Cheap M4-2?

[EmilGil]

How much should one pay for a well used (scratched and slightly dinged) M4-2 body?

From what I understand, it was built in 1978 and "recently serviced" according to the seller (all speeds working and the shutter in good order). The flash sync doesn't work (not that I'm much of a flash user), apparently the sync unit has been removed for some reason.

Is $400 USD reasonable?

I've been looking at the results from the main camera auction here in Sweden and similar items have been sold for $500 USD and up...

I'm not 100% sure that I need a Leica (well, who doesn't???), I can't decide in which direction to go; staying analog or going digital. Right now, I'm thinking about selling my Nikon SLR, buy a RF and keep on shooting film for a while. I mainly shoot B&W and have access to my own darkroom, going digital implies heavy investments in camera and computer equipment. A M4-2 is also much smaller than any digital SLR, but somehow I can't let go of the thought of going digital anyway... What to do, what to do???

Any suggestions welcome!

 

[FrankS]

$400 is a very good price. If you don't like it you can easily resell it for that amount or more.

 

[EmilGil]

Well, I decided to go for it.

Now all I need is a bit of decent glass to put on it, and this is where it becomes expensive... Big camera auction in Sweden in April, I'll try to find a 35 or 50 Summicron there. Maybe a CV 21/4 from Robert White too. Anybody know of reputable dealers selling second hand equipment (pref. in Europe)?

Thanks for your help!

 

[a.black]

$400 sounds like a real bargain. I just picked up a M4-2 at B&H for a little over $600. Not that cheap, but I'm just too impatient to wait weeks for a camera to appear on e-bay. (that kinda sounds bad). But after one roll, and checking obvious functions there does not seem to be anything wrong.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

An M4-2 for $400! I really would have leaped at it! As Frank says, even if you want to sell it later you'll make a killing and recover your investment.

As for glass... look for a Nokton 50/f1.5 to begin with, or a CV 35/f2.5, if an old Leica is too steep an investment.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi,
I have used ffordes quite a lot and they are superb to deal with. I have always thought their items were better than their gradings. https://secure.ffordes.com/index.htm

Kim

Well, I decided to go for it.

Now all I need is a bit of decent glass to put on it, and this is where it becomes expensive... Big camera auction in Sweden in April, I'll try to find a 35 or 50 Summicron there. Maybe a CV 21/4 from Robert White too. Anybody know of reputable dealers selling second hand equipment (pref. in Europe)?

Thanks for your help!

 

[John]

You could post in the "wanted to buy" thread. I bought a Canon Serenar 50/1.8 that I am happy with. Other decent lenses may be offered for sale to you. 🙂

 

[EmilGil]

Me so happy! I picked up my M4-2 at the post office (or rather, the grocery store) this evening, and now I can't let go of it! It looked better than I expected, except for a rather big crack in the finder window. I doubt that it will affect the function, but I was not prepared for that. It sure feels solid, and if this is a cheap, "non-genuine" Canadian body, I wonder what those Wetzlar versions feels like! Total price was $389 including shipping. Me so happy!!!