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replace topplate for selling my M9?


frogfish

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oh, and at an Alpa Camera from Switzerland you have to pay a fortune for orange scarps of wood. But each his own.

 

Again, I am wondering what is going on here. I just asked a question to get others opinion on the value of a used TOOL. And I asked politely. Instead half the folk here is getting on me.

 

Do what you feel you need to do, but there are actually photographers out there who use the M9 as a camera. Believe it, it´s true. (0:

 

 

amen,

 

heiko

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I don't think it will be worth a new top plate. You'll get at worst $600 less for it than you would for one without brassing. Prices of M9s are getting lower every day, but what you've done to it doesn't look as bad as many are making it seem.

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This camera has grown organically to fit your hands and mind. Imo it would be a mistake to sell it. It has been your friend these years. You do not sell your friends, do you?

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Sorry, but... You took a $7000 camera, ground down a corner with who-knows-what Satan's tool, and glued orange scraps of wood on it??

 

As a guy who is working hard and hoping one day to be able to afford one of these, I'm finding it hard to restrain myself from firing off a litany of obscenities.

 

I'm finding it hard to restrain myself from firing off a litany of obscenities at those who criticise how others use their cameras.

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Apart from the part you rubbed down, remove the grips and the camera would look in typical used condition. Some people love the look of brassing - who knows, they might even pay more for it!

 

I think Leica charge around €700 to fit a new top plate & there's no way your camera is worth that much less than other used M9's (unless we are talking about mint barely used examples).

 

Just sell it as is, for an average price, or list it on eBay and let people bid what they're prepared to pay which may be more than you expect.

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The filing of the corner is a bit more of a cosmetic issue than the usual scratch, and these things will certainly affect the price. No collector will be interested, but I don't see a problem for a photographer. And I don't really understand why anyone has a problem with what you do to your camera. I would gladly buy this M9 myself, but I guess the price will still be too high.

 

Jaap's advice is good. Keep the camera if you can. You have modified it to your liking, it will continue to serve you well if you have been happy thus far.

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No collector will be interested, but I don't see a problem for a photographer.

 

Seriously, no collector is going to be interested in any used M9, unless it was used by a famous photographer, maybe.

 

I don't suggest that anyone looks at the older thread on here where one user shows how he uses his M9 as a bottle opener!

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Seriously, no collector is going to be interested in any used M9, unless it was used by a famous photographer, maybe.

Correct. I meant a buyer who wants a fancy camera in like-new condition, not really a serious collector who is looking to make an investment or for a display item. These people are not interested in gear that shows signs of use, but may very well buy used gear to save some money.

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I support any modification that makes the camera better use but the problem here is resale value. for example I had a 'thumbie' on my M9 which IMO made it a lot easier to hold but the dealer I sold it too insisted that I took it off as buyers want things as near as possible to original condition. I wouldn't take the price of a new top plate off the sale price as I think you would get even less for it that way. brassing and scratches just go with the life of the camera anyway

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I agree that the wooden bits would put me off far more than the bit of DIY on the top plate so I'd definitely take those off (and give the camera a good clean) prior to advertising it.

 

Are Leica still doing the M9P upgrades? If so, and you price your M9 right, it may be attractive to someone wanting to do the upgrade.

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Sorry, but... You took a $7000 camera, ground down a corner with who-knows-what Satan's tool, and glued orange scraps of wood on it??

 

As a guy who is working hard and hoping one day to be able to afford one of these, I'm finding it hard to restrain myself from firing off a litany of obscenities.

 

I respect your right to feel aggrieved, tarullifoto, but photographers have been modifying their equipment from day one.

 

Car enthusiasts do it, bikers do it. Fishermen do it. Fashionistas do it. Why not photographers?

 

It's not as if frogfish's M9 is unique. It's a camera. A tool. There are plenty more of them out there. ;)

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As an aside, I usually look for mint secondhand equipment and tend to avoid anything that looks well used. I use my gear, carefully, and accept any wear and tear as being mine and I know how it's happened.

 

I made an exception to this rule a while back when I bought a cheaply priced, well used and battered Nikon F2. It's mechanically faultless (well apart from the metered prism head which doesn't meter!) and I really enjoy using it, partly because I don't worry a jot about whether it gets knocked, scratched, dropped or wet.

 

If you're the type who cherishes their gear, try using a beater, it's liberating!

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