Canon LTM Not such a good buy on eBay

Canon M39 M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
FrankS

FrankS

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I thought I would make out like a bandit with this purchase, but that's not the case.

The Canon IVsb arrived non functional. The shutter does not release normally, there is a slight click when the button is pushed but the curtains don't fire until the film advance knob is turned slightly. Then all the speeds sound the same. The shutter curtains are wrinkled but look light tight.

I appreciate the combined viewfinder/rangefinder, but can't believe how much more squinty and cramped the viewfinder is, compared to my Leica llla.

The Serenar 35f2.8 looks okay. The Nippon Kogaku 85mm external finder included is okay. The slide on PC flash adaptor included is okay.

Canada customs extracted a further $45 on the $280 purchase.
 
Any estimates on the individual pieces if I part it out to recoup my costs? There was a shipping cost as well, and an unfair exchange rate. I was thinking that the Serenar lens could replace one of my Summarons.

Sent a note to the seller asking for partial refund. The ad said functioning normally. Hate to pay return shipping Though and be out that money.
 
Thats a shame. The IVSB is a nice body.

Just a ballpark guess, but $75 for the body, $200 for the lens (varies wildly between $150 and $300), $50 for the finder, $30 for the flash adapter?

And yes, that finder really is squinty. Much more so than the Leica LTM bodies. Thats why I asked a while ago if the IVSB2 was any better. 🙂
 
No worries, everyone should know (by now) that eBay is a bit of a gamble.

I stuck the Serenar 35 lens on my HRF and went for a walk in the woods. That film is soaking in some 1:100 Rodinal right now.
 
if you paid via paypal you get your original shipping back ie: whatever you paid the seller. Assuming you dispute it properly.
 
Right, but I'll be out the return shipping and the Canada customs costs.
I think I'll be alright parting out the pieces. I may even try the CLA on the camera myself since there isn't a lot of $ at stake.

Plus, Ive got someone locally interested in buying an F3 (I've got 4 of them) that will cover a sig portion of this cost.
 
I had the same model with pretty much the same symptoms. I spoke to my local camera guy who was experienced in servicing older cameras and he knew exactly what the issue was - something in the timing mechanism which is prone to getting out of whack in this camera. It took him 5 minutes to adjust the thing which he did at no charge. I hope you are as lucky. They are a fine little camera although the 1VSB2 is slightly better in the VF department. All of this era of Canon cameras had small squinty finders. But you should appreciate the switchable "zoom" in the finder which as much as anything is an aid to focussing.
 
Thanks for this info Peter. If I do keep this camera, it will sport a wide angle lens which will be zone focused, so the viewfinder issue is not a problem.

BTW Peter, I love many of the images you have here and the post processing that you do on your images. They have a very distinctive and pleasing look.
 
Really doing my best here to hold off from those Serenar 35/2.8's but they look so nice... By the time I feel I have to get one after all, they will probably be priced as much as Summarons and equally hard to find in good condition.

Reminder to self: shut yap on Serenar 35/2.8 lenses 😀


Nice find Frank, even if you sell off the other stuff and keep the lens I think you did well, cost-wise? And if it's supposed to replace a Summaron and you're selling that, you will have done even better, right!?
 
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FrankS said:
Thanks for this info Peter. If I do keep this camera, it will sport a wide angle lens which will be zone focused, so the viewfinder issue is not a problem.

BTW Peter, I love many of the images you have here and the post processing that you do on your images. They have a very distinctive and pleasing look.
Click to expand...

Thanks Frank. I really appreciate your feedback. The Canon should work well as a zone focussed camera. I really love their build quality - if anything they are more strongly built than Leicas of the period.
 
I find that many, if not most, Barnack style rangefinders sold on eBay have shutter or shutter curtain problems. If one is not buying them from an expert, plan on this being the case. The Canon rangefinders are nearly as well made as Leica's, and usually, but not always in better condition since they are on average newer and seem to have been used less.

I personally enjoy using early Canon rangefinders, particulary the IVSB. Their finders may not be quite as good as their Leica counterparts (which is not saying much), but they combine the rangefinder with the finder and integrate switchable 100, and 135mm frames - very handy.

In any event, Youxin Ye can make your IVSB work like new again for reasonable money if you want to try him (recommended!)
 
There should not be any duty on camera equipment since we don't have a camera industry. I have never been charged duty or anything that I got on Ebay for cameras or accessories.
 
KoNickon said:
Right, the IVSB2 eyepiece is a lot better. Sorry about your unpleasant experience, Frank.
Click to expand...

I agree. I'm actually prefering the finder on my IVSB2 to the finder on my IIIc; and I like the adjustable magnification for more precise focusing.

Frank, sorry to hear about the bad deal. Maybe you could hang on to the camera for parts and hunt down a IVSB2 body.
 
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