Novice seek answer- Refurbish or buy restored?

[jerryjg]

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Hi. I am a novice, and also on a very tight budget now . Ive picked up an old Leica and lens, just the basic old stock model with basic lens. Its going to need refurbishing to bring it to spec, although it appears to work ok as is.

Question; should I keep it and have it restored, or sell it ( I could actually use the loot) and eventually down the road buy one form a reputable source that is restored to specs?

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[Xmas]

Hi

 

If you have acquired a collectible Leica then refurbishing it or restoring it will destroy any value as a colletor it may have.

 

Use it, sell it or put it in a glass cabinet.

 

Noel

[earleygallery]

What exactly is 'the basic old stock model and lens' ?

 

I think Noel is referring to the truly collectable Leicas (usually this means mint/boxed or particularly rare examples) - user examples are a different matter and it's certainly best to have one in working condition.

 

You say it's working OK - in that case just use it as is, and have a CLA as and when it needs it.

[jaapv]

James is right, if it works fine - just use it.

[tobey bilek]

buy something that works. you have no idea of the cost to repair to new specs because all things are not known at time of purchase.

 

Even then, things come up. I have a lot of old M cameras that were chosen carefully. Eventually they all needed repairs.