Jump to content

Best Place to Buy R Lenses (eBay, KEH, somewhere else)?


Bigbuddha319

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hey everybody! I'm new to the forum and this is my first post here.

 

I recently purchased an R8 and 35mm Summilux during a recent vacation in Shanghai. It's my 2nd film camera (first one being a Contax), but first ever in the Leica series. I absolutely love the feel of the R8 and the look from the Summilux. I've officially caught the Leica bug and I'm looking to build up a set of lenses!

 

After a lot of research, here's the set I'm looking to eventually build:

 

19mm f/2.8 V.2

50mm f/1.4 E55 (I might get the E60 version further down the line)

60mm f/2.8 - Are there multiple versions of this lens? Or will I be fine getting one in the 2XXXXXX vs. 3XXXXXX as long as it's 3 cam and has clean optics?

80mm f/1.4

100mm f/2.8 APO

35-70mm f/4

 

I was just wondering besides eBay or Keh, if the people on this forum have some favorite stores that they can recommend?

 

 

 

Thanks!

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'be both bought & sold a number of R lenses on Ebay, but you do have to do due diligence to ensure you are dealing with reliable sellers who offer refunds if you aren't satisfied for any reason. I've also bought from people on craigslist, Tamarkin. Adorama, Roberts Camera (Indianapolis), and several others. There are plenty of sources around the world, but if you are looking for something specific, you may want to establish a personal relationship with a dealer, who can be on the lookout for you.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

60mm f/2.8 - Are there multiple versions of this lens? Or will I be fine getting one in the 2XXXXXX vs. 3XXXXXX as long as it's 3 cam and has clean optics?

 

The versions are cams and filter size, not optics.  The E55 filter version is more recent than the Series VIII version.  The Series VIII version can also use E60 filters.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The versions are cams and filter size, not optics.  The E55 filter version is more recent than the Series VIII version.  The Series VIII version can also use E60 filters.

Has there been any ROM version of this lens? I've been on the lookout for one but couldn't see any.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome, thanks for the responses guys! I'm moving to New York soon, so I'll have to find some local dealers that might be willing to work with me.

 

The versions are cams and filter size, not optics.  The E55 filter version is more recent than the Series VIII version.  The Series VIII version can also use E60 filters.

Ah gotcha. That clears things up for me. I'll just hunt for the E55 version then! I've seen a few of the E60 versions on KEH.

Link to post
Share on other sites

A Leica friend of mine who is also a commercial airline pilot and travels the world, made me aware of a situation he witnessed while in the Orient. He too sought out fine pieces of Leica R and M lenses while traveling to Japan among other countries. Above one of the large camera stores over there, was a room filled with guys that would take apart, clean, and shine up Leica lenses, then list them on eBay as "Mint" through the store below. Many of these lenses would be taken apart and put back together by non-skilled techs who had no way of calibrating them.

He was warning me to be careful about buying used lenses on eBay from some of the Japan stores, just because the lens looked like new, did not mean it was. His point was well taken.

Reminded me of when I purchased a used but simply gorgeous mint looking Minolta AF zoom for my Sony A series body. The lens had a reputation for being one of the sharpest and fastest AF lenses Minolta had made just before their demise. I purchased it and upon arrival, found it to be in mint condition as advertised. The problem was it would not focus at all, zilch, nada, nothing. It was a beautiful piece of a static lens paperweight. Had it not been for PayPal's guarantee, I would have been out $800.00. In order to get my money back I had to return the lens of course, and that's when I found out the expense of return shipping which cost $58.00 via USPS Express which is necessary to get it back to Japan within the return period. 

Since then I do almost all of my buying from reputable fellow camera enthusiasts on Fred Miranda's buy-sell board. Hope this helps someone from making a big mistake on eBay. 

  • Like 5
Link to post
Share on other sites

A Leica friend of mine who is also a commercial airline pilot and travels the world, made me aware of a situation he witnessed while in the Orient. He too sought out fine pieces of Leica R and M lenses while traveling to Japan among other countries. Above one of the large camera stores over there, was a room filled with guys that would take apart, clean, and shine up Leica lenses, then list them on eBay as "Mint" through the store below. Many of these lenses would be taken apart and put back together by non-skilled techs who had no way of calibrating them.

He was warning me to be careful about buying used lenses on eBay from some of the Japan stores, just because the lens looked like new, did not mean it was. His point was well taken.

Reminded me of when I purchased a used but simply gorgeous mint looking Minolta AF zoom for my Sony A series body. The lens had a reputation for being one of the sharpest and fastest AF lenses Minolta had made just before their demise. I purchased it and upon arrival, found it to be in mint condition as advertised. The problem was it would not focus at all, zilch, nada, nothing. It was a beautiful piece of a static lens paperweight. Had it not been for PayPal's guarantee, I would have been out $800.00. In order to get my money back I had to return the lens of course, and that's when I found out the expense of return shipping which cost $58.00 via USPS Express which is necessary to get it back to Japan within the return period. 

Since then I do almost all of my buying from reputable fellow camera enthusiasts on Fred Miranda's buy-sell board. Hope this helps someone from making a big mistake on eBay. 

Oh wow, thank you for the heads up! In general I try to only buy from sellers that have ratings in the thousands and have either 100% positive feedback or very close. Even then, I'll still avoid the Japanese sellers.

 

The one seller that keeps popping up on eBay is Leicagreatbuy. 4000 ratings and still sitting at 100%. I might try his store out and see how it goes.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I try to only buy from sellers that have ratings in the thousands and have either 100% positive feedback or very close. Even then, I'll still avoid the Japanese sellers.

 

Not really fair to blame all Japanese in general - I bought some Nikon gear there and was never been tricked.

Should I say that the best experience I ever had was with sellers from the UK till now ?

But what when you try too and get a black sheep" ?

Edited by SilentShutter
Link to post
Share on other sites

??? The only lens shown in the 'Leica R Lens' section of Buy & Sell is a f4.8 350mm.  Or am I looking in the wrong place?

Yes, i put it in the R section first, but got minimal views, so now it is, including the Novoflex adapter, in the M section for M240 and M 10.

However, it appears to have expired.

I'll reinsert it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Has there been any ROM version of this lens? I've been on the lookout for one but couldn't see any.

 

Yes, I had one for a time.  It was excellent but I swapped it for a similarly excellent 3rd-cam version because I couldn't find a Macro-Extender-R that would fit the ROM version.

 

Pete.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...