jja
Well-known
My first post to the RFF!
I'm thinking hard about this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&?ViewItem&item=3856027191
It is for an M2, low reserve, no bids as of yet.
The camera looks like it will need a CLA, but if it goes for a reasonabl price, it may be worth it. Am I missing something here? If you were in the market for your first Leica, would you bid on this one? (Yes, I know that I may be inviting competing bids, but I'm trying to learn something here.)
Thanks all,
jja
I'm thinking hard about this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&?ViewItem&item=3856027191
It is for an M2, low reserve, no bids as of yet.
The camera looks like it will need a CLA, but if it goes for a reasonabl price, it may be worth it. Am I missing something here? If you were in the market for your first Leica, would you bid on this one? (Yes, I know that I may be inviting competing bids, but I'm trying to learn something here.)
Thanks all,
jja
Very tempting, have you contacted the seller and asked questions? Are you satisfied with the answers? It seems that something is wrong that nobody has bid on it. I think your assesment is right, not a bad price, and with a CLA it could be a winner. Why wouldn't there be any bidding? How is the rangefinder/viewfinder, I wonder if it is showing decementing?
justins7
Well-known
It seems like a decent deal. Do you have experience with other rangefinders?
I bought my first M years ago when options were more limited. It was a VERY cosmetically disfigured M3 for $450. Although I had it adjusted and it works perfectly, it was a lousy deal since it was in poor external shape. Then I wanted to use wide angle lenses and regretted that I missed an M2 for $650. That was in 1995.
Later I wanted an internal meter so I saved up and bought an M6. Best overall option at the time.
Obviously you need to think about these things as I'm sure you have.
I bought my first M years ago when options were more limited. It was a VERY cosmetically disfigured M3 for $450. Although I had it adjusted and it works perfectly, it was a lousy deal since it was in poor external shape. Then I wanted to use wide angle lenses and regretted that I missed an M2 for $650. That was in 1995.
Later I wanted an internal meter so I saved up and bought an M6. Best overall option at the time.
Obviously you need to think about these things as I'm sure you have.
jja
Well-known
I just sent an e-mail a while ago, we'll see if there's a reply in time to make up my mind. Lack of bids is certainly intriguing, esp. for a high volume seller.
I'll ask about decementing if I get a reply to my first query.
jja
I'll ask about decementing if I get a reply to my first query.
jja
P
pshinkaw
Guest
Interesting.
If the Seller is Fred Sherfy he has his collection on a website,although it may be down for maintenance). I think I used it to research Pentax Spotmatics.
-Paul
If the Seller is Fred Sherfy he has his collection on a website,although it may be down for maintenance). I think I used it to research Pentax Spotmatics.
-Paul
I bought a Leica M3 recently that had the same type of shutter issues. Essex in New Jersey CLA'd it for $158: corrected shutter capping problem, cleaned light haze from finder, and repaired chipped vulcanite. It was back to my house in 16 days, Priority mail up and UPS back.
Huck Finn
Well-known
If you haven't done so already, you may want to do an ebay search for recent sales of the Leica M2. Several have sold for less than $500, others have sold for more. If you study the sales & see what factors made the difference, it can tell you whether this is a good deal or not. It can also suggest some questions for you to e-mail the seller. If you make this purchase, plan to spend an estra $150-$300 + shipping for a CLA unless the seller can assure you that this has been done recently.
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
jja, I believe the reason there are no bids on this one yet is the high initial bid. Usually, the best way to start accumulating bids is to place a low first bid (like $10 or so).
Better hurry. It does look like an excellent deal. If I could swing the funds I'd try to snatch it, but then I already have some of that gear.
Please, go for it, place a nice, juicy bid and win it. The cosmetic problems are negligible, and after a CLA at Essex, as Brian adviced, you'll have a camera with some good 25 years of potential fun.
Besides, the M2 has the framelines for the 35mm lens. This, together with an Ultron 35/1.7 would be a match made in heaven!
Better hurry. It does look like an excellent deal. If I could swing the funds I'd try to snatch it, but then I already have some of that gear.
Please, go for it, place a nice, juicy bid and win it. The cosmetic problems are negligible, and after a CLA at Essex, as Brian adviced, you'll have a camera with some good 25 years of potential fun.
Besides, the M2 has the framelines for the 35mm lens. This, together with an Ultron 35/1.7 would be a match made in heaven!
jja
Well-known
SolaresLarrave, que mal ejemplo! Nice to see you on the RFF. Did you ever get that Rolleicord you were looking for?
This auction is very tempting, and I'm awaiting reply from the seller. He appears to be the same Fred Sherfy that phshinkaw mentioned above. Anyone know him?
jja
This auction is very tempting, and I'm awaiting reply from the seller. He appears to be the same Fred Sherfy that phshinkaw mentioned above. Anyone know him?
jja
P
pshinkaw
Guest
Fred Shjerfy's Pentax page is at:
http://www.concentric.net/~sherfy/
It was dow for maintenance a few months ago and I just checked it this morning. It is up.
He's certainly knowledgable about AOC products. Didn't know he was into Leica's too.
-Paul
http://www.concentric.net/~sherfy/
It was dow for maintenance a few months ago and I just checked it this morning. It is up.
He's certainly knowledgable about AOC products. Didn't know he was into Leica's too.
-Paul
peter_n
Veteran
Welcome to the forum, jja! 
It does look like a good deal, I don't see that there's a reserve, you might get it for $500. Seller looks reliable. If you get it and add Brian's ~$160 CLA you would have a great box. I say go for it!
It does look like a good deal, I don't see that there's a reserve, you might get it for $500. Seller looks reliable. If you get it and add Brian's ~$160 CLA you would have a great box. I say go for it!
My M2 Came Back today from Essex! It was a long wait; the rewind gears were backordered from Leica in Germany. It ran a total of $188 for the rewind repair and the CLA. The camera was $430 on auction in September; so all-in-all a little over $600. The amazing thing is that Leica still makes parts for this 1958 camera! The VF/RF is clear and contrasty. Overall condition is about like the one now on auction; trade a small dent near the wind lever for the top plate scrapes. Mine is very early; this one on auction has the self timer and lever rewind. The SN on the one you are looking at is very late, and highly desirable. Mine is early, and not as convenient in use as the rewind button must be held down for correct operation.
I would go for it myself if I did not already have one!
I would go for it myself if I did not already have one!
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
jja, are you a professor selling a Rolleicord for a very tempting price in PN? The world is really a pañuelo!
BTW... that M2 doesn't look bad at all... If I weren't bent on going digital sometime...
Ooops! What did I say?
BTW... that M2 doesn't look bad at all... If I weren't bent on going digital sometime...
Ooops!
What did I say? jja
Well-known
Brian, Francisco, et. al.: Thanks for the friendly encouragement. I may pass on this, as I still have not heard back from the seller regarding my questions. So while it looks like a relatively low risk auction, I'm going to be conservative and wait a little longer.
Who knows, I may yet hear back.
jja
Who knows, I may yet hear back.
jja
back alley
IMAGES
welcome to the forum jja.
this looks good to me. the camera and the seller. he has lots of positive feedback and lots of sales. that means something.
i agree with francisco about the high initial bid and people in the know realize it will need a cla right off the bat.
it's christmas shopping season and people are scared off by the that 500 bucks in the face.
joe
this looks good to me. the camera and the seller. he has lots of positive feedback and lots of sales. that means something.
i agree with francisco about the high initial bid and people in the know realize it will need a cla right off the bat.
it's christmas shopping season and people are scared off by the that 500 bucks in the face.
joe
Two bids, $557.50.
I'm Feeling Pretty Good about my M2 right about now! Just put the chrome Summicron on it, its loaded and ready to go!
jja
Well-known
Mine was the first bid, as I was on my way out to dinner. Came home to find someone snagged it 10 seconds before auction's end. Well, now I have the bug and will be watching a little more closely for good deals.
jja
jja
peter_n
Veteran
Too bad, jja. Glad you went for it though! Everybody who comes here gets the bug, we just don't tell them they'll catch it before they register...
Another will be along. Wait until after Christmas, toward January which is Inventory Month here in the US. Stores must take count of items and pay tax on what they have in stock. After Christmas sells will abound!