Adorama and the Summar

[Ade-oh]

Oh, if only we had stores like Adorama and KEH in Europe!

I would recommend Ffordes in Scotland. I've bought new and used gear from them without any problems at all. Not as big as KEH or Adorama maybe, but still have a fairly comprehensive stock of used gear.

http://www.ffordes.com

 

[B-9]

Got everything sorted out and got a 50% refund on the lens! Now ill be able to get a step up ring/hood/filter for this lens.

Anyone care to share their recipe for mounting Non-Leica hoods and filters?

I see Heliopan makes a 34-39 step up ring, but its rather expensive.
It seems the 34-37 rings are really common and cheap.

But anyways.
Heres a quick snap of the 20$ Summar on my Canon IVSB


DSCN1248 by B-9, on Flickr

 

[Brian Legge]

Congrats on sorting it out. That price is silly good, enev if the glass was terribly scratched.

 

[former member]

I'm glad it sorted out for you, and that is a great price.

I use the 34 to 37 step up, but also have a number of 34mm filters. They are not hard to find on Ebay, I bought Canon filters at a good price.

Thanks to out Adorama RFF member for the assist.

 

[former member]

>My biggest feeling of dissapointment is having bought a set of Tiffen Photar filters w/
>Series #6 holder. Without having a Summitar these are virtually useless to me. Every
>peny really does count when trying to set up a LTM RF kit. I even spent last night
>making a nice filter case :[

We have a FREE Want to Trade section in our Classified section. Try placing a WTT for 34mm or 37mm filters and a step-up. A number of people might want that Summitar Series VI adapter. I ended up making one, included it when I sold the lens.

 

[HelenOster]

Got everything sorted out and got a 50% refund on the lens! Now ill be able to get a step up ring/hood/filter for this lens.

Always good to have a happy ending.......

 

[B-9]

Yes im very happy with the price! Since doing more research, im sure this lens will fit the bill for me just fine. Maybe someday ill grab a Summitar, but im thinking about a Canon Serenar 35mm f2.8 or a Rapidwinder right now :]

I almost feel goofy for trading my Nikon F3 for another lens or winder. But when it comes down to it, Im 100% ill enjoy this Canon more, so lets bring of the GAS.

I see alot about Summars have war battled front glass, and maybe the one I does would be in this category. But at first glance it looks almost perfect. Once you shine a flashlight through the lens, the cleaning marks become evident.
Theyre so light and fine its hard to decide if its rough or nice.

I just ordered a few things of eBay
34-37 step up ring 7$
37mm Tiffen UV filter 7$
37mm Adorama Metal Hood 8$

Im going to post the Series 6 filters and adapt. for trade, im def. looking for a 37mm Yellow or Orange filter thats threaded and not push on.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[john_nyc]

Another example of why i consistently advise against buying USED goods from Adorama. I live close by, so i've been in the store many times. They treat the used items like crap. And, by your account along with an experience of my own, they don't bother to carefully and accurately list the products.

Agreed. I've worked a few blocks from there for the last 14 years and have bought quite a lot of used stuff there. I'd say that about 50% of it went back for one reason or another. A few years ago I bought an R6 which was in "demo" condition and all of the seals had perished. It was otherwise very nice so their solution was to send me to the chainsmoking repair guy they work with. He fixed the seals, but then the camera stank like an ashtray and I didn't sign on for that. Back it went.

Just this last two weeks I bought an Elmar 50/3.5 rated as "E", which is supposed to mean slight wear with clean glass. The focus and aperture were both VERY sticky (to the point that the torque required to focus was more than what was required to unscrew the lens, but the glass was clean and it looked good. I took a chance that working it a bit would free it up, but no dice. I brought about the lens back on the following Monday (bought the lens Friday). It was early in the morning and not many salesmen or customers around, but there was a guy sitting at the used counter wearing a shirt embroidered with "Used Dept" on it. So I approach him and stated my request and he basically said that unless I was selling something he didn't need to talk to me and he went back to sitting there doing nothing. Other than the times when Gary gets cranky (which is more funny than offensive), no one there has ever been a jerk in my direction.

Anyway, a regular sales guy helped me out and I exchanged it for another Elmar, but this one had a free Leica II attached. The lens was in much better condition than the other lens, with just a touch of haze. The body needs some mirror re-silvering action, but the 21mm CV I have on there mostly focus agnostic.

I noticed that now they have the sticky lens listed, but knocked down 4 notches and they have the problems listed.

So, this isn't all to say I haven't over the years gotten some good stuff there for sometimes at a lowball price. It's just that frequently they over-rate and/or mis-identify the items. However, except for Mr. Sunshine Used Department Man, they've also never been resistant to accepting returns.

John

 

[HelenOster]

.....A few years ago I bought an R6 which was in "demo" condition and all of the seals had perished. ...their solution was to send me to the chainsmoking repair guy they work with.....the camera stank like an ashtray and I didn't sign on for that. Back it went.

We may still mess up, but the Adorama Management is now quite different from how it would have been right back then.

... I bought an Elmar 50/3.5 ..... The focus and aperture were both VERY sticky....but the glass was clean and it looked good...I brought about the lens back ....there was a guy sitting at the used counter wearing a shirt embroidered with "Used Dept" on it. So I approach him and stated my request and he basically said that unless I was selling something he didn't need to talk to me and he went back to sitting there doing nothing.

Can I ask whether you asked to speak to a manager about this? If a member of staff told you that he didn't need to talk to you, then that is clearly unacceptable and we need to deal with it as a matter of urgency.
Could you please email me directly with a description of the staff member and the time of your visit?
As soon as I can ID the person concerned, I will be discussing with his manager what action needs to be taken.

 

[Ronald M]

They come to camera shows in Chicago to buy. Very nice people.

 

[john_nyc]

Helen,
Thank you very much for taking an interest in my experience. You are a very gracious person.

John

 

[Steve M.]

If you wanted a Summitar but they sent a Summar, then you probably got a better lens, assuming the Summar is clean. You won't have to deal with nervous, swirley bokeh either. The Summitar is a better lens wide open, but after 4.0 the Summar will blow away most any lens, not just a Summitar. Again, that's if it's clean and if it's a good copy. The price you paid is ridiculously cheap, even w/ the cosmetic issues.

 

[B-9]

The lens shows typical scratching on the front element like ive said.
Im sure its not a primo example and i feel the 20$ was fair for the mistake.

Still waiting for my test shots to come in and they will speak volumes for the deal.