I'm troubled with Gas

[Alan]

I've always avoid looking at the leica M series rangefinders, but yesterday I couldn't resist the urge to look at the blackchrome M5 at keh.com. I did some research on it and it looks like a sweet camera and I want to buy it. The condition is bargain though. Has anybody ever bought any camera equipment from KEH? Is it worth the risk for buying the Leica from them without inspecting it myself?
I am a first time Leica buyer so any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[FrankS]

Do they have a 30 day return policy? That would give you time to run some film through to test the camera's functions.

 

[Jason_K]

I've never had a problem buying from KEH and their bargain ratings are usually in good shape.

 

[fredus]

I wouldn't go with a M5 for a first M ... They're kind of ... different from the whole M experience imho ...

Fred

 

[aizan]

not really. having owned an m2, in retrospect i probably should have gone for the m5. i think you'd love the meter display, film rewind crank, large shutter speed dial, and vertical strap lugs. all improvements over the basic m3 design!

 

[richard_l]

KEH has something like a 14 day return policy. You can return it for a full refund for any reason (or no reason) if it's in the same condition as you got it. Also I think there's a 30 day warranty. They'll fix anything that's wrong with it or else exchange it for one that works. I had to take advantage of the warranty once. They were super fast. Fixed it the day they got it and sent it back 2nd day air, thus, in effect absorbing what I paid to ship it to them.

 

[wlewisiii]

I just got my bargain rated Canon 7 from them this week. It's got some light scratches in the chrome, the film advance is showing some brassing and some spots are chipped on the shutter speed dial. Mechanically it is fine - the shutter sounds good, the meter is active and as close to on as Selenium ever gets, the RF appears to be on (got to dev the first roll tonight to be sure.). All in all, it's why I never hesitate to take thier bargain condition - it's better that more than a few "mint" items off of ebay.

William

 

[Doug]

Agree with William... I've bought several items from KEH with good experiences. Their "bargain" condition might elsewhere be called "excellent user" condition. You often have to look very closely to see any flaws. "Ugly" condition is where you start seeing the dents, extensive brassing, etc, but this is still functional gear. KEH are good people to deal with.

 

[raid]

What is "GAS" here on the RFF, if Gas-X isn't meant for it?

 

[peter_n]

Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

 

[raid]

Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

Thanks, Peter. I am not so sure that this expression is a good one though. I keep on reading here about people having gas, and I wonder why! 😀

 

[Dave H]

I'm afraid your attack of GAS is nowhere near as bad as my current attack of PAS (Picture Acquisition Syndrome),

work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
work, shower, bed
:bang: :bang: :bang:

 

[raid]

Dave: Sorry to learn about your work schedule. Try to enjoy part of the weekends with photography, if time permits. Not to rub it in, but I will be traveling tomorrow to the Great Smoky Mountains, and I am planning to do some photography there.

 

[jano]

Dave: eight days a week, you, too, huh? :bang:

 

[MCTuomey]

I'm a big fan of keh. Good return policy - the few items I've bought from them that needed to be returned were credited back without question.

Their ratings are conservative as others have noted, particularly so on bodies, I've found. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them. One of their sales reps, Arthur, is especially helpful - no relation or association to me - he's just a good guy.

About the M5, I disagree with the view that it's not a good place to start with M cameras. It is pure Leica funkadelia. It may actually be the perfect place to start, if you want a metered M that has the more substantial classic feel.

 

[Avotius]

I bought a Mamiya 6 on KEH and the camera went dead after about 50 days of having it, and they replaced it with absolutly no fuss whatsoever. I would have no problem buying other things from them in the future and I also watch that leica used page myself 😉

 

[SolaresLarrave]

An M5 as your first Leica? Kind of unusual... But not impossible. It probably would have been my choice if it hadn't been for the fact that the M5s I saw were priced beyond my range.

Just be aware that there are some lenses that cannot be used with the M5, and one of them is the Elmarit 28/f2.8 (first version, I believe), and the Super Angulon 21/f4. Needless to say, you cannot use these lenses on any metered Leica M body because the rear element blocks the TTL meter. Once you're aware of this, you can happily shop away! 🙂

As for buying from KEH... I've never had a problem with the gear they sell, and neither with the few bits & pieces I've purchased, so go ahead, make our day! 😉

 

[wlewisiii]

I was just answering a query about where to buy classic cameras over at Nelsonfoto and thought that this might be useful to you here. So to crosspost then,

Something to remember with KEH - their grading is very conservative and is purely cosmetic. For example, recently they had 4 Canon 7 cameras listed.
#1 had the RF off, but was Excellent Plus. $299.00 and $200+ for CLA
#2 had the meter inop, but was Excellent Plus. $299.00 and $200+ for CLA
#3 had oil on the curtain, but was Excellent. $254.00 and $200+ for CLA
#4 had a shutter curtain wrinkled (and show me a Canon with metal shutters that doesn't?) but the meter worked, the RF was good, no other mechanical problems. Rated Bargain. $189.00 - usable out of box.

The "Bargain" grade camera has numerous very light scratches in the chrome (the kind you have to tilt the body back and forth in strong light to see), some brassing on the advance lever and a little bit of chipping on the shutter speed dial. No mechanical issues. Guess which one is now in my house turning lots of silver halides into images?

KEH has very good warranties and customer service. They tend to be a bit higher if you want collector grade materials, but if, like me, you are interested in a camera, lens or accessory that will be in your hand everytime you walk out the door, there can be some very real great deals to be found there.

Take your time and wait for the right moment. I had been waiting a while for the right 7 (especially since I wanted a 7, not a 7s) to come along and short of an estate sale where the survivors don't know diddly about cameras, this is as good as it gets.

Good luck,

William
(CLA price above assumes using DAG, as my Canon screw mounts won't go anywhere else. Exquisite service.)"

BTW, if I ever own a Leica M body, it will probably be a 5. There is just so much soul there there from being the black sheep of the family... 😀

William

 

[Alan]

Thanks for all the response! I think I will try to save some money first before making any purchase, but the M5 will be my goal for saving! possibly saving a few hundred each months. Hopefully I will still be able to find a decent one when I have the fund!

ps. It's a good thing I don't have a credit card, otherelse I would be waiting for the shipments right now! 🙂

 

[tomcavanaugh]

Strong concurrence with the above regarding KEH! The Mamiya equipment I purchased with their "Bargain" rating was somewhere between Good and Excellent, to my mind.

Regarding the M5: I've used one off and on since '87, and it is now succumbing to "decementing" in the viewfinder, and the lense is fogged, <sigh> so I expect to replace it with a 6. Quite a lot nicer feel to it, the M6 . . .