price check - m4-p

I have been collecting about 15 years, 10+ years on ebay, over 1500 positives with no negatives on ebay, run www.antiquecameras.net since 1995, and am the founder of the IDCC: Internet Directory of Camera Collectors see http://www.photographyhistory.com/idccinfo.html the most active and (largest?) camera collecting email group in the world.


who are you?

PS - I always get people claiming my prices are too low - usually people who want to sell or paid too much :>
If you read my guides carefully, prices are for items in excellent used condition - most items that go higher than my prices are shelf queen cameras and DO sell higher. I also write that buying from a dealer will cost 10 to 20% more.... Am I perfect - heck no, but I am very close on most items.
 
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Wes, I would peg the price of an M6 at $1100 myself. (I've seen them go for as low as $950.) And Dan actually IS a bit of an expert.
 
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FYI: if you have a brass top M4-P in chrome without the 1913-1983 markings, you have a collectable Leica as they only made around 2000 of these. The black M4-P cameras are plentiful.
 
PS - M6's sell all day long around $1100...some late model TTL's get $ 1300-1500 in minty shape, but my guide is for excellent with no caps, boxes etc.... an M6 in exc condition gets $ 1100 on ebay, p.net and this forum FREQUENTLY

I bought an M7 in the box for $ 2000. Its on ebay right now because it just isnt much better than an M6 in my eyes....

PS - and I have been tracking Leica prices for the last 4 years on ebay, and use Pnet,keh.com,ritzcam,kevincameras,RFF,tamarkin as benchmarks.
 
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Price is not price. AFAIK, Dan bases himself on ebay statistics.
I have often used his price guides and find them very useful.
And even if we don't like it, ebay is an open market and
therefore determines prices.

Dealers like KEH, etc. can offer the same items at higher prices
due to warranty/return rights and standardized gradings that they offer.
Try to sell a Leica to KEH and see if they offer you a price more
like their sales price or like the ebay price ....

I like RFF classifieds since it often offers ebay type prices from reliable
sellers. Kind of the best of both worlds. If I know an RFF seller or can inspect
an item I will pay more than I would pay on ebay.

Prices vary largely. There are short term and longer term variations.
For example, I recall that SS M3 bodies 2 years ago were much more
expensive than now. On the other hand, the M2 is more expensive now
than it used to be.

Roland.
 
back alley said:
what's the price range for an m4-p these days.

joe
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Within the past 18 months, I paid $575 for an M4-P body which showed a fair amount of wear but the shutter speeds, film advance and rangefinder are all 100%. Item was a trade-in/consignment at a local photo shop. They had an iffy M4-2 for the same money at the time.
 
so, flush windows = zinc top = no self adjustment?
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That is correct.

Generally, the canadian M cameras are seen as being of lesser quality. I'm not sure where it comes from, either. But it certanly isn't correct.
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My interpretation of the vox populi was more anything post-M4. I haven't seen anyone dissing the Canadian M4s - but starting with the M4-2, at least in some folks' opinion, the whole line became infected, other than maybe the MP reincaranation. It's a giant YMMV...
 
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My interpretation of the vox populi was more anything post-M4. I haven't seen anyone dissing the Canadian M4s - but starting with the M4-2, at least in some folks' opinion, the whole line became infected, other than maybe the MP reincaranation. It's a giant YMMV...[/QUOTE]


The reason given is: cost cutting measures.
 
FrankS said:
s - but starting with the M4-2, at least in some folks' opinion, the whole line became infected, other than maybe the MP reincaranation. It's a giant YMMV...
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The reason given is: cost cutting measures.[/QUOTE]

I hear this from Internet 'experts' but not from people who go out and use the cameras, with the exception of some early-run M4-2 owners.
Geez. All Joe wanted was a price check.
 
There is no disputing the fact that the M4-2 was built with some cost cutting measures compared to the M3, 2, 4. I don't believe that they make any difference in use. Except maybe for the simplified viewfinder which became more prone to flare. Still a great camera and I would buy one if I weren't already content.
 
Golly, I only want an M2 for $400. Now I know Dan can't help me with that, but I will keep trying, it will happen.
 
if it helps, i got a well used m4-2 for $650 very recently (thought it was through a camera store and I if there was anything wrong with it I had a 2 weeks during which to return it...). I added about $100 for a CLA.
 
thank goodness canadians are such poor workers, eh?
not much different from cosina and zeiss...the zi can't be really good because it's not made in germany by germans but it's made in japan by japanese.
i suddenly feel a connection with my japanese brothers:)

as for the trade i have not heard back yet, perhaps he read this thread and just headed for the hills!!
 
I'm sure you're right, and apologize for appearing to jump on FrankS, whose contributions are always useful and to the point.

My complaint is that there are many many many more Leica experts than there are users. 'Facts' are picked up from dubious sources and repeated as gospel by people who have never worked with the machines.
:angel:
 
back alley said:
thank goodness canadians are such poor workers, eh?
not much different from cosina and zeiss...the zi can't be really good because it's not made in germany by germans but it's made in japan by japanese.
!!
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The way quality and work ethics are going in Germany, I am happy to have my ZI manufactured in Japan :D

Ciao

Joerg
 
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