Is this a good deal on an M6?

[KM-25]

Sorry for the newbie post, I am new to Leica.

I am looking at a guy's M6, non TTL, .72 with a 2nd version 35mm 2.0 Summicron. It is in really clean condition and he wants $1,800 U.S. for it.

I have reservations about the lens being that old. I want to be able to use this thing at 2.8 and have it be as good as any other 35. This is for pro use, long term documentary on Kodachrome.

How is the 2nd version of the 35 2.0 Summicron? Does version 4 smoke it?

I know the ASP is great and I will eventually get it, but should I offer this guy less for the current setup?

Cheers,

KM-25

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[KM-25]

Ah, bummer on the 35. This has got to be good, it is for a tribute to Kodachrome.

What are Aspherics fetching these days?

 

[jaapv]

There is a mint M6 black here http://62.148.175.62/index.php?page=showproducts
This is a very reputable shop. Their website has just been updated and is not fully functional at the moment...

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[jaapv]

There is a mint chrome M6 as well there, Isee now.

 

[KM-25]

Here is a guy selling the version-2.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-LEITZ-M-M...5QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30063QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks it will get $650. The thing is I know the guy selling the pair, but hastily paypal'd him already. Here it is:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/classitem.html?id=13804

If the version-II is not so great, I am going to have to quickly locate an aspheric and sell the other one. Darn....

 

[tom_f77]

Don't panic. Since you already bought it, try it and see what you think.

There are some who insist that nothing but the asph is worth having; no doubt before the end of today you will have some other opinions on this thread.

Tom

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[KM-25]

Ah, I just found out that the lens is the 3rd version. So I will give er a go and then make a call to sell it or not.

Of course, if I see a good deal on an ASPH, I may just grab it...🙂.

 

[MCTuomey]

fwiw, i just sold a minty chrome M6 to a fellow rff'r for a reasonable US$1,100. the M6 "classics" seem recently to have dropped about $100 or so, making them one of the best M deals around, imho.

i think US$1,300 is high, though i would've liked to have sold mine for as much 🙂)

 

[jja]

Do you have the camera and lens in your hands yet? They are described as excellent, so $1800 may be a fair price for both--not low, but not absurdly high either. An excellent M6 is going for low cash right now, around $1,000, and $600-$800 for a version II or III Summicron sounds about right (although I have not studied the market recently). It seems that version I and version IV have a hyperbolic following, and hence command higher prices, maybe $1000 and much higher for version I.

I have read on other fora, from experienced users of versions II and III, that they are very good, so I think you have less to worry about than you think, as long as the lens is in good shape.

Further, I looked at the link you provided, and the lens barrel appears to say "CANADA," which would seem to indicate version IV? If you scroll down this link,

http://www.cameraquest.com/mlenses.htm

Gandy implies that only version IV was made in Canada. Can anyone else confirm? Do you have the serial number? That would be the best indicator of the lens' version, of course.

 

[Avotius]

I think the 3rd cron is a decent lens for the most part but I I would agree that the asph is the best buy at the moment because of the 4th version craze. I see asph's going on ebay for anywhere between 1200 and 1500 which is what I see some 4ths going for too. IMO the 4th is over rated and if you have slightly larger hands, a totaly pain in the ass compared to the asph which I find quite suitable for my sausage fingers. In my opinion you might have overpaid just slightly but not so bad that you will regret it.

 

[jja]

I did a little more searching and it looks like I was wrong in my conclusions. It looks like other versions of the 35/2 Summicron were made in Canada, as evidenced here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DiqT

 

[KM-25]

He has a 75 1.4 with the retractable hood EX+. What should I offer for it to make it a better deal all around?

 

[MCTuomey]

the 75/1.4 'lux seems to be going for US$1300-1700 depending on condition, i believe.

 

[jaapv]

the 75/1.4 'lux seems to be going for US$1300-1700 depending on condition, i believe.

Slightly more,Mike. I lost four auctions on e-bay when I had a 1900$ max bid . All EX+.That was about three months ago. I found a mint one at 1750 Euro.

 

[Rafael]

I did a little more searching and it looks like I was wrong in my conclusions. It looks like other versions of the 35/2 Summicron were made in Canada, as evidenced here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DiqT

That is correct. I have a 3rd version 35/2 summicron that was made in Canada. I have never used a fourth version 'cron, but I think that mine is a fantastic lens.

 

[tajart]

35s

35s

i mistakenly sold my 35/2 v4 to a friend thinking i could easily replace it- no such luck, and after looking for months i was very fortunate to find a chrome 35/2, 8-element before the craze for them hit. i also have the wonderful 35/2 asph. beyond what the lenses do with light to film, the compactness of the pre-asph as well as the 35/1.4 is really nice. 35 is such a good focal length and they are all great. can anyone go wrong with any one of them? sorry to stray off topic.

 

[MCTuomey]

Slightly more,Mike. I lost four auctions on e-bay when I had a 1900$ max bid . All EX+.That was about three months ago. I found a mint one at 1750 Euro.

my, my, i'm out of touch, jaap. i found one several months ago for just under US$ 1600, minty. thanks for the correction.