: an act of faith. Sadly, the track record of un-serviced M8s is not terribly inspiring, and the cost of a new shutter or a new sensor is considerable.

 

By the way, the M8 is not alone here. The following Leica Ms all had teething trouble when introduced: M4; M5; M4-2; M6; M6TTL; and M7. In addition, I've had several new lenses over the years that were actually replaced. Leica makes a great product, but they're made by people, not infallible immortals sitting around on Mt. Olympus.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Huh what? I have lots of faith in Leica and the community. I've bought and sold more M bodies and lenses than I can count in the last 35 years. Digital cameras are IMO different, and we're not talking about D40 prices (or D40 track records) here. I really like my M8, but if you look at the chances of a failure and the costs, buying without a warranty is exactly what you labeled it: an act of faith. Sadly, the track record of un-serviced M8s is not terribly inspiring, and the cost of a new shutter or a new sensor is considerable.

 

 

Did anybody pay for a shutter or sensor repair (apart from external force damage) then? I think not.

Link to post
Share on other sites

if it is upgraded with the quieter shutter (which is not that much quieter), i'd say it's around market price. you can pick up a used, mint m8.2 body only for around us$2820.if bought privately, you may be able to shell out a little less

 

I have been looking for a few weeks now and have not yet seen an M8.2 body in working condition under 3k. They are more in the high 3k to low 4k for a mint used. Oh, wait, there is one on eBay right now for USD 999.00 from a seller with a -1 rating.

 

Sorry if I sound a bit sarcastic here but I keep seeing these posts on forums as to how cheap things are. There is no 8.2 out there at the USD 2,820.00 price. And if one would want a reputable dealer, then it's more likely the price will be around 4k for a mint condition.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...