carcam Posted February 2, 2007 Share #1 Posted February 2, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm new to Leica and don't have access to local dealers so I'm shopping mailorder/internet. I have only bought from B&H with great results except they have so few lenses in stock. I can't find a 35/1.4 lux or 75/2 cron anywhere. Is this a temporary problem as Leica fills the backorder to keep up with their M8 sales or am I looking for lenses in all the wrong places? Thanks. And BTW, I blame (and thank) you all for this expensive hobby. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 2, 2007 Posted February 2, 2007 Hi carcam, Take a look here Best place to buy M lenses?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
erudolph Posted February 2, 2007 Share #2 Posted February 2, 2007 Tony Rose at popflash.com is a superb vendor! Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted February 3, 2007 Share #3 Posted February 3, 2007 Try B&H PhotoVideo. They have most lenses in stock along with most Leica accessories. Te best thing about B&H is they actually have someone/group running there website and stocking system. If it is listed as In Stock it IS in stock. Not so with Adorama. Popflash/Tony Rose might be a very good dealer but I have been looking for a +1 Diopter and they don't even carry ANY. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted February 3, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 3, 2007 Hey Ed, you should try reading the original post fully Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted February 3, 2007 Share #5 Posted February 3, 2007 Hey Ed, you should try reading the original post fully You are completely correct, I should. If I recall correctly B&H did have 75/2's in stock a couple of days ago. I almost bought one. With the introduction of the M8 LOTS of Leica M stuff is being bought up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffWright Posted February 3, 2007 Share #6 Posted February 3, 2007 I'm new to Leica and don't have access to local dealers so I'm shopping mailorder/internet. I have only bought from B&H with great results except they have so few lenses in stock. I can't find a 35/1.4 lux or 75/2 cron anywhere. Is this a temporary problem as Leica fills the backorder to keep up with their M8 sales or am I looking for lenses in all the wrong places? Thanks. And BTW, I blame (and thank) you all for this expensive hobby. Excellent US dealers: http://www.photovillage.com (Rich Pinto) http://www.popflash.com (Tony Rose) http://www.badgergraphic.com http://www.camerawest.com http://www.leicasam.com http://www.tamarkin.com I've bought from the first 4 over the years, and have been very pleased. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cometsoft Posted February 3, 2007 Share #7 Posted February 3, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I think the 75mm Cron is going to be really hard to find. The 35 1.4 LUX should be easier. In addition to Popflash, some places off the top of my head are: Badger Graphics in Wisconsin. New York Camera in PA, Pictureline (Utah?), PhotoVillage in NYC Camera Wholesalers in Stamford, CT Bergen Camera in NJ, You could always try the Leica website and do a dealer search. I've been looking for a 24mm 2.8 and the same 75mm. I decided to get a new 24mm and have the dealer send it in for coding. It's about $300 less than the newly coded models. Good luck. I see Jeff Wright must have posted some of these places just before I posted, oh well you've got some double endorsments. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted February 3, 2007 Share #8 Posted February 3, 2007 If you want to buy used, E-bay is a great source, but you have to be careful with scam artists. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted February 3, 2007 Share #9 Posted February 3, 2007 I'll second the recommendation of Popflash for Leica and Zeiss lenses. For CV, I recommend cameraquest.com Cheers, Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 3, 2007 Share #10 Posted February 3, 2007 I'll second the recommendation of Popflash for Leica and Zeiss lenses. For CV, I recommend cameraquest.com Cheers, Sean I agree with Sean. If, however, you want to buy used, try KEH and SH Photo in Germany. Boris at SH does a great job with his used lenses (i.e. you can believe his ratings about the lenses in question) with the only issue being price. You have a great product (which then commands a premium price) and the price is in Euros which at this time is a problem since the value of the Euro keeps increasing vs the US dollar. Then you have to pay duty .at the end of all of this you have a fine lens, known good by Boris, which costs an arm and a leg. Hopefully you can get the same lens in the U.S. at probably 30% off the European price. Tamarkin is also a good choice for used lenses although recently they don't seem to have the inventory of some of the other good used lens sellers. Hope this may help Woody Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted February 3, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 3, 2007 I don't know if the US mail is as diligent at collecting duty as the den of thieves at Canada Post, but you might consider Harry's Pro Shop in Toronto. The lenses are grey market, but come with a five year warranty from Harry's, and given how rarely anything goes wrong with a Leica lens it is unlikely one will need the Passport warranty. Prices are usually $200-300CAN less than the other main Toronto dealer, Vistek. Brian Lewington is very helpful there. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmcsu Posted February 3, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 3, 2007 Excellent US dealers: The Photo Village, Inc. (Rich Pinto) POPFLASH.COM - Cameras & Photographic Equipment (Tony Rose) Badger Graphic Sales, Inc. camerawest: The most comprehensive used camera site in the world Classic Connection LLC Fine Cameras Fogg Camera Bags I've bought from the first 4 over the years, and have been very pleased. Just bought a 75 lux mint coded from popflash along with accessories(no 1.25 vf available though);Easy web access & ordering.Thanks for the tip! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted February 3, 2007 Share #13 Posted February 3, 2007 My favorite leica drug dealers are Popflash and camera west . Also David at Dale labs. I just bought a 75 lux at camera west. BTW if your looking for a M8 call Sean at Camera West he may have a extra 1 or 2 in the next shipment next week, tell him I sent you. Also get to know these guys and make a relationship with them, there great dealers and will help you when you need something Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 3, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 3, 2007 Hong Kong Supplies for me, totally reliable and I've saved more than the cost of an M8 by buying from them in the last year. That said, a lens in short supply in the US is likely to be so everywhere. Otherwise, you can try Robert White and ffordes here in the UK; you should be able to buy without paying VAT. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted February 3, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 3, 2007 I have bought and sold many lenses and cameras on eBay over the years. Just bought a 'like new' Summicron APO 90 in Black Paint on eBay from Neptune Photos. Knock on wood, I have not run into any problems on eBay yet. Currently I also have a Elmarit 90 and a Tele-Elmar 135 for sale on eBay. There are a lot of good buys there. Leica owners usually take very good care of their gear. So it is easy to find mint or like new stuff usually at great discounts from new. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted February 3, 2007 Share #16 Posted February 3, 2007 ... from "The Stromboli Brothers" The Stromboli Brothers - Google Search Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted February 3, 2007 Share #17 Posted February 3, 2007 Does anyone have any recommendations for UK dealers? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted February 3, 2007 Share #18 Posted February 3, 2007 Diagonally opposite Totenham Court Station, and walk another 100m, on Oxford St, Soho, Jacobs had quite a few Leica lenses, new and used. you have to walk right to the back of the shop to find them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyspedden Posted February 3, 2007 Share #19 Posted February 3, 2007 Hong Kong Supplies for me, totally reliable and I've saved more than the cost of an M8 by buying from them in the last year. That said, a lens in short supply in the US is likely to be so everywhere. Otherwise, you can try Robert White and ffordes here in the UK; you should be able to buy without paying VAT. Hey Mark I have only one experience with Hong Kong Supplies and it was a very bad one. I bought a 75 cron from them and wire transferred the money on December 12th. January rolls around and still no lens. I sent five emails to them before I get a response of any kind. They profusely apologized and gave me a tracking number to help locate the shipment. The tracking number was not accepted by the USPS as valid. More emails back and forth with rarely a response. (They apologized again and said their network was under construction and they didn't get my previous mails!) They said they were tracking the shipment and it might take a week. Three weeks later, nothing! I gave them one more chance to respond and they did not. So I launched a fraud dispute with EBay. Three days later I get a letter of apology from the seller with a notice that a new lens has been shipped and should arrive in the US in 2-3 days. I wait with bated breath to see if they actually follow through. I suspect that they never shipped a lens in the first place. I suspect they accepted the order and the money and then waited until they had a lens to ship at all. Nice way to get paid and have the money two months in advance of having to deliver. No more HK Supplies for me. By the way I have no doubts that you have had satisfactory experiences with them. I just felt that the forum members should also hear from one who has not. Cheers Woody Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carcam Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share #20 Posted February 3, 2007 Thanks for the help. My quest continues. I'm going on vacation in 3 weeks so I'm trying to assemble the ideal 3 lens set-up. If I can't get the coded 35 lux, I'll pick up the 35 cron; if not the 75 cron then maybe the 75 lux or just take the 50 cron I already have. Separate question- they say the 75 lux is a little softer than the cron...is that only wide open at f 1.4 or at all apertures? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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