Dilemma: M6 or R2

[ElrodCod]

I bid for a used M6 on EBay the other day & when I was outbid I went ahead & sucessfully bid on what's probably the last brand new Bessa R2 in the country. The dilemma is that after winning the R2 bid I received a "second chance" offer (@ my bid of ~$600) on the M6 and can only afford one major purchase.
My inclination is to stay with the R2. Used M6's will still be around & for about a hundred bucks more than the M6 cost I can have a brand new camera and lens. Am I on the right track or off base? Your thoughts & comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

[boarini2003]

I personally like the M6 better, but a new R2 sounds great. Just keep it and use it, I say.

 

[jja]

$600 for an M6? Do you have the e-bay link? That price sounds almost too good to be true. Tread carefully on "second-chance" offers.

A good M6 (classic) should still be running $1000-$1200.

 

[pab]

Go for the M6- the focus patch is so much easier to use when you're trying to focus quickly and it's more likely to stay properly aligned over time. The only advantages of the R2 are that it is lighter, has faster flash sync speed and faster maximum shutter speed.

 

[pab]

JJA does make a good point though. I would buy a used M6 only from a reputable source.

 

[LazyHammock]

No dilemma - M6. If it turns out you don't like it you will make your money back and more.
Nick

 

[ElrodCod]

$600 for an M6? Do you have the e-bay link? That price sounds almost too good to be true. Tread carefully on "second-chance" offers.

A good M6 (classic) should still be running $1000-$1200.

Here's the link to the M6 tjhat I got the second chance offer on.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110012548283&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:2

 

[jja]

My apologies if I sounded alarmist on my first post. I saw the link and the seller does look legit, but I still wonder what compels the seller to take a $300 loss when she/he can simply relist the item. However, if you are comfortable with this offer, the choice for me would be easy, I'd take the M6.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

he seems to be legit, a photographer, if you look at his feedback he has sold alot of his prints.

An M6 (classic in this case) is a steal at 600 USD, you could easily sell it for more, what was the reason he gave you for a second chance? There are five bidders closer to the closing price than you, why would he accept your bid of 600 if he could get one of the other higher bids?

Very suspicious to me, tread lightly.

Todd

 

[sherm]

Keep The R2.... it's all mechanical and the focus patch is very bright and the body is very reliable. Too many people get caught up in the Leica bodies. I have owned an M6 as well as an M7 and yes they are terrific, a real piece of precision craftsmanship but as good as they are the only real thing they do is hold the film!.

Now that you own an "M" mount camera go out and buy some Leica glass, that's where you sould spend your money. Remember, photography is about capturing light, and the body last time I checked doesn't do that.

A lot of people will buy an "M" body and then put second rate glass on it, this defeats the whole purpose of Leica IMHO. They will say that they don't think their J's are bad and that's fine if they believe that, but if you asked them that and they had unlimited funds their bags would be full of Cron's, Lux's, Elmars, and Nocts and even perish the thought Sonnars and Planars. "Denial" is a big river in Egypt. Ask serious photogs who make a living and get their opinions about what is really important.

If you have disposable income then by all means get a Leica body they are truly wonderful, if like most folks here you are doing it on a budget than be smart and save your $$$$ for glass, you'll be happy that you did.


Scott

 

[MCTuomey]

there is something suspicious about a $600 price for an M6, i agree.

you don't apparently suffer from the "must have leica" syndrome (at least not yet), so why not go with the R2? it's new, warranted, even if it's priced up a bit due to its "rarity" factor. fwiw, a bessa is how i got back into rangefinders. aside from its short baselength, it's a great camera with a very bright, usable finder.

there's just got to be something wrong with that M6. if you do go with the leica, be sure to get a solid return commitment from the owner.

 

[ElrodCod]

he seems to be legit, a photographer, if you look at his feedback he has sold alot of his prints.

An M6 (classic in this case) is a steal at 600 USD, you could easily sell it for more, what was the reason he gave you for a second chance? There are five bidders closer to the closing price than you, why would he accept your bid of 600 if he could get one of the other higher bids?

Very suspicious to me, tread lightly.

Todd

I was wondering about the other five bidders as well. The second chance offer states, "Recently Bid On * In compliance with eBay's Policy, the seller is making this Second Chance Offer to you at your last bid price of: US $611.00 The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because either the winning bidder was unable to complete the transaction or the seller has duplicate items for sale." I read that to mean that the seller may be selling a diferent body than what was listed.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

email him and ask him to clarify, see if you can call him on the phone or vice versa.

Todd

 

[ElrodCod]

My thanks to all for your replies. No disrespect intended to the seller of the M6 but after hearing many EBay horror stories, I've decided to stay with the R2. It's from a well known Voightlander dealer and has the factory warrantee. Leicas are nice but if I were shell out that kind of money for a used camera I'd want examine it personally first. There'll be other opportunities for a GAS attack.😉

 

[JoeFriday]

I would never accept a 'second chance offer' from an ebayer.. if you use a credit card, you'll be somewhat covered.. but without the final auction 'contract' backing you up, it's very possible you're being scammed

there was also the fact that you agreed to buy the R2 already.. if you back out of that, you are basically screwing that seller.. not nice

I personally would definitely choose an M6 over an R2, but not under those circumstances

 

[peter_n]

I agree with Brett and I think you have done the right thing. I turned down one of these 2nd offers for a lens, I was the second in line in that case and I don't remember the details but I remember thinking it was dodgy.

Good advice up above; spend the money you've saved on good glass! Good luck with your new R2. 🙂

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

While the seller looks perfectly legitimate in terms of feedback, two issues of concern exist:

1) $600 is way too low for a M6 period (unless its condition or function undercuts that price) ... and therefore in the category of 'too good to be true'

2) it is very unusual to have second chance offers given 5 bidders down, especially where there is such a high price differential between the winning bid and the lower bids

The R2 is a very competent camera and you will be pleased. If you find you are still tempted by the siren song of the M6 or M6 TTL (which are great cameras), try used at KEH or B&H. They are solid vendors who have great return policies.

Or watch for M6 sales here at RFF or at photo.net from long-standing contributors.

have fun with the R2, you will enjoy it 🙂

 

[rool]

I've been receiving quite a lot of fishy ebay second chance offers lately. Stay away from them.

 

[ghost]

if the second chance offer doesn't show up on your ebay messages page, it's a spoof.

 

[nrb]

Both cameras are great in my opinion. But surely I would think a second chance ebay offer of a $600 M6 risky at best.
Presently my favourite rangefinder is a Bessa R2.