Purchasing an M6 for my 1st RF - Good Price?

[ornate_wrasse]

Hi all,

I made the decision to buy a RF camera and was leaning towards a Zeiss Ikon. I decided to check out the camera at my local camera shop after noting on the Zeiss web site that the shop carried it. It turns out that my camera shop no longer sells the camera, but they did have an M6 for sale. It's an M6 made in 1985 (the second batch I was told) and is not the TTL version. It came with a 35 Summicron f2 lens. The lens was made in 1975, is a version 3, a pre ASPH and was made in Canada. A B&W filter was mounted on the lens. The camera and lens looked to be in excellent shape. The shop, BTW, is very reputable and only carries excellent quality used merchandise. Included was the box, instruction manual and strap. No lens caps/shade, however, for the lens. The cost was $2,400 when I was at the shop on Friday afternoon. The shop is carrying it on consignment for the seller. My friend, who uses RF cameras, went with me to see the camera today. He agreed it was a nice camera. Lo and behold, much to my surpise, the camera and lens had been reduced to $2,100! This was because it had been at the shop for 30 days. I was considering it at $2,400 and now it was $300 cheaper than the day before!

Now, I admit I was not shopping for a Leica, but I DO want to buy a quality RF camera. I came across this M6 + Summicron quite accidentally. But now I am thinking of buying it and the shop is holding it for me until Monday afternoon.

In case anyone is wondering, I did ask if it had had a CLA. I was told it had had a CLA about 5 years ago.

My question is: Is this a good price [$2,100] for the camera and lens?

I was impressed that it was in excellent condition and came with a box, manual and strap and, of course, the35 Summicron f2 lens. I was a bit concerned that no lens caps or shade were included but I suppose I can acquire these things without great difficulty. On a different note, does anyone know the best place to acquire both lens caps and a shade for the lens?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Ellen

 

[kipkeston]

if posted here in the classifieds, I don't think it would go for more than $1850usd. 1000 for the 6, and 850 for the v3.

 

[rya]

I second keep looking on here and possibly doing some more research on the variations between versions before you purchase.

It is difficult to rationally approach a purchase when enamored by the item or shown a "special sale" price.

 

[35mmdelux]

V3 Cron: $800 (st price)
M6 (early): $1000 (max)

 

[kxl]

I'd hold out for the ZI that you wanted to begin with.

 

[JohnTF]

You can always make an offer, they will contact the owner.

Regards, John

 

[__hh]

I have always found antiquecameras.net to be a good starting point for info relating to versions and pricing.

You may find these two links useful:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/leicamcameras.html

http://www.antiquecameras.net/35summicronmlenses.html

 

[arseniii]

It's a good price for a reputable store. This is not an eBay or RF deal where you actually cannot see the camera and no warranty whatsoever. Surely, you can get this set cheaper, but at a risk of being disappointed at the end. I would go for it, $2100 is reasonable and Leicas are the pinnacle of RF cameras with abundance of spare parts available unlike ZI!

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I'd hold out for the ZI that you wanted to begin with.

I hadn't made any decisions and definitely wasn't set on the Zeiss. I generally don't like to buy a camera unless I can hold it and see if it works for me. I was originally headed to the camera shop to see if a Zeiss Ikon worked for me "in person".

I had considered the Zeiss Ikon because of the price but figured I would have to spend about $1,800 or more for the camera and 35 lens.

In my mind, spending $2100 for the M6 isn't a whole lot different.

Ellen

 

[ornate_wrasse]

You can always make an offer, they will contact the owner.

Apparently others had made offers (I asked) and he wouldn't accept lower offers made by others I doubt he'd accept an offer when the price just dropped to $2100 if he wouldn't accept an offer when it was priced at $2,400.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I have always found antiquecameras.net to be a good starting point for info relating to versions and pricing.

You may find these two links useful:

http://www.antiquecameras.net/leicamcameras.html

http://www.antiquecameras.net/35summicronmlenses.html

According to those links, the camera goes for $1000 to $1250 and the lens goes for $800 to $900. According to my math, that's a range of $1800 to $2150. The price of $2100 is within that range.

Thanks for the links. They were most helpful.

Ellen

 

[kipkeston]

The price is reasonable. It's not the price you'd find around here, but that's fine. Grab it and enjoy my favorite camera setup!

 

[ornate_wrasse]

It's a good price for a reputable store. This is not an eBay or RF deal where you actually cannot see the camera and no warranty whatsoever. Surely, you can get this set cheaper, but at a risk of being disappointed at the end. I would go for it, $2100 is reasonable and Leicas are the pinnacle of RF cameras with abundance of spare parts available unlike ZI!

This was exactly what I was thinking. I ~MAY~ be able to purchase them cheaper, however, I wouldn't be able to hold, see and feel them and would be taking a risk. I feel totally comfortable with what I saw, including talking with a very knowlegeable person at the store (whose opinion I greatly trust, BTW). I place a great deal of value on the "here and now" versus the unknown. There was also another customer at the store who indicated he might buy it if I didn't purchase it on Monday. He appeared to be very impressed with the camera/lens. I also am not the type of person who makes rush decisions on purchases such as these. I think a great deal before I plunk down my cash on an item of this nature.

For now, it looks like we're the only two people on the forum who are thinking about this in a similar way 🙂

Ellen

 

[Mephiloco]

It's a reasonable price. If it were me, I'd bide my time and wait for something better, but that's because I'm poor and/or cheap.

Edit: It's worth noting that I don't care about buying from a 'reputable' source as in a retailer, or about warranty etc. You might be different. My M2 with pinholes from collectible cameras for $415 happened to have a warranty, not that I would bother them about it considering what I paid

 

[35mmdelux]

Ellen,

If you buy on any of the blog classifieds you would taking on substantial risk. How much is that risk worth? At the store there is no risk and you walk away with gear in hand. As a consingment the seller doesnt get all the money. Generally 25%-30% goes to the store.

If its clean and good working order, go for it. The Leica will outlast the ZI by decades. Maybe they can give you a warranty of some sort.

Good luck - Paul

 

[__hh]

According to those links, the camera goes for $1000 to $1250 and the lens goes for $800 to $900. According to my math, that's a range of $1800 to $2150. The price of $2100 is within that range.

Thanks for the links. They were most helpful.

Ellen

Remember the caveat listed on the site:

"Pricing was gathered from sales on photo.net, ebay auctions, Ritzcam.com, KEH.com, RFF, and other camera dealers. Prices are biased towards ebay auctions. Expect to pay +10 to +20% more buying from a dealer. "

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Remember the caveat listed on the site:

"Pricing was gathered from sales on photo.net, ebay auctions, Ritzcam.com, KEH.com, RFF, and other camera dealers. Prices are biased towards ebay auctions. Expect to pay +10 to +20% more buying from a dealer. "

My question is this:

Is the pricing for buying a camera "on consignment" the same as buying retail from a dealer who has the camera as part of his inventory?

In one case, the item is owned by the seller so the dealer is taking very little risk other than the space to display it at the store. The dealer makes $$$ as compensation for displaying the item and having sales staff showing it to potential buyers and answering questions.

In the other case, the dealer owns it outright thereby incurring more risk, especially if the items sits in their inventory and doesn't sell.

I raise the question because I honestly don't know the answer!

Ellen

 

[Brad Maestas]

Hi Ellen. In most cases the seller gives a ballpark and they and the dealer reach an agreement on the final asking price that includes the consignment fee (some sellers prefer to just think of the money they will net after the fee). It is mainly up to the seller although the dealer may guide them to an optimal ratio so that it doesn't sit forever. Dealers will tend to price them as high as possible. They tend to have the time to let it sit for a while in order to get the most out of it whereas the consignment seller usually wants a shorter turnaround.

The only advantage that you may get from buying it from the dealer vs. consignment is some kind of warranty on top of the normal return policy however this almost certainly entails a higher price. Depending on the dealer, they may or may not offer a generous return policy on consignment items, let alone any guarantee of recent work. Then again, Leicas are robust and if it was serviced in the last several years you can have fun with it for another several before it should need any attention.

I think it's a good price, especially now that it has been lowered AND it is being offered at a reputable dealer, consignment or not. I have come across some of the best deals with consignment pieces (mainly musical instruments but cameras as well).

I paid about the same last year for my minty 1989 M6 Panda and 1982 35mm Summicron v4 (from a craigslist seller). I would have paid more if I had bought from a dealer.

 

[Keith]

It's a good price for a reputable store. This is not an eBay or RF deal where you actually cannot see the camera and no warranty whatsoever. Surely, you can get this set cheaper, but at a risk of being disappointed at the end. I would go for it, $2100 is reasonable and Leicas are the pinnacle of RF cameras with abundance of spare parts available unlike ZI!

I'm curious about that statement ... is there a parts availability problem with the Ikon?

 

[elshaneo]

Since it's on consignment, insist on having at least two days to test the camera and lens with a few rolls of film, if there are any problems found, then you should be able to return them and get your money back 😉