M-body for under $1k = fantasy?

Horatio said:
What’s weird is I haven’t yet determined whether RF cameras are for me. Slippery slope, indeed. 😀
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RF cameras are as varied as SLR's or P&S's.

The major difference is how you focus and, perhaps, the VF.

Why not invest a little in (say) a Konica C5 or one of the Olympus or Mamiyas or Ricohs or Werra or Canon etc. They all made large "compacts" in the 60's and 70's and there's a wide variety available that won't break the bank.

Thinking about Leica M's now is like jumping in at the deep end to see if you can swim...

Regards, David
 
David Hughes said:
RF cameras are as varied as SLR's or P&S's.

Thinking about Leica M's now is like jumping in at the deep end to see if you can swim...


Regards, David
Click to expand...

David, Horatio already jumped in the pool.... he has a Leica CL
 
Horatio said:
They do exist: Roberts Camera today listed a DS M3 for $999, with six-month warranty. 😀
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Keep watching them, they get much nicer ones in and only price them slightly higher. Also remember "take5" when you check out.

Whoever got that Rollei 2.8E Planar for $669 got a deal!

Shawn
 
shawn said:
Keep watching them, they get much nicer ones in and only price them slightly higher. Also remember "take5" when you check out.

Whoever got that Rollei 2.8E Planar for $669 got a deal!

Shawn
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip!

It's open for offers. The only drawback I see is personal (and not subtle) engraving of a previous owner.
 
Forget watching them on ebay, they sell cheaper on their online store. Roberts Camera on ebay is usedphotopro.com. They have that same camera listed for $949 on their site. The engraving would make it very hard to sell later on, it also has pretty nasty scar in front of the frame counter. When you view the pictures on their site if you save them locally they will open bigger to better see condition.

https://usedphotopro.com/products/u...e-rangefinder-camera-engraved?source=category

and take5 will work on it. But keep waiting, they get them fairly regularly and get some really nice ones too.

Shawn
 
shawn said:
...... The engraving would make it very hard to sell later on, it also has pretty nasty scar in front of the frame counter. .....
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I love cameras with ugly engraving or big cosmetic scratches so long as they are reflected in the price. They take the same photos for less investment in hardware. Plus, you have no anguish the first time you ding them up cosmetically.
 
shawn said:
Forget watching them on ebay, they sell cheaper on their online store. Roberts Camera on ebay is usedphotopro.com. They have that same camera listed for $949 on their site. The engraving would make it very hard to sell later on, it also has pretty nasty scar in front of the frame counter. When you view the pictures on their site if you save them locally they will open bigger to better see condition.

https://usedphotopro.com/products/u...e-rangefinder-camera-engraved?source=category

and take5 will work on it. But keep waiting, they get them fairly regularly and get some really nice ones too.

Shawn
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Thanks for the link, Shawn.
 
The engraving on that camera might make it harder to sell again later, but it is not that "ugly", IMO. I was envisioning something hand-scratched and tacky looking. For someone buying an M3 as a user camera and not as an investment, an engraving like that is truly inconsequential.


I'm out of touch with current prices, but it seems a bit steep for an older DS with so much cosmetic impairment, even completely ignoring the engraving. It's likely to need a CLA too.
 
Bob Michaels said:
I love cameras with ugly engraving or big cosmetic scratches so long as they are reflected in the price. They take the same photos for less investment in hardware. Plus, you have no anguish the first time you ding them up cosmetically.
Click to expand...

True, and I agree. But that camera is overpriced considering the engraving and damage.

Shawn
 
shawn said:
True, and I agree. But that camera is overpriced considering the engraving and damage.

Shawn
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Absolutely priced high for the condition.... a few years back that would have been $450/500...tops!
 
Right - the engraving is inconsequential, primarily because it is so well done. I was expecting something scratched into the body with an icepick.

The edge damage is nasty - nastier than a dent.

Even so, this is a good candidate for a "user" camera, providing the slow speeds sound good, higher speeds don't cap, and the viewfinder/rangefinder doesn't have issues.

For the price, though, you can get a better body even these days. I'd expect a few hundred less for this one.
 
I personally love that little engraving. Very well done and adds a touch of history to the camera. The ding doesn't really bug me much either, but then I have a M3 that looks like it survived nuclear testing in the 50's and 60's, lol.

It has a 6 month warranty from a major dealer. $950 doesn't seem that bad to me, especially with the additional coupon they have. If it needs a cla, then they should honor that with the warranty. I would call them first and confirm.
 
Also, Just had a trade for an M2 with a dealer for a very good price. Even better because of what I had $$ wise in what I had traded, haha. Cardinal Camera out of PA. Let him know what you're looking for, and as long as you don't mind a project he can find you one for far less than $1k.

I miss the prices of 10 years ago. I got my late DS M3 with a fresh CLA from Youxin for $500 shipped.
 
Mudman said:
Also, Just had a trade for an M2 with a dealer for a very good price. Even better because of what I had $$ wise in what I had traded, haha. Cardinal Camera out of PA. Let him know what you're looking for, and as long as you don't mind a project he can find you one for far less than $1k.

I miss the prices of 10 years ago. I got my late DS M3 with a fresh CLA from Youxin for $500 shipped.
Click to expand...

Thanks I may check them out. They have a store in Charlotte, NC, about 1.5 hours from me.

Meantime, several decent-looking M3s have popped up right at the $1k mark, and one is even at $900. There's a nice M5 for $890 as well.
 
Mudman said:
I personally love that little engraving. Very well done and adds a touch of history to the camera. The ding doesn't really bug me much either, but then I have a M3 that looks like it survived nuclear testing in the 50's and 60's, lol.

It has a 6 month warranty from a major dealer. $950 doesn't seem that bad to me, especially with the additional coupon they have. If it needs a cla, then they should honor that with the warranty. I would call them first and confirm.
Click to expand...

If it needs a CLA they will just say send it in for their technician to work on it. They won't cover the cost if you bring it to someone else. I checked into this with the first one I bought (and returned) from them.

$950 for that camera from that dealer is over priced. I bought this M3 from the same dealer 6 weeks ago for $100 more.

50138243276_4419966c8b_c.jpg


50138243146_fec3e0f96d_c.jpg


50138480102_def7c664f4_c.jpg


50138480002_2ab6269bc7_c.jpg


They tend to price all of their M3s right around 950 to 1100 no matter what the condition is.

Just wait for a nicer one but jump when the post it. They are usually gone within a day.

Shawn
 
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