brutto Posted April 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted April 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) London Camera Exchange are offering "Leica M8 in Chrome with Leica Case- Boxed - Mint and Complete. Condition: ***** (Excellent condition)" They describe it as: "An outstanding example of this camera. Mint condition and complete with all original boxes, instructions, software and Lecia Passport. Shutter count of 220." They are asking £1,995. What do you think? They also have another: "Leica M8 Body+LUIGI BLACK LEATHER BODY CASE Condition: ***** (Excellent condition)" They don't provide a description but list the shutter count as 5,728 and are asking £1899. I don't know anything about London Camera Exchange but as far as I can tell, they are not a specialist Leica dealer. Does anybody have any experience with them? By the way, I'm not a shill for LCE, I'm an M3 owner I'm planning to sell my 5d2 and give Leica Digital a try after getting huge pleasure using an E-P1 with my M lenses. It would be nice to be able to focus properly again. Many thanks in advance for any advice offered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 28, 2011 Posted April 28, 2011 Hi brutto, Take a look here Is this a fair price for an M8?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pgk Posted April 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted April 28, 2011 Both sound a little on the high side but condition could really reflect this as there are going to be fewer 'low mileage' M8s available these days - I'd check to ensure that there is a full year warranty on them too. Other dealers prices are lower but their stock may not be in as good condition or had as little use of course. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted April 28, 2011 Share #3 Posted April 28, 2011 Sounds a little high but from a dealer probably about normal. The one with the Luigi sounds like a better deal as those cases are very expensive. I paid $2750 U.S. for my M8 last month on ebay with a art & artison half case.. like new condition. I could have went cheaper but wanted minty. I'm kinda like you.. I went from the E-P2 to the M8 and it's a joy to focus although sometimes it's a little tricky if you don't have a defined line to focus on... last night I was trying to focus in a fairly low light restaurant and had a hard time focusing on the "eye". But it's still much much faster than the PEN -normally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted April 28, 2011 Only you can decide whether this price is fair, or not. Have you checked the prices of used M8s at the UK dealers who advertise and support the Forum? And at other UK dealers? LCE are highly reputable, and do stock some new Leica cameras, IIRC. I have bought used equipment from more than one branch of theirs and have had no complaints at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted April 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted April 28, 2011 The shutter count of 220 either means that the canera is to all intents and purposes brand new, or if it isn't then it has been back to Solms for service which usually means that the count has been reset prior to testing; so I would ask for details of age/original warranty. Even so it does seem a little high in price, as is the other one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 28, 2011 Share #6 Posted April 28, 2011 +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted April 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Only you can decide whether this price is fair, or not. Have you checked the prices of used M8s at the UK dealers who advertise and support the Forum? And at other UK dealers? LCE are highly reputable, and do stock some new Leica cameras, IIRC. I have bought used equipment from more than one branch of theirs and have had no complaints at all. Good point - I would definitely prefer to buy from a dealer who supports the forum. I've checked with the following dealers. Have I missed any good ones? Wilkinson The Classic Camera Peter Walnes Richard Caplan Ffordes Dale Ace Robert White Red Dot Cameras (Have what looks like a good one at £1,700) Mifsuds Aperture Harrisom RG Lewis Bass and Bligh Commercial Cameras Stephens Premier (Have a mint M8 which I plan to check out.) Cambrian Camtech Nicholas Clock Tower Cameras I see Red Dot advertise here so I will favour them if I can. Thank you for the feedback on LCE. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted April 28, 2011 The shutter count of 220 either means that the canera is to all intents and purposes brand new, or if it isn't then it has been back to Solms for service which usually means that the count has been reset prior to testing; so I would ask for details of age/original warranty. Even so it does seem a little high in price, as is the other one. That is very good advice - I would have taken the shutter count at face value. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 28, 2011 Share #9 Posted April 28, 2011 You have included many good dealers, but also at least one who is not an authorised dealer and who has a poor reputation. Only a couple of the list support the forum. RedDot and Robert White are forum sponsors. Do a search on the forum for your list and you will soon find which one is the one with the poor reputation. I would never buy from this dealer, even though it meant I had to buy an accessory from Germany, rather than the UK. Stick with Leica Authorised Dealers and you won't go far wrong. Caveat emptor... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted April 28, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted April 28, 2011 Makes good sense Andy. I'm really pretty ignorant in this area and could easily make a costly mistake. Red Dot have a very nice looking M8 and I have dealt with Robert White in the past and found them very helpful. In fact I was talking to them only yesterday about a dioptre correction lens (they had just what I needed and kindly put it aside for me) and a 50mm Sonnar that I have a real hankering for. Thank you for the advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted April 28, 2011 Share #11 Posted April 28, 2011 When I buy I London, I buy from Red Dot. I don't bother looking anywhere else. It's not just because they sponsor us here, but they are good, honest people who sell stuff at the right price and stand behind their stock. I bought a IIIf from them for my wife for Christmas a couple of years ago. It had a sticking shutter (not uncommon in a camera about to get its bus pass) and they had it fixed and back with us, at their expense, within a week. There are lots of similar stories from other authorised dealers around the country, of course, but that's just one anecdote. I also have had excellent service and support from David Stephens in Manchester. When you dip you toe in the Leica water, it really does pay to find a good authorised dealer and support them. This first purchase will not be your last, I guarantee it. Building a rapport with a dealer pays dividends if you need some support or assistance, or even a loan camera or lens. You know it makes sense (You may have noticed an emphasis on Authorised Dealers. I wouldn't buy from any dealer who wasn't Authorised, or who had had that status withdrawn) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWatts Posted April 29, 2011 Share #12 Posted April 29, 2011 Recently bought a 24mm Elmarit from LCE and had excellent dealings with Tom in LCE branch in Bristol. Would reccomend fully. David. Cornwall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 29, 2011 Share #13 Posted April 29, 2011 ... I have dealt with Robert White in the past and found them very helpful. ... Me too. But those in the UK should be aware that RW's advertised prices are ex-VAT so you need to add 20%. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solar B Posted April 29, 2011 Share #14 Posted April 29, 2011 I noticed that to with RW ... i feel thats a bit of a sales gimmick and they state on their links prices starting at around £20 for X1 ... for a wrist strap or alike. I would also only recommend you buy from a reputed dealer ... simply for the peace of mind it affords. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted April 29, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted April 29, 2011 I guess they would claim they do it because they mainly supply professionals. It does seem potentially misleading. Commercial Cameras (Zeiss but not Leica dealers) also sell mainly to pros but they quote inclusive prices on their website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted April 29, 2011 Share #16 Posted April 29, 2011 I guess they would claim they do it because they mainly supply professionals. It does seem potentially misleading. Commercial Cameras (Zeiss but not Leica dealers) also sell mainly to pros but they quote inclusive prices on their website. Its probably because they are a 'pro' dealer and they probably do not operate the vat margin scheme on used equipment - so ALL prices are quoted excluding vat as this is the net price payable (after reclaiming the vat) by vat registered customers. Its not in the slightest misleading if that is the market you are dealing with as most of their customers will want to know the net price. Most dealers who deal predominantly with people who cannot reclaim vat, will quote prices including vat, both new and used as this is the total price payable by the customer. These dealers operate the vat margin scheme on used equipment and no vat is not reclaimable on such items. Its the gross (payable) price which is important to their customers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted April 29, 2011 Share #17 Posted April 29, 2011 I felt sure that UK companies are legally obliged to advertise goods with VAT included in the price but I could be mistaken. I'm guessing but perhaps RW isn't obliged to include VAT because it sells on the international market ... ? Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted April 29, 2011 Share #18 Posted April 29, 2011 VAT is mentionned as "tax" in RW's shopping baskets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share #19 Posted May 5, 2011 Finally getting down to Red Dot Cameras tomorrow. They have several M8s to choose from. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brutto Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted June 2, 2011 Sorry, I have been slow to update this thread. I went to Red Dot but didn't enjoy the experience very much. I'm still of a mind to switch to an M8 and I'm selling up my Canon gear to fund it but I'll look for another place to buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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