additional potential costs?

[jwinst]

newbie again...

So, in looking through keh.com, a few bodies stood out to me. theres an M4P rated bargain for not too heady a cost.

Ive purchased from them before, a Nikon F3 at bargain which is a great camera. Scuffed, dinged a bit, but a tank and works like a pro.

Scuffs and dings dont worry me, but if there were to be something a bit more serious wrong, say the RF is off and needs calibration etc what would I be looking at for tuning/CLA etc?

What are some common issues with used Rangefinders? Foam seals? Id imagine the quality Leica is so known for would eliminate problems like the shutter speed being off and such.

Thanks, and hopefully Ill be joining the esteemed ranks of leica shooters in the somewhat near future.

 

[BillBingham2]

Take a look here:

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

IMHO, Stephen is not too far off base. Leicas are the best (IMHO) when they are used, but if they sit, speeds can be off. I find that if you work the shutter a lot (over a few nights in front of the TV), the speeds come back pretty close.

I have had great luck from KEH, but others of late have reported mixed results.

I would recomend run film through her quick and evaluate the results.

I love my M4P, it's where I started with Leica cameras many years ago.

Welcome, the RF world is a great place.

B2 (;->

 

[Artorius]

Adorama

Adorama

Adaorama has come into the RF world as lately. I've bought an M3, and last month a 35mm Sumlux(sp) w/eyes. Their products have been better than listed. Hopfully I will be trying to shoot some B&W this weekend. I can't hold my DSLR's with the splints, but I CAN hold my M3. I guess I can call my M3 a P&S camera. Please forgive my typing, I just got my cast off only to be replaced with a splint.

 

[Ben Z]

KEH has a 2-week no-?s-asked trial period. After that if you decide to keep it, they have a 2-month repair-or-replace warranty. Unless you buy the camera and don't use it for 10 weeks and then find out something is wrong, there is little chance you would need to spend a dime on repairs in the near run. In the far run, anything can happen and a full overhaul on an M body runs in the neighborhood of $300 if you go to Leica or one of the Leica-factory-trained repair people who run their own shops.

 

[jwinst]

. . . and a full overhaul on an M body runs in the neighborhood of $300 if you go to Leica or one of the Leica-factory-trained repair people who run their own shops.

Cool, thats kinda what I was looking for. Ive had too many people telling me used cameras are like cars and can be more trouble than its worth. BS, i know, but untill now all ive bought are maybe $150 cameras im not too worried about breaking. The M would be enough of an investment to have me a bit worried.

Thanks, and Ill be there soon. Hopefully.

Ive got a prof who used to shoot for National geographic who might let me play with one of his M4's for a day. MIIIIGGHT. Might also not let me leave his sight with it. Well see. Id like to get a feel for shooting one before buying one.

 

[nikon_junkie]

I've bought tons of DSLR stuff from B+H and Adorama, but find KEH just as first rate. Especially considering used, I would go with the 14 day return privledge. Though I recall Adorama offering similar.

From KEH...I got a 300mm F/2.8 AIS from them that is a stunningly great lens at "bargain" prices.

That said I have always had issues with M3 and M2 bodies whether they be from Ebay or Adorama, and would definatly NOT purchase another without a return privledge.

 

[jwinst]

. . . I have always had issues with M3 and M2 bodies whether they be from Ebay or Adorama, and would definatly NOT purchase another without a return privledge.

What sorts of issues?

Im looking mostly at the M4 series, M4P or M4-2 most likely. Ive heard the M4-2 was a bit of a drop in standards due to the canada plant, and the ~1980 financial mess leica was in, but that a slightly sub-par leica will still dominate others. I also like the bodies before the big Red badge appeared. They seem more mature, less gaudy. whatev.

I was doing some numbers and decided Id be happier with a leica than my Ipod so the $$$ from selling it will put me over the hump. mmmmmm, I can almost taste it.