Your Leica bargain stories

[gyoung]

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The first Leica I ever used was a grey paint III of some sort, with a 2.5 Hektor.

I borrowed it from the secondhand window of the shop where I worked in Leeds to take some pics of a shop opposite on fire.

I took a roll of FP4 of the action, then sold the roll unprocessed to the Daily Mail stringer who appeared too late to get any pics. I got £20, and they used one full page on the back page.

I could have got the camera and lens for not much more than the £20, but I put it towards a chrome IIf I was drooling after, the unusual paint amd lens weren't significant in 1962.

 

Gerry

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[jcraf]

M8, and 75mm Summilux (late, silver box, German-built example) all mint boxed for about £2200 in 2013, on eBay (yes, risky I know).  All perfect on delivery. Wasn't bothered about the M8 really, it was the Summilux that I wanted.  Not much later, I sold the lot for about £4000, as I recall.

[Guest]

Here's my real bargain: In December 2016 Leica Outlet Store at Wetzlar sold me for just 5 €:

Lens cap 14032 made for TL-Apo-Vario 3.5-5.6 / 18-56mm Asph fits also on other lenses with filter size 60mm.

Finally, a lens cap with handle center pinch, which makes it easier to mount and remove the lens cap on the Summilux 75 1. Version than the original lens cap (right on the photo), if you would like to leave the separate lens hood permanently on the lens.

Other companies than Leica have been manufacturing lens caps with center pinch for some time, but the filter size 60mm seems too rare for a production.

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#376 www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/173284-75-summilux/page-19

 

 

 

 

[wlaidlaw]

I don't know why it took Leica so long to wake up to centre pinch lens caps. The 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar standard cap was impossible to remove if you had the lens hood fitted and there are a number of similar examples, like the 40 Summicron C with the rubber hood and others, where I ended up buying centre pinch lens caps, from Jack the Hat Photographic, who has a good range of sizes, including small ones like e39. 

 

Wilson

[Guest]

Your lens cap is different from mine. Both my copies of the 28-35-50 Vers.2 (I got a back-up when I found a good one in very early 2010) came with front lens caps, that slip on the MATE without a lens-hood.

 

The best bargain is the next bargain! I'm off it for good, so I say: quit smoking for a long time and now GAS too, well...starting...

On a different note: the other day a trusted technician from Austria returned a camera to me unrepaired and suggested to auction it off as defect / for parts.

[TommyPlouffe]

 

Here's my real bargain: In December 2016 Leica Outlet Store at Wetzlar sold me for just 5 €:

 

Is this a typo? I can't believe it... Haha!

[Guest]

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I don't know why it took Leica so long to wake up to centre pinch lens caps. The 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar standard cap was impossible to remove if you had the lens hood fitted and there are a number of similar examples, like the 40 Summicron C with the rubber hood and others, where I ended up buying centre pinch lens caps, from Jack the Hat Photographic, who has a good range of sizes, including small ones like e39. 

 

Your lens cap is different from mine. Both my copies of the 28-35-50 Vers.2 (I got a back-up when I found a good one in very early 2010) came with front lens caps, that slip on the MATE without a lens-hood.

...

 

Since the MATE 2 Ed. uses E49 filters, one can take any no name cap with center pitch.

The Chinese caps fit well and might start at about 1 $.

Even if you loose one per week that's still a bargain compared to accustomed Leica prices.

Edited July 24, 2018 by mnutzer

[Guest]

Is this a typo? I can't believe it... Haha!

 

Then you won't believe that this same and only Leica Outlet Store gave me some original user manuals of old Leica M - for nothing! 

You urgently should plan your next visit to Wetzlar.

[duckrider]

...so many decades, so many deals....

At student's times my parents had a guest house, and a kind dutch patron had a M5 with Sumiicrons 35,50 & 90mm. I'd ask for fun if he would sell and supprisingly he agreed for a price M5 body alone was worth at this better times (1250€). I told him that his offer would be a real bargain, 'cause I didn't own the money at all. But he said, the deal could be done.

So I had to ask my dad, who had no relation to Leicas and no understanding for my silly behave. But he gave me the money!

After a year of use I sold the items separately and doubled the money (approx. 2500€ in todays currency).

Money has vanished, Leica is gone, but the deal was great....

On some other occasions I got Ur-Replicas from my preferred Leica shop for 500€ and was able to sell them for 750€, must have been six or sevens times over the years - mention: I was a poor student and needet the money!

 

But the very most deals were of non profit for me, haha.

 

Thomas

[box86rowh]

Best buy I had was a Leica Compur at a local auction for $100 with no other bidder. I was quite surprised!

[mickjazz]

In retrospect I've had a large number of bargain or what are now bargain camera purchases. Probably to a large extent they relate to the digital camera boom although not entirely. I'll list a few.

 

About 9 years ago this summer bought a leica ii on ebay with 3 lenses: a nickel hektor 5, a nickel hektor 2.8 and a nickel elmar 3.5 for $220. Camera needed CLA; lenses all beautiful in cases.

 

I got a kind of early M3 DS 706523 with matching summicron, hektor 13.5 and a meter for $900 last year. Also on ebay. What made the deal was the lady in TX took photos for the auction and one had just a small portion of the 3rd lens with goggles. I took a chance and the 3rd one was an 8 element in perfect shape no haze.

 

I have purchased a number of complete sets in the cases. First one was I think 2008, a perfect iiif and 4 lenses with a couple finders unmarked for $650. A full set also in the case with a black iii and 4 lenses including 2 folding finders for $800.

 

Two months ago bought a nickel mountain elmar in the red box with the hood, caps and a black sports finder also in the box for $500. Perfect finder. Seller was asking $1100, I offered $500. He accepted.

 

One other set not in a case had 4 finders including a black 21mm but no 21mm lens, a SBLOO, hektor 2.8 and folding finder and a leica iC. $450 made an offer.

 

A while back William or Wilson I think commented that when the current holders of Leica stuff pass on - the phrase was toes curl up (like the witch in The Wizard of Oz), the survivors would sell and market would be flooded, prices plummeting. But it hasn't happened. I believe it is due to 1) big resurgence in film; 2) 1st time collectors; 3) sellers getting smarter with availability of web databases and sites like this one, collectiblend etc.

 

Family members and pickers no longer see grandpa/grandma's old cameras as old junk - unless they are Panasonic zoom digitals.

 

Buying a Leica with a few lenses or for that matter Nikon F or Hasselblad for $200 has passed. And that's good.

[levo]

The one that got away.... 1992, I was in Copenhagen on assignment for Scientific American magazine. Staying in the worst hotel for a night, I went for a late night walk and saw a black M2 in a camera shop window. Ex Danish press photographers camera. Asking about 8000 krona for it (about $700 then) I took a photo and said I would think about it... but decided not to buy it... Big mistake, I still regret it to this day

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Edited July 27, 2018 by levo

[250swb]

I'm 'almost' ashamed to say I did buy my beautiful Leica IIIF and 50mm Elmar for a bargain price on a well known auction site and the owner sent it along with a recent bill for servicing by none other than Malcolm Taylor that was for much more than I paid for the camera. This hadn't been mentioned in the auction so a big surprise. And it is still butter like smooth and wonderful.

[wlaidlaw]

I'm 'almost' ashamed to say I did buy my beautiful Leica IIIF and 50mm Elmar for a bargain price on a well known auction site and the owner sent it along with a recent bill for servicing by none other than Malcolm Taylor that was for much more than I paid for the camera. This hadn't been mentioned in the auction so a big surprise. And it is still butter like smooth and wonderful.

 

Steve, 

 

Lucky you! The 2 owner from new IIIa I bought privately, had had a CLA organised by Ivor at Red Dot. It was supposed to have been done by Peter Grisaffi at CRR in Luton but because of the timing (just after his wife's final illness) and the poor standard of workmanship, I am certain it must have been done by someone else. Peter's work that he did for me and others (HRH included), was always on a par with Malcolm's and now, Alan Starkie.  It is on my ever growing list of work, for its CLA to be re-done by Alan Starkie in the autumn. It's shutter is sticking completely at slow speeds and the faster speeds seem slow to me. The RF also needs a spring clean and maybe a new mirror. Its alignment was off both horizontally and vertically but I have adjusted those. its MOOLY motor needs its oil changing. No camera in that state ever came out of Peter's workshop. 

 

Wilson

Edited July 27, 2018 by wlaidlaw

[pico]

My luck does not include bargains, however I've been on the other side intentionally selling desirable gear at silly low prices or giving it away. One of our esteemed members has a button-rewind M2 from me on reasonable terms and I am gratified.

 

If ya can't win, give gracefully. It's about Karma.

[farnz]

Steve, 

 

Lucky you! The 2 owner from new IIIa I bought privately, had had a CLA organised by Ivor at Red Dot. It was supposed to have been done by Peter Grisaffi at CRR in Luton but because of the timing (just after his wife's final illness) and the poor standard of workmanship, I am certain it must have been done by someone else. Peter's work that he did for me and others (HRH included), was always on a par with Malcolm's and now, Alan Starkie.  It is on my ever growing list of work, for its CLA to be re-done by Alan Starkie in the autumn. It's shutter is sticking completely at slow speeds and the faster speeds seem slow to me. The RF also needs a spring clean and maybe a new mirror. Its alignment was off both horizontally and vertically but I have adjusted those. its MOOLY motor needs its oil changing. No camera in that state ever came out of Peter's workshop. 

 

Wilson

Wilson,

 

I see no reason to take a dig at Ivor and Red Dot Cameras on the basis of what is presumably hearsay from the vendor.  It appears from what you have written that the CLA was not up to your standard and it is pure conjecture on your behalf that it wasn't done by CRR (although perhaps the CLA was done by a stand-in during Mr Grisaffi's unfortunate absence).  Alternatively, the vendor might have played around inside the camera without your knowledge before selling it to you and caused the problems you've mentioned - you have no way of knowing. Ultimately, however, your post ends up as a smear on Red Dot's reputation whether intentional or otherwise.

 

Since Red Dot Cameras offers great benefit to the forum, for example, helping to keep the forum free of charge through paying a considerable sum in advertising annually, I urge you to retract what you've written.

 

Pete.

[wlaidlaw]

Wilson,

 

I see no reason to take a dig at Ivor and Red Dot Cameras on the basis of what is presumably hearsay from the vendor.  It appears from what you have written that the CLA was not up to your standard and it is pure conjecture on your behalf that it wasn't done by CRR (although perhaps the CLA was done by a stand-in during Mr Grisaffi's unfortunate absence).  Alternatively, the vendor might have played around inside the camera without your knowledge before selling it to you and caused the problems you've mentioned - you have no way of knowing. Ultimately, however, your post ends up as a smear on Red Dot's reputation whether intentional or otherwise.

 

Since Red Dot Cameras offers great benefit to the forum, for example, helping to keep the forum free of charge through paying a considerable sum in advertising annually, I urge you to retract what you've written.

 

Pete.

 

Pete, 

 

The seller was an elderly widow, who I have no reason to think was anything other than totally honest. She said her husband had taken the IIIa to Red Dot for a CLA the year before he died. Red Dot had said they were going to send it to Luton for a CLA, but given the timing, I am sure Peter had already stopped doing business by then and retired (autumn 2016), so it must have been sent to someone else. Laterally Peter did all the work himself and did not employ people.  Therefore, Red Dot must have sent it to someone other than CRR, who did a poor job. No reflection on Red Dot. it is the people who they sent it to who were at fault. Now if Red Dot had failed to make good after the poor CLA, they would have been at fault but they were never asked, as the owner became ill soon after. I asked the lady if she could find the bill from Red Dot but although she managed to find the original bill for the camera from 1937 (Wallace Heaton), she did not find the bill from Red Dot. If that had been found, I could then ask Ivor to get the CLA redone but without it, I don't have a leg to stand on, sadly. 

 

I have nothing against Red Dot and buy regularly from them myself. 

 

Wilson

Edited July 28, 2018 by wlaidlaw

[Hello]

A few months back, I was in Madrid for a long weekend. If anyone's been to Madrid, then you know of the vibrant antique and vintage flea market and neighborhood. I went early but not early enough. A man and his friend were having a conversation with a vendor and as I walked up, I saw that they were discussing a IIIc with a lens on it. Obviously I was interested, but my Spanish is less than adequate so I could only watch and hope the deal fell through. It didn't.

 

And as I saw money change hands, he bought the camera and lens for a whopping €40. So, that guy got a great deal. After the deal was made I approached the buyer and even though there was a language barrier, I was able to get a price from him for the camera and lens. He wanted €400, but in further inquiring, he was willing to sell the lens for €150 and the camera for €250, which was odd as he was a seller at the market and was browsing early before setting up his stand which I stumbled across later.

 

The lens was a beautiful 3.5cm Summaron A36 version with slight haze but for that price it was a no-brainer. So I got a good deal. I sent it to Alan Starkie for a CLA to get rid of the slight haze and tune it up and while some of the coating has degraded, Alan says it's one of the best of that lenses he's ever seen, so I'm happy.

Edited July 28, 2018 by Hello

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[farnz]

Wilson,

 

Thank you for clarifying the matter and adding that there's no reflection on Red Dot.

 

Pete.

[stray cat]

My luck does not include bargains, however I've been on the other side intentionally selling desirable gear at silly low prices or giving it away. One of our esteemed members has a button-rewind M2 from me on reasonable terms and I am gratified.

 

If ya can't win, give gracefully. It's about Karma.

 

...and I can tell you that the particular member who was on the receiving end of that particular deal can't thank Pico enough either for the wonderful camera or the generosity of spirit in which the transaction was handled on his end. One thing about buying Leicas used is that they come with the cachet of having been used by someone who has likewise appreciated the brilliance of design and function embodied in the gear. That M2 (and Summaron) is a very, very treasured piece of kit.