Mint Boxed Leicas - a personal comment

[paragon]

After seeing posting after posting on EBay of "mint, boxed, with papers, 5 rolls through Leicas" - I am beginning to just hate them and their red satin

I just do not know why - but they seems to resemble a "high class house of ill repute" - very tempting BUT - maybe it is the red satin

Could be my age, but I much prefer a "loved" well cared for, used Mx - it has a "story" and character etc.,

 

[Ash]

My M2 is a bit beaten up, but not very much so. A few scratches and a tiny ding here or there.

Whoever had it before me took care of it, and it works perfectly as a result. I like that.

I wouldn't mind having a total beater, with bashes and scratches all over, so long as after a CLA it works perfectly. If it looks rough I'm more inclined to use it - a beat up camera is more 'fun' and you're less worried about giving it another graze.


The MIB cameras remind me of a longboard I bought once. Custom hand-made deck (Chris Rempel - near impossible to find here in the UK). I used it less times than I have fingers on my hands. I was afraid to ruin it, roughen it up. All my other longboard decks look like they've been through the wars. I made one tiny scratch to the tail of the Chris Rempel then sold it, I couldn't bear to see a great deck go unused because I was too afraid to use it.


Same applies for MINT cameras, they only belong on a collector's shelf, or else they'd be out getting grubbing fingerprints over them by now.

 

[kully]

Everything Ash says, I have a hideous M2 which I take with my everywhere.

I had a gorgeous IIIa which I couldn't bare to use (I only put one roll through it).

 

[paragon]

don't get me wrong - I hate beat up, abused and dirty cameras, even more

The words that spring to mind are "cherished, patina, loved, well cared for and treasured"

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

I feel much the same.
As Ash knows I had the nice Leica 111c,owning which was something of an ambition,but eventually realised it wasn't me.
Even though it wasn't mint,it was still too precious somehow.Especially for a bodger like me😉

Brian.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[sepiareverb]

I think a camera was made to be used- if someone kept an old camera in perfect shape in the box and wants to sell it to you and you want to use it I'd say go for it- IF it's the right tool for you. I'm no collector, let the Leica museum keep the MINT copies I say.

My cameras are used regularly, and as they get a scuff or scratch so be it. When they need attention they get it. As long as it works right I don't mind how it looks. Lenses I am a little more careful about- caps all the time, filters on front. I don't want to mess up a lens element because that kind of attention is too expensive for me to keep up with.

 

[peter_n]

I'm with sepiareverb. My bodies arrived with the plastic cover on the bottom and those came off right away. I also take care of my lenses - filter + hood on all - but the bodies are beginning to show a bit of wear and that's fine. There have been posts here from people afraid to use their cameras in case they get dinged and my advice there is to sell and get something else. Life is too short.

 

[paragon]

I'm with sepiareverb. My bodies arrived with the plastic cover on the bottom and those came off right away. I also take care of my lenses - filter + hood on all - but the bodies are beginning to show a bit of wear and that's fine. There have been posts here from people afraid to use their cameras in case they get dinged and my advice there is to sell and get something else. Life is too short.

I have one camera - a Pentax ME Super with all the plastic stuff on it - came with the lens packed in just the same way.

It has stayed in the box and never been used - I have a worn ME Super which I use instead.

Strange really - are film caneras in boxes to be used?

Has anyone bought a MIB Leica recently and then taken it out and used it regularly?

 

[kalokeri]

Some are users, some are collectors.

Most collectors want cameras in mint condition. That makes a lot of the older Leicas more expensive for users who like to get for a good looking camera because - like Magus - they want to do scratches and dings themselves. But: don´t hate them. They help you because with every camera they buy and keep mint they help Leica Camera AG existing.

(I wonder how many mint M8 out there will never really get used)

Thomas

 

[rover]

I'm with sepiareverb. My bodies arrived with the plastic cover on the bottom and those came off right away. I also take care of my lenses - filter + hood on all - but the bodies are beginning to show a bit of wear and that's fine. There have been posts here from people afraid to use their cameras in case they get dinged and my advice there is to sell and get something else. Life is too short.

When I bought my M6TTL the shop had two which matched my request and of equal condition. I chose the one without the plastic cover on the baseplate because it was $100 less. 😱

 

[peter_n]

Amazing Ralph!

Has anyone bought a MIB Leica recently and then taken it out and used it regularly?

I bought a new USA Passport M7 a year last October and put a roll through it to make sure it was OK then took the bottom plastic off it. It's still working just fine... 🙂

 

[paragon]

Amazing Ralph!

I bought a new USA Passport M7 a year last October and put a roll through it to make sure it was OK then took the bottom plastic off it. It's still working just fine... 🙂

Again i just wonder if anyone has ever bought a MIB Leica never used it but then had a CLA - just to keep it "oiled"

Me being "tongue in cheek" again - but you get my drift

 

[pellothed1]

I bought a MIB MP with the plastic still on it that has since been removed. I'll say this, that pretty, shiny black paint on a MP seems to attract scratches and fingerprints.

 

[rodneyAB]

I have one camera - a Pentax ME Super with all the plastic stuff on it - came with the lens packed in just the same way.

It has stayed in the box and never been used - I have a worn ME Super which I use instead.

Strange really - are film caneras in boxes to be used?

Has anyone bought a MIB Leica recently and then taken it out and used it regularly?

yep i bought one of those brand new MP3/50summilux in the red satin box..started scratching it up with the first roll of film placed...no big deal...it has its body marks and scratches, and the lens has brassing started where the lens cap fits...the box is indeed, ghastly

 

[Silva Lining]

My M3 has seen some action and has the scratches and bumps to prove it - I like that.

I'd love to be able to buy all the shrink-wrapped Leicas, rip off their plastic and USE THEM alas, they remain, caged, wasted. 🙁

 

[sepiareverb]

My first M7 was pretty much as new in box, someone at the shop I got it bought both it and an MP the same day to try them both out. He shot very little with this one. Plastic was on the baseplate, this had maybe 5 rolls through it tops. I have since given it a good breaking in, and I don't have the box anymore. After a few rolls I knew this was the camera I'll use till I can't anymore.

 

[oscroft]

Well, my M6 Classic is near-mint and came in a box, but it's definitely for using - it won't really feel like it's mine until I start putting my own scuffs and scratches on it.

And it came with the plastic still on the bottom, but I've been inspired by this thread and I've just ripped it off! And damn any $100 loss in the resale value 😉

(Hmm, I wonder if I could sell the bit of plastic on eBay)

 

[colinh]

I got my M7 new (and it came in a box). I then took it out and used it. It now has minor scuffs. I've even scuffed the plastic on the bottom. Damn! If I'd known it was worth $ 100, I'd have put a plastic protector on the plastic protector. 😱

colin

 

[peter_n]

I don't have the box anymore.

Alright I'll admit it, I kept the boxes. An insurance policy in case the M9 turns out to be the M7 with an M8 shutter mechanism. 😎