Just got an M2 : keep or trash?

[sepiareverb]

Good luck with it. My M5 was cosmetically beautiful but needed a lot of TLC. I jumped in with it, and I wouldn't trade it now for anything. Seems like all the effort (and $!) I put into putting it back to perfect was almost like having owned it for thirty years. I'm quite attached.

 

[kalokeri]

Good luck with your M2. Hopefully a cla is all it does need.

Just as a side remark: I bought my M2 which is a little beaten for a decent price and took it to Leica - as I´m living in Germany it´s just a day´s journey. They fixed the shutter, cleaned the rangefinder and adjusted everything. The service wasn´t cheap, it was as much as the price I had payed for the camera, but I found it worthwhile. The camera still has scratches and damages but works very fine and very smooth since the service.

Thomas

 

[hans voralberg]

If CLA is ~$100, keep it. Yes you pay ~850 but you have an M2 now to use, that's the cost to have it now rather than sit and wait for god know how long before a better one shows up

 

[LeicaTom]

Return it, there`s much better condition M2`s out there for that price, that are not as beat up mechanically, that lens mount problem is a big one, more than likely the reason they sold it in the first place

Tom

 

[ocean7]

Well here's how I do the math. There is a button rewind M2 in EX condition at KEH right now. It's $700. They'll charge me $50 for shipping. And I'll have to pay 14% taxes at the border. Total cost : $855. Knowing KEH there are some chances that the camera would still need a CLA soon anyways so I'll add $100 for Youxin including shipping back and forth.

Total : $955.


The M2 that I sent to Kindermann I paid $750 including shipping AND taxes. If Gerry tells me it costs $250 to fix it and CLA, plus shipping, Ontario taxes and so on that would be $300. I intend to ask a $200 refund to the seller of this M2.

Total net to me : $850. And I would have a beautiful M2 serviced by one of the bests Leica tech in North America. How does it sound? Not too bad I think.


I know I could find an M2 here on RFF for cheaper than that, I don't know how much FrankS sold his a few weeks ago but that was certainly quite a deal. But how long would I have to wait?

 

[Kim Coxon]

In the end, I think it boils down to what Gerry says. If he can give the camera a clean bill of health after a CLA and you can get a reasonable amount from the seller, it seems natural to keep it. If he indentifies more problems or there is any difficulty in getting a fair sum from the seller then I would send it back. I would keep an open mind until you receive Gerry's report.

Kim

 

[hans voralberg]

Unless somebody gonna post the ads in the next minute, you dont know, it's opportunity cost. You want a good value body in xxx days, or taking pics with that M2 now ?

 

[Shac]

Phillipe - as you probably know Gerry is excellent - I've had 3 Leica's CLA'd by him and he's a super person to work with - and great work.
Good luck whatever the outcome
David

 

[Krosya]

I'd return it. I have seen many M2's in better condition at much lower prices, even considering possible CLA.

 

[ocean7]

Greetings,

I thought I would post a last update to the story. I just got a call and an email from Gerry Smith and it turns out this M2 is worse than I thought, see Gerry's report below. It is then going back to the seller. Lesson learned : never buy online unless the source has an excellent reputation. I am thinking KEH, PopFlash and especially the super sellers here on RFF!

I must really add that Gerry is a super-duper person to deal with. He called me from home, it was a day off for him but as I said I was short of time to return the camera he looked at it and we spent quite a while on the phone. He is a true gentleman.

Now I am looking for another Leica. The quest never ends... for me it seems.

Happy new year everyone!

Philippe.



Hello Philippe,

Here is the report on your camera body.

Camera requires gen. clean compl. lubrication readjust all functions to specifications.
Clean fungus from rangefinder optics best possible,

Camera body collimation is out of tolerance,(suspect impact damage to lens flange)
lens flange has small indentations,Lenses very stiff and rough to mount on body.
Flange may need to be replaced and machined to tolerance.

Reasemble camera check all functions.

Lab. $285.00
Lens flange App. $125.00
Shipping app. $15.00
Plus applicable sales tax.

Note rangefinder has signs of separation, may not get any worse.