Leica M2 w/ summicron 1:2 50mm....considering purchase

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Petear

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I found an m2 with a 50mm summicron 1:2..been used and mechanically maintained...Blemishes but god working order, no self timer. I plan on shooting with it, not a collector. It'll be my first leica.

The guy wants $600 for the outfit...thinking that this is a pretty good price. Can anyone advise me on this..hard to pin down on E-bay..prices vary so much..

Thanks...
 
That would be a fair price for the body only, if it is in good working condition. You would be getting the lens ($250-300) for free. So it is a good deal if the gear is in good working condition. Check the contrast of the RF patch though.
 
I agree with Frank - very good price assuming all functioning OK. Excellent combination. Which 50 Summi is it?
 
Which Summicron is a good question. I was assuming that it was a collapsible version, which would be the least valued (but still a great lens!) one of them all. If it's a rigid, or a modern version, it would be an even better deal.
 
Wow, thanks for the quick responses...

I do believe its the "rigid" version..it's not a modern 50mm, vintage50's- 60's or so? Im actually headed out to look at it in about an hour. Any other tips on what to look for would be greatly appreciated...this is a new realm for me.
 
Hang on a sec - there's a page on the barkeeper's page on how to check out an M. Stand by...
 
That is a very good price. Even if you add a CLA for $100-150 to be sure that everything is in working order for the next 1-2 decades!
My approach in buying from a private seller is to look at "dealer" pricing and deduct 40% and this falls right in there. A M2 with a 50f2 Summicron would be around $1000 from a dealer, deduct 40% and the $600 looks good.
The dealer has to take responsibility for the camera, maybe even provide a warranty or return policy and has to incorporate those costs in his pricing.
I would go for it and if it is a rigid Summicron, you are doing very well.
 
As FrankS says, check that the rangefinder is bright and contrasty and that the image lines up correctly both horizontally and vertically. Check that there is a take-up spool with the camera as well.
 
Wow Tom, where do you go for your CLAs?

Snatch that camera up! It's a much loved combination and you'll get a lot of pure and simple photographic joy from it. It takes getting used to, but there's a reason that we're all still here shooting these old gems, especially if you want to do your own black and white...
 
So, I just got back from looking at this camera. the guy actually has a slew of m2's and Summicron 50 1:2's. His Uncle was a wedding photog/camera dealer. All were cosmetically used..no biggy because I'm interested in a working camera.

All the shutters fired and speeded out ok to the ear and eye. Little bit of extra clicking/whirring after firing at 1 sec. 15th of a sec all seemed to show the "two gear whir". The curtains were of varying condition.

I'm wondering, should the metal "clip" or whatever you call it, on the shutter, disappear completely on the left side of the film opening when the shutter has fired?

In all of them it butted right up to the left edge of the film opening and disappeared on winding (i think).

Lenses...all had some scratches, some more than others. I'm not tatally concerned about scratching, I've found on most of my older lenses that a certain amount of scratching doesn't affect sharpness...

Do you guys actually find older 50' 60's lenses that dont have a few scratches?

What else..on one of the bodies i couldn't see any trace of light when firing at 1000th pointed at a lighbulb..nothing.

The winding mechanisms also varied...most seemed pretty free and smooth except one that was a bit tighter..same camera where I couldn't see light at 1000th.

I passed for now but put together what i saw as the best body and lens..the guy said he would kep those together for me while I thought about things.

Any thoughts on the various conditions of m2's out there? What is acceptable, conditionwise, for a leica to shoot with? Like i said, im not looking for a pristine looking box, I don't plan on putting this camera into a display case.

Thanks again...
 
Petear said:
Any thoughts on the various conditions of m2's out there? What is acceptable, conditionwise, for a leica to shoot with? Like i said, im not looking for a pristine looking box, I don't plan on putting this camera into a display case.
Click to expand...

Without intending to sound facetious, I would say that what is acceptable condition wise is that everything works and the camera can be used. Other than that, the cosmetic condition wouldn't bother me - especially if I intended to shoot with it.
 
John,

I understand and feel the same way. The thing is, I don't have much experience judging a Leica m as far what is actually working *properly*. I took Stephen Gandy's "what to look for guide" with me but a lot of that relies on proper interpretation, i have no real reference. I think I'm gonna go to a few local shops and look at some of their used leicas on the shelves and compare those to what i found and heard yesterday. I have to say, the lenses` looked like they'd been around the block.
 
600 USD for both Camera and Lens, that's a great deal I would say. The camera itself has been selling on Ebay around 550 to 750 USD depending on conditions.
 
Petear said:
John,

I understand and feel the same way. The thing is, I don't have much experience judging a Leica m as far what is actually working *properly*. I took Stephen Gandy's "what to look for guide" with me but a lot of that relies on proper interpretation, i have no real reference. I think I'm gonna go to a few local shops and look at some of their used leicas on the shelves and compare those to what i found and heard yesterday. I have to say, the lenses` looked like they'd been around the block.
Click to expand...

As the seller is prepared to hold your preferred camera / lens combination while you think about it, would they be prepared to let you run a roll of film through it? You could suggest that if they had any concerns they accompany you while you did this.
 
An M3 & 50mm collapsable went for $580 last night on ebay. Missed it by that much! Earlier that night a similar camera went for ~$800.
 
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