Horror story

[HuubL]

I just returned from a visit to the potential seller of a very nice looking set consisting of an M2, rigid summicron, 2.8 summaron and 90 chrome tele-elmarit, all from 1965. I was prepared to offer a good price for the set as the lenses looked exc, hardly used. Not a blemish on the chrome, not a scratch on the glass.

Then I shone my flashlight through the 50mm: spider webs of fungus over the entire surface of the back element, the 35mm infested with white wool throughout the entire tube between all elements, the tele-elmarit idem, heaps of fungus. The seller told me they hadn't been used for years and were just sitting there. Apparently in a humid place. Upon close inspection even the chrome on the M2 looked as if it had rings of fungus growing on it.

When I left the place I felt sooo bad...

 

[peter_n]

Oh dear... Good job you brought your inspection kit though!

 

[leica M2 fan]

But just think how badly you would have felt if you had bought it and then found out! aghhhh!

 

[robklurfield]

:bang:$50 might have been a good price.😉

 

[nobbylon]

Another marktplaats mint outfit HuubL!!!! I get really annoyed when I turn up after having the phone conversation only to find out they are rubbish. When I looked it was at €900!!!
Some you win though. I've just managed to get 2 mint- Nikkormats, an FTN and an FT2 with lenses and cases for less than a night in the pub! happy hunting, j

 

[rui]

Hey... Even with fungus, I'd be interested on the chrome Tele-Elmarit... 🙂

 

[hans voralberg]

I'd have driven the price down and have a go at cleaning them!

 

[HuubL]

Hey... Even with fungus, I'd be interested on the chrome Tele-Elmarit... 🙂

You wouldn't want this one, I assure you!

 

[Ronald M]

Don`t bother. Fungus does damage and is like advanced cancer, hard to cure

 

[HuubL]

Another marktplaats mint outfit HuubL!!!! I get really annoyed when I turn up after having the phone conversation only to find out they are rubbish. When I looked it was at €900!!!
Some you win though. I've just managed to get 2 mint- Nikkormats, an FTN and an FT2 with lenses and cases for less than a night in the pub! happy hunting, j

That's the kit indeed. It's at 950 now, but I offered more than that.
Boy, I have never seen a nicer (at the outside) kit of lenses that were so woolly inside. Always thought that fungus was a myth, maybe occasionally present in the hot and humid tropics.

When I got home the first thing I did was take a shower, before I dared fondle my own M2.. 😉

 

[skibeerr]

This the one?

http://link.marktplaats.nl/301307808

 

[HuubL]

Another marktplaats mint outfit HuubL!!!! I get really annoyed when I turn up after having the phone conversation only to find out they are rubbish. When I looked it was at €900!!!
Some you win though. I've just managed to get 2 mint- Nikkormats, an FTN and an FT2 with lenses and cases for less than a night in the pub! happy hunting, j

It depends on what you spend in the pub, of course! Sounds good though. I've never been into Nikons myself (one of these days I'll try out an F2 or F3 or so) but my brother had an early Nikkormat and that looked like a great camera.

 

[HuubL]

This the one?

http://link.marktplaats.nl/301307808

Yep.......

 

[Ronald_H]

It depends on what you spend in the pub, of course! Sounds good though. I've never been into Nikons myself (one of these days I'll try out an F2 or F3 or so) but my brother had an early Nikkormat and that looked like a great camera.

Try an FM first. Basically an F2 in a smaller package. Very cheap compared to an F2 or FM2 and veeeeery nice. Indestructible too. Got a nice one from Marktplaats 😉 for 60 euros.

Shame about the M2 & lenses. You could call Will van Manen and discuss what can be done about the fungus... maybe you could bargain a bit...

 

[HuubL]

Try an FM first. Basically an F2 in a smaller package. Very cheap compared to an F2 or FM2 and veeeeery nice. Indestructible too. Got a nice one from Marktplaats 😉 for 60 euros.

Shame about the M2 & lenses. You could call Will van Manen and discuss what can be done about the fungus... maybe you could bargain a bit...

Thanks for the hint Ronald. I'll put an FM on my wishlist. Will got my message yesterday. I'm waiting for a reply...

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Sorry to hear it, Huub. Good thing you spotted the problem before parting with your cash.

I normally don't bother too much with cameras from Marktplaats, but I did manage to get a beat-up Rolleiflex Standard for a fair price a couple of weeks ago. After a little CLA and exercise it appears to be working....have to wait on some film to try it out.

Had less luck with a Welta Weltini II, front lens element was full of scratches and the film transport was rather iffy.

Still, these cost me nowhere near the price for an M2 + extras

 

[Ronald_H]

I normally don't bother too much with cameras from Marktplaats, but I did manage to get a beat-up Rolleiflex Standard for a fair price a couple of weeks ago.

For those none-Dutchies: Marktplaats = a Dutch site comparable to eBay, even owned by eBay these days.

Standard modus operandi for me, for cameras and gear from eBay or Marktplaats, is to meet the seller and see for myself. I have to say that I never went home without making the sale though. Got plenty of analogue gear for good prices. The only time when this was not feasible was with a Hasselblad lens I got from the UK. But the seller had 100% approval and the price was very low. Upon arrival everything was fine, but after a few weeks the slow speeds hung-up. But Will van Manen took care of that 😉

Huub, please let us know what Will says about the fungus!