Buying from KEH - Rangefinder Dim

[BLKRCAT]

Long story short I inherited a beautiful IIIa with a perfect little summar from my grandmother. The Leica is a family heirloom and I ended up having it CLAd and shoot with it occasionally. I'm afraid of "messing it up" since its something I will likely pass down to my children and so forth.

Anyways

I'm browsing KEH because I'm yearning for an LTM body that I can throw over my shoulder guilt free. Either a C or and F. I notice that almost all of their cameras, even EX ones, are noted with "Rangefinder Dim".

My IIIa has quite a dim rangefinder. Even after a CLA. Looking backwards through the rangefinder you can see the mirror looks tarnished and tired. It's only usable in daylight, the brighter the better.

I know KEH can be quite conservative on their grading system and cameras rated in poor condition can actually be in better condition than expected. Has anyone bought from KEH and can speak to how dim the rangefinder actually has to be for them to note it as such?

any help is appreciated but my wallet may say otherwise!

 

[yossarian123]

I have a IIIF from KEH. The rangefinder is pretty much unusable - the 2nd image isn't visible at all. They claim there are no parts so they will NOT repair these under warranty. Which is BS because Youxin will replace the beam splitter for $60. So your options are to buy it and have the beam splitter replaced as part of a CLA or if the finder is too dim then just return it to KEH for a full refund.

 

[B-9]

You must have missed my IIIc in the classifieds (now sold)

Keh is a great place to buy gear, if theyre telling you its dim, its bad enough to notice.

Keh would typically put a good looking camera in a much lesser grade with this problem and call it good.
But these days, im sure theyre netting a few extra coins if the rest of its nice.

If in doubt, buy it, they will gladly take it back, less the cost of the original shipment.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I've had IIf from one nice e-bay seller from NY area. After Zorki the IIf RF was bright!
Seriously, normal RF brightness for its prizm, window size. No problem for indoors.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Why not plan-on / budget for CLA and new beam-splitter, if necessary ?

Then you will have a freshly-serviced camera to go shooting with...

If you play the return / shipping game until you find one with an acceptable RF, the shipping costs will add-up quickly...

 

[pete hogan]

^^That's what I did. A nice IIf with a very dim, useless RF and also developing shutter capping. Youxin Ye replaced the beam-splitter and did a CLA. The camera is great now.

 

[BLKRCAT]

B-9 I did see your IIIc a couple days ago and was considering it. Too bad I missed out.

I understand that buying any leica these days one can't assume its going to be perfect out of the box and that they sometimes need a little TLC to get going. I'm still thinking it over because in no time a budget $125 camera from KEH could end up costing much more after a CLA and parts.

I'm not in any rush but was just wondering why KEH would note dim rangefinders even on EX cameras. If they aren't replacing beam splitters then that might explain why.

 

[Particular]

eBay seller nobbysparrow sells replacement mirrors for ltm leicas. Replacing the rf-mirror is a fairly easy procedure to do yourself. There are various instructions floating around the internet. It only requires taking the top off, and there is not a lot of accidental damage you can do in there. If you can handle a screwdriver, it is a cheap option worth considering.

 

[Filzkoeter]

The beam splitter replacement is cheap and quite easy to do. All there is to do is taking off the top plate, taking out the old beamsplitter, glueing the new one in and recalibrating the rangefinder. I've done it myself in under 1 hour without ever replacing a beamsplitter.

New cut-to-size beamsplitters for Barnacks are not even hard to find.

If you are planning to send the Leica in for a CLA, replacing the splitter should be quite inexpensive as others already stated.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Welcome aboard and thanks for saving me a bit of typing by pointing out the obvious... Any 60 year old camera is going to be a bit iffy; it's nothing to do will quality, the makers but a lot to do with the owners and time marching on.

Regards, David

 

[traveler_101]

I just don't see the point in trying to get away without a thorough overall; the camera needs to be worked on (unless you are buying a recently CLA'ed and repaired camera, of course). Just buy one you like and send it to Youxin Ye. He will CLA and put in a new bean splitter. Send the camera directly to him, or even let him find the camera and do the work as a package deal.

 

[Luddite Frank]

I'll second all the votes for buying decent cosmetics and planning for a CLA - you'll probably never have to have this particular camera serviced again...

Unless you see the item in person and check them out before buying, it's a real crap-shoot.

I don't think I 've bought any complete cameras from KEH, just lenses & other "accessories" ( prior to the outfit changing hands )... I always felt their grading was more harsh than actual condition warranted, but then I 'm looking for user gear from them, not pristine collectibles.


Good luck !