Anyone crazy enough to by a used M8?

V

Vickko

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Anyone crazy enough to by a used M8?

With all the defects that I read about, it must be absolutely crazy to buy one without warranty.

But, what if one comes "at an unbelievable price?"

Has anyone had to pay for an "out of warranty" repair? Was the price sky-high?

...vick
 
With new ones at $4297 with 2 year warranty at Popflash (the price hasn't gone up yet), there isn't much reason to buy used...considering used typically go for $4k to $4.1k range
 
digitalintrigue said:
With new ones at $4297 with 2 year warranty at Popflash (the price hasn't gone up yet), there isn't much reason to buy used...considering used typically go for $4k to $4.1k range
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That's just wrong - thay are $4950 at Popflash.
 
I talked to Tony a couple of days ago, and that's what he quoted me. This is for the international version, which is the same as US version except warranty goes thru Solms (this is how he explained it.) With many repairs going to Solms anyway, I hardly see the reason to get a US model.
 
Hmmm...I must be crazy...I go and buy 4 months "old" M8 get original docket with it and balance of Leica warranty(20 months) for half price of what new one sells here.....and have a blast with it....love it...very crazy...
 
There're lots of good reasons to buy one used - from a reputable seller at a fair price.

zoz, you may be crazy in other ways but not for buying a used M8 :)
 
I did buy a used M8, with a transferable 3 year MAC warranty...Of course the camera had problems, and it's now at Leica (via MAC, which had the good sense to defer the work to the pros). My assumption is that the last owner could not identify the problem (the viewfinder lines are totally off) and did not know why his pictures looked so bad, and therefore sold it at 3950 with 3 UV/IR filters, an extra Leica battery, the Leica grip and a Leica tabletop tripod. He lost over $2000. on the deal, and I got exactly what I expected....an M8 for a price that includes some sweat equity. It's fine with me...I've got a Zeiss 25mm in Germany getting the base re-tooled by Zeiss for the correct viewfinder display...Maybe by winter I'll be all set!

So, in answer to your question, used was the only way I could have pulled it off, and while I am not crazy about the wait, I know I'm getting exactly what I want in the end. It's just a matter of keeping your eyes wide open in regard to the deal at hand
 
I wouldn't do it without a warranty, like a MAC. It still is a little crazy, you guys know you can't put any film in these things, right? ;)
 
It all depends how badly you want and or need one. When you figure that the majority of the owners here have purchased them with credit cards none of them are truly "payed" for. To my way of thinking, if you could buy a used one outright instead of on credit then it's a good deal. If you have to fix something I believe the cost would still be cheaper than paying 16%-19% interest on the new one that you purchased with your VISA AMEX or MC.
 
digitalintrigue said:
I talked to Tony a couple of days ago, and that's what he quoted me. This is for the international version, which is the same as US version except warranty goes thru Solms (this is how he explained it.) With many repairs going to Solms anyway, I hardly see the reason to get a US model.
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I thought PopFlash was an Authorized Dealer. I know he occasionally sells used ones, but am surprised he'd be selling what obviously seems like "gray market"? Does Leica allow that? Or am I confusing Leica with Rolex :D?

I have a USA version. I am hoping that Leica Service NJ eventually gets outfitted so they can handle some of the repairs only Solms can deal with. Has anyone heard anything from Leica NJ if this is on the horizon? Or are they just content (I'd hope the majority of USA M8 owners AREN'T) of continuing to ship the units to Solms?
 
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The way I understood things, is that factory warranty is good only if the camera is purchased from an authorized dealer (i.e. straight from HK to me), not third-party, and that authorized dealers can't purchase directly from distribution outside their home region. I recall that when Don Chatterton (an authorized USA Leica dealer) sold gray-market Leicas the official "international warranty" was void, although he used to offer his own in-store 2-year warranty and would send the item to DAG. OTOH if you bought mail-order from an authorized HK dealer, the int'l warranty was good. Maybe the official policy has changed. Unless it came with a 2-year factory warranty (since DAG can't repair the M8) I wouldn't pay a cent over 50% of new price for a used M8, if that. Just me. How would you know if that used M8 had been back for the banding fix, or worse, if it contains the time-bomb transisitor that causes the Sudden Death?
 
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digitalintrigue said:
I talked to Tony a couple of days ago, and that's what he quoted me. This is for the international version, which is the same as US version except warranty goes thru Solms (this is how he explained it.) With many repairs going to Solms anyway, I hardly see the reason to get a US model.
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Well, I was thinking US version - if there really is a warranty, that's a good deal.
 
The only thing I'd ever have a concern about a used camera of any type, be it Leica, be it medium format; WHATEVER, is if I could deal with getting the camera, finding out there was something wrong with it, and then being able to wait while the camera was returned for repair, and perhaps several times.
I bought a beautiful lightly used Black Contax G2 KIT for a bargain. Didn't focus right. Sent it back, and they broke the TTL function while the camera was there. Sent it back... It wasn't right for over a month, and by the time I got it back, I was non-plussed, and the camera left.
I've several stories like that. Jurgen? That Ikonta went back to him over 5 times, with the postage and insurance adding up to the price of that little piece of junk. Non plussed, I got rid of it and took the loss.
I've had other successes, though. My M8 is actually really good, so I don't worry about it. If it goes away, I have another digital that takes "acceptable" pictures, so won't miss it so. I'd get a used one.
 
NEVER!

After three dead new ones I shudder to think of what my luck would be like with a second hand one.
 
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