mafoofan Posted August 28, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've seen very few examples of existing cameras sent back to Leica for A La Carte changes. Anybody know what the reason is? Too expensive? Too destructive of collector value? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 28, 2011 Posted August 28, 2011 Hi mafoofan, Take a look here A La Carte on Existing Cameras. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted August 28, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 28, 2011 I'm not quite sure why you would want to do that, but there are plenty of examples of people pimping their cameras. Some examples of new top plates are around on the Forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted August 28, 2011 My plan is to buy a new-in-box MP Classic and send it back to the factory for a different top plate (with the standard MP engraving). Unlike most others, I prefer the clean, simpler engraving over the more traditional configuration with more text. Will this destroy the value of the camera, or will it simply become an A La Carte MP Classic? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 28, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 28, 2011 Are you proposing to do this because you think it might increase the value, or because you want to? Are you going to use this camera, or just look at it? What is your motivation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 28, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 28, 2011 Will this destroy the value of the camera, or will it simply become an A La Carte MP Classic? I don't know whether the lack of a meter makes it more or less attractive to the average MP buyer but I guess your camera will always be worth roughly what an equivalent condition MP is going for. I can't imagine that it will have any collector value because with your proposed alterations (albeit factory alterations), your MP will no longer be an official Leica edition, just an interesting customised MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
}{B Posted August 28, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 28, 2011 I've got an M4P 70th anniversary ( bought to use not to collect) and had thought about getting it recovered as a very small part of the vulcanite had chipped away. I was thinking of getting it re covered in one of the brown leathers shown on the a la carte web site and at the same time getting a small area of worn paint repaired on the hinged back of the camera. In it's current condition it's no longer mint and as it's the first Lieca I ever bought and I'm not likely to part with it having it restored to mint condition and with a more attractive (at least to me) covering appealed. Purely because it's a lovely object in its own right. Then I went and bought a used M7 and money being a lot tighter these days I couldn't justify both. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted August 28, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Are you proposing to do this because you think it might increase the value, or because you want to? Are you going to use this camera, or just look at it? What is your motivation? I am not aiming to increase its value. I just like the way the standard MP engraving looks better. My question is how such a factory-modified camera would be viewed by collectors and general Leica users? My understanding is that Leicas have always been sent back to the factory for various changes and upgrades. I don't know whether the lack of a meter makes it more or less attractive to the average MP buyer but I guess your camera will always be worth roughly what an equivalent condition MP is going for. I can't imagine that it will have any collector value because with your proposed alterations (albeit factory alterations), your MP will no longer be an official Leica edition, just an interesting customised MP. I guess your second point is more to the issue I'm thinking of. If altered by the factory, it sounds like any incremental value the camera had as a special edition will be destroyed. But then, the original 1956-58 MP cameras were apparently quite frequently sent back to Wetzlar by their owners for various modifications and upgrades. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 28, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 28, 2011 It's yours. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, does it? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafoofan Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted August 28, 2011 It's yours. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, does it? Regards, Bill Yes and no. I just feel a little bad about altering a limited edition camera. There is something different about having a custom camera made a particular way straight from the factory, versus sending one back back to the factory to be so customized. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 18, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 18, 2011 It's just a camera at the end of the day, do what you want with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted September 18, 2011 Share #11 Posted September 18, 2011 I was going to send my beautiful M7 a la carte to be changed to Black paint but I decided against it in the end. Look at this unique beauty. No engravings at all. Stealth to the bone. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/160453-a-la-carte-on-existing-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=1795983'>More sharing options...
prunelle Posted September 18, 2011 Share #12 Posted September 18, 2011 My plan is to buy a new-in-box MP Classic and send it back to the factory for a different top plate (with the standard MP engraving). Unlike most others, I prefer the clean, simpler engraving over the more traditional configuration with more text. ... Maybe you could buy a camera that already has the standard MP engraving if you feel bad at the idea of customising a new one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 18, 2011 Share #13 Posted September 18, 2011 Why do you have an IR filter on it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephan_w Posted September 18, 2011 Share #14 Posted September 18, 2011 My plan is to buy a new-in-box MP Classic and send it back to the factory for a different top plate (with the standard MP engraving). why not buy a "à la carte" MP then? It will be cheaper and maybe faster as well (think about dispatchings, taxes and so on) I just like the way the standard MP engraving looks better. My question is how such a factory-modified camera would be viewed by collectors and general Leica users? nobody will care about it. The MP is not a rare camera, so not a collectible and in the end it depends if you find a buyer at the right time, who has the same taste as you have. Then you may get a better price. In the other case, you must expect a discount. Of course, you should not expect to get the price of the custom engraving back. This is not an added value, just a gimmick you offer yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted September 18, 2011 Share #15 Posted September 18, 2011 Why do you have an IR filter on it? YeahhhI know! It's hard to be stealthy with such a huge red doth as the IR filter itself. The summilux was on my M8 and I didn't bother changing filters, especially since BW film is insensitive to IR. Since my Kodachrome project is long over and I don't shoot much color film anymore, I just leave the filters on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 18, 2011 Share #16 Posted September 18, 2011 I was going to send my beautiful M7 a la carte to be changed to Black paint but I decided against it in the end. Look at this unique beauty. No engravings at all. Stealth to the bone. Lots of ugly engravings on the lens though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted September 18, 2011 Share #17 Posted September 18, 2011 Lots of ugly engravings on the lens though I know! Don't give Leica ideas. Imagine them selling a la carte lenses for 3$k extra Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted September 18, 2011 Share #18 Posted September 18, 2011 Ach - just fill in all the white engraving with a laquer pen and cover the red dot be happy. You can even undo it when you come to your senses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.