In praise of KEH's "bargan" grade - and how ugly is "ugly"

[harpofreely]

I've ordered from KEH several times over the last few years, but some recent sales they've had on Leica and Hasselblad gear have had me buying more from them recently.

In the last few months, I've purchased all of the following in "bargan" grade:

Hasselblad 500 C/M body, A12 back, Planar 80mm C, WLF
Leica Summicron 35mm w/ eyes, Elmar 90mm collapsible, various caps, filters, and lens hoods

Each time, I've marveled at how little these items differ from the "excellent" and "like new" graded items I've purchased - they are at least as good as the average eBayer's "minty" or the like. I'm tempted to try a few "ugly" items.

Have I just been lucky? What sort of experiences have folks had with "ugly" grade from KEH?

 

[awbphotog]

I've had multiple great experiences buying "ugly" and "bargain" from KEH. I have yet to personally receive anything that isn't noticeably better than described. That being said, I only buy film gear from KEH. A friend in photo school bought a Canon 1DSIII in BGN condition from KEH and twice received a body that was dead on arrival before deciding to shop elsewhere. This was ~7 years ago though, so I'm not sure if it's any indication of the current grading of digital gear. Anyways...I'd say go for it with the ugly gear and be happily surprised. I'm somewhat of a tinkerer so I'm inclined to go that route anyways and fix up what I'm unhappy with. Good luck!

 

[Thardy]

I bought a Hasselblad kit in LN- condition years ago that looked new. I did try a bargain 90 mm Leica lens that looked more worn than I would have liked.

 

[Mudman]

I've received a few dead items from KEH, but not in years. They've always made it right by upgrading me to a better product

 

[Wongler]

I have an Ugly grade M3 out for delivery right now. I'll find out in a few hours how that will be. I have purchased a Ugly Summitar that had a slight haze but body looked excellent. Pictures had a slightly slower contrast but very usable.
KEH sales kill me

 

[rbsinto]

I've purchased a great deal of gear from KEH over the years, and virtually all of it was "bargain" grade.
Yes, from time to time items did look like they'd seen better times, such as a Nikon s-mount 85 f2 lens from the 1950's that has some tarnished chrome,.
But for the most part the pieces were very nice and I really didn't know why they were graded as they were.
I do recall reading that often when KEH has an overstock of a particular item, they'll arbitrarily downgrade some of the "excellent" pieces to "bargain" to move them out faster.
As for the 'ugly' designation, I was told that it really matters only with respect to glass elements and in their case may mean they have fungus, element separation or other serious problems. Otherwise it is often nothing more than cosmetics, (which mean nothing to me).
They also used to have an "as is" category for pieces that didn't work but otherwise were cosmetically ok.
Because it simply wasn't worth the expense to have repair persons spending time to try and diagnose and then fix these pieces, they were sold "as is".
I took a chance and bought an "as is' Nikon F36 motor drive and battery pack (for the Nikon F) for $60.00 and had my repair person here in Toronto restore it (corrosion inside from batteries) for $100.00, and got a working drive that would otherwise at the time cost me about $350.00.

 

[news shooter]

Good experience. Great service

Good experience. Great service

Hello everyone.
My experience in the last 6+ months has been what I would call above and beyond. Bought a DSLR that went belly up within a day or so (sensor with vertical banding on one side. Within 24-hours, was sending that body back to keh. Another body sent & this one good. Was upgraded to a dual charger (about $300 value new). Totally unexpected. Considered it a token and/or upgrade.
Communication was superb every step of the way. All in all, an excellent experience.
This is a first time experience!
News

 

[kshapero]

Nothing but praise Keh.

 

[TXForester]

I've bought a couple light meters that died shortly after receiving them. I bought a bargain lens for Olympus OM that looked good, but would not mount. They let me keep the lens and gave me credit towards another purchase.

I've bought to digital bodies and two lenses to go with them, that I'd rate better than bargain. Also a Canon G15 in great shape. A couple of OM lenses that are great. I'm mostly happy with bargain grade purchases.

I did by an ugly grade Olympus OM2sp and I'm sure others will find it ugly. I personally like the dents and brassing. Works perfectly.

 

[benmacphoto]

My experience with KEH recently hasn't been as good as it has been in the past.
I avoid "BGN" now, as the last three items I purchased should have been listed as ugly with issues.
Their excellent is still great, but the bargains just aren't what they used to be.

 

[gb hill]

I've been happy with items I bought from KEH but I just received a Canon 35/2.8 FD lens I won off of Adorama camera's ebay store & I'm stoked. The lens looks immaculate. Like it came brand new right out of the box. It was so much better than what they described. Just had to share.

 

[Bingley]

I've bought many items from KEH over the years and have never had a problem. A number of those items were bargain grade, including the M2 I still own -- that camera was in amazing shape, beautiful chrome and clear vf, the only flaws were a few places where the vulcanite had chipped away. Eventually I had the camera CLA'd and recovered, but I used it for a number of years in its "bargain" condition without any problems. I've also purchased bargain grade lenses which had clear glass and only a few minor scuff marks on the barrel. Good folks.

 

[uhoh7]

I have bought many lenses from Keh, but I have sent many back.

I have seen LN lenses from key which were quite dusty. Exe lenses which were well marked. I got a BGN lens which had a damaged M mount dangerous to my camera (it did have great glass). I returned that and the next BGN tele-elmar mount was fine, but the glass was filthy. This was 2014.

Never had a problem with a return though. But got tired of all the shipping back and forth, so now I rarely go there, but I did get a kenko TC from them recently which was exactly as described, via eBay. I paid the going rate.

 

[Dante_Stella]

Ugly almost invariably involves an inner optical issue (fungus, etching, etc.). That's the difference from Bargain unless something is specifically noted. KEH itself told me about the optical issues being a thing with lenses marked ugly.

 

[uhoh7]

On the other hand, I have bought many lenses here at RFF and never had to return a single one. 🙂

 

[Hatchetman]

Bought a few ugly lenes. One had fungus, one had separation. I sent the fungus one back.

 

[barnwulf]

I have bought and sold a number of cameras from KEH and I have always been pleased with the outcome. I have never bought a bargin or ugly camera from them though. - jim

 

[Rayt]

I have bought a few UG Leica lenses including Summars and Summarits. Usually there will be a layer of haze, fungus or some other imperfection on the elements. Some were OK after a CLA and some were beyond repair due to permanent damage to the glass. BGN is a mixed bag. You can assume there is some thing wrong whether you see it or not. I bought a 70mm F/2 Olympus Pen lens in BGN that look new but then realized the coating on the front element was missing. Same with a Rolleiflex 2.8F in BGN that looked new. No front coating. There had been times when I totally luck out on a BGN lens so continue to take the risk. Also if KEH tell you in the description that it is broken then believe it!