Comments on eBay Leica 12504 hood copy

[JayC]

Has anyone bought one of the non-OEM, aftermarket hoods that are on eBay? How do they compare with the official Leica version?

A few months ago I couldn't sell my 12504 on here or craigslist for even $80. I finally took $70 for it. Now all I see are prices that start at more than double that. Even triple.

 

[Beemermark]

The prices are ridiculous. I imagine most other users won't pay that much either. I wouldn't pay $90 for a Leica hood let alone $90 for a copy. I have a number of the real McCoy's (bought years ago in another galaxy) but I'm always misplacing them. A few years ago, I a bought a bunch of the screw-in vented hoods for ~$10 or less and they work just as good as the Leica hood.

 

[Huss]

Has anyone bought one of the non-OEM, aftermarket hoods that are on eBay? How do they compare with the official Leica version?

A few months ago I couldn't sell my 12504 on here or craigslist for even $80. I finally took $70 for it. Now all I see are prices that start at more than double that. Even triple.

I was in the market for one. I must have bought it just before you sold yours.
You should have used ebay. There, if in really nice shape, they were going for $200+. Beaters were (are?) $100+
I akshully bought mine, mint condition, from igorcamera.com for about $120.

The knock offs are nowhere near as nice, nor fit as well. Yes, they 'work' but, dammit man ur putting that thing on a Leica lens!
😉

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I've bought a selection of the Chinese made screw in vented hoods (straight sided and tapered) and can't complain because I'm pleased with them and use them on a lot of different cameras and lenses.

And the last thing I want to do is pay a fortune for a rarity like the genuine article and then drop it and tread on it, or lose it, or worse.

Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hi,

I've bought a selection of the Chinese made screw in vented hoods (straight sided and tapered) and can't complain because I'm pleased with them and use them on a lot of different cameras and lenses.

And the last thing I want to do is pay a fortune for a rarity like the genuine article and then drop it and tread on it, or lose it, or worse.

Regards, David

Hello,

For Summarit 35 2.5 I went with used Leica one from BH. Yes, it is 90 USD even used, but it is "precise", functional and fits. First, I have tried generic MiC on it, it just looks and feels like crap. I feel like looser with it on this lens. Screwed on Leica one, it was worth every penny.

Yes, I did ventured with MiC for many if not all Leitz lenses I used to have. They are usable, but...
Coarse thread on all of them. None of the MiC hoods have precise mount thread. B+H, Kenko filter would screw in buttery smooth. Cheap MiC hood, filter, it is like sanding.

Cheers, Ko.

 

[Huss]

Hello,

For Summarit 35 2.5 I went with used Leica one from BH. Yes, it is 90 USD even used, but it is "precise", functional and fits. First, I have tried generic MiC on it, it just looks and feels like crap. I feel like looser with it on this lens. Screwed on Leica one, it was worth every penny.

Yes, I did ventured with MiC for many if not all Leitz lenses I used to have. They are usable, but...
Coarse thread on all of them. None of the MiC hoods have precise mount thread. B+H, Kenko filter would screw in buttery smooth. Cheap MiC hood, filter, it is like sanding.

Cheers, Ko.

That is my exact experience with them too.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I must have been lucky with mine but I have had few disappointments with internet sourced things. Just a posh camera from Japan and a RF from Germany, so far.

Regards, David

 

[rodinal]

I bought one, paid $60, looks excellent and works pretty well on my 8-element Summicron 35. Chose this option because they offered a chrome version that is not (?) available from Leica.

 

[MikeChong]

The Leica 12504 hood just looks so good, but indeed it's pricey sometimes. I find the price varies from time to time. Looking just now they are commanding very high prices $200 and up for a clean version. I picked one up for $120 a year ago that's almost mint. A chrome /silver one that is rare sold on the bay for $600! Never had a knock off, but I agree the biggest complaint is sometimes it just lacks the "refinement" of the Leica brand.

 

[Huss]

I bought my mint one from igorcamera.com, for a fraction of the price that they are asked for on ebay or popflash.com

Yeah I've tried the knock off Chinese ones, and while they 'fit' and they 'work' it's like wearing an ugly pair of shoes with a really nice suit.

 

[Shac]

I've found most of the e-bay hoods fine - just one not that great - but when you're paying $6 rather than $60 plus (& the cheap ones work just as lens shades IMO) I can't complain. Oh and I do have several "genuine" hoods so have been able to compare their effectiveness.

 

[borge]

Did you find a good one? I can see there are several on eBay now, but they all look funky in one way or the other, and some of the knock-offs are even rather expensive (like around $80!!)

 

[coelacanth]

Keep an eye on KEH. I got genuine Leica one for $67 shipped (discount code, shipping and CA tax all inclusive). It was BG rated, but no issues, no distortion, just some paint loss around the front edge. I had in-stock alert set up, and snatched it up as soon as one became available.

 

[Brian Legge]

Agreed. I picked one up during their 30% off accessory sale in August. $69 shipped ($99 pre-discount which qualified it for free shipping).

 

[mdarnton]

Unlike other Leica stuff, their clip-on metal hoods have all of the strength of cheap a tuna can. After wrecking mine because it was on a lens in my bag--that's all--I bought a screw in reverse-taper threaded hood on ebay for $4. It's all that Leica SHOULD have made--thick and tough, and it hasn't disappointed.

 

[ferider]

I'm not sure everybody here is referring to the same hood that the OP mentions.

The Chinese 12504 copy that I bought (for example 112090279598@ebay), is well made, and not much different from the original. It is below US 50 on ebay, can be had in silver (for example for a Summaron), and fits Series 7 or 49mm filters, which is the best feature about it, IMO.

As Huss said good originals are difficult to find below US 100 these days.

Roland.

 

[Huss]

Unlike other Leica stuff, their clip-on metal hoods have all of the strength of cheap a tuna can. After wrecking mine because it was on a lens in my bag--that's all--I bought a screw in reverse-taper threaded hood on ebay for $4. It's all that Leica SHOULD have made--thick and tough, and it hasn't disappointed.

My experience is the complete opposite of yours. It is so strong I can pick up my camera with it. There is zero flex in it.