KEH 'bargain' grade M bodies?

haagen_dazs said:
Thanks Ferider
Then do the customers get refunded the full amount they paid or the amount minus KEH's original shipping?
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Just the purchase price. Shipping outbound and inbound is on the customer unless KEH made some mistake. This is standard practice here - not sure if that mirrors practice in other countries.
 
I've yet to buy a Leica, but I've had good success with KEH.

I've had two problems:

- a BGN-graded Nikkor 135/2.8 AI-converted lens had a seized diaphragm. It's too bad; the lens was otherwise in terrific condition.
- a BGN-graded Nikon F4s camera killed batteries in only about a week, whether used or not. The camera was otherwise in good user condition with no obvious faults.

I've purchased quite a few other BGN-graded pieces from KEH. Each one had a flaw, but it was never horribly serious.

I've now come to prefer EX-graded equipment from KEH where practical (although the odd time, for example 120 backs for Bronica SQ cameras, the EX-rated backs are significantly more costly than BGN-graded so I go to the lower grade). EX-graded stuff is often in fabulous condition.

I just got a pair of EX+-rated 220 Bronica backs. I seriously suspect one of them was never used. I even think the film spool inside it is a Bronica one, not from a roll of film. The other has obviously been used but is in very nice shape.

Give KEH a try. I will probably buy a BGN-graded Leica from them one day.
 
Thardy said:
If a camera needs recovering or minor work, where would one send it? Roughly how much would it cost?
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Recovering is easy peasy; do it yourself. Get them from cameraleather.com or from Aki Asahi. Minor work....depends what you mean? A cleaning, lubrication and adjustment?
 
I've always had very good luck with KEH. In fact, I've been trying to decide whether to add a film M body (after selling the two I had) as kind of a backup for my M8.
If I do, I figure I will either get one from another RFer or wait for a bargain-grade model from KEH.
 
Update -

Got it - NICE camera. 2 scuffs on the top plate and one on the shutter speed dial, the usual marks on the base plate, otherwise just fine, much better than I expected. Works flawlessly - focus is fine with the VC Nokton 50/1.5 close up and wide open, speeds seem just fine (tho I have yet to run a roll of chromes through it).

A big thumbs-up from me for KEH bargain grade M's
 
bean_counter said:
Update -

Got it - NICE camera. 2 scuffs on the top plate and one on the shutter speed dial, the usual marks on the base plate, otherwise just fine, much better than I expected. Works flawlessly - focus is fine with the VC Nokton 50/1.5 close up and wide open, speeds seem just fine (tho I have yet to run a roll of chromes through it).

A big thumbs-up from me for KEH bargain grade M's
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Please show the usual photos of the "new baby".
 
My recent "EX" M2 purchase from KEH seems more like it should be a "BGN." Shutter speeds are all on (I did a reciprocity test) and curtains are perfect, but it's got a nick on top, brassing from a meter and tripod mount, vulcanite repair spots, a sloppily repainted back door, and other general brassing here and there. On top of that, the shutter button has started getting sticky - a day after the return window ran out. I'll be sending it to Youxin Ye next week for a CLA, but I've thought more than a few times about selling this body for one in slightly better order.

But complaints aside, it's been a fine user so far, and I'll save my lust for a nice, clean, metered body somewhere down the line.
 
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