price check on a 1988 m6?

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morgan

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Hey guys, I have a chance to buy an M6 locally. What would be a fair price for a 1988 chrome .72 m6 in near mint condition, with strap and box? Anything I should look out for on it? I'm seriously tempted...
 
By this time it might be needing a clean, lube, adjust. Somewhere between $800 and $1,200 would be right. A photo store might ask $1,350 but then it would come with some kind of warranty. Good Luck, Joe.
 
$1200 is about standard, but the extras and retail a little more $. if it is mint, then it has probably not seen alot of use. make sure to work the shutter a while before putting it to work. good luck.
 
Thanks for the responses. They're asking 1k, which I think is pretty good for how clean it looks (at least in the pictures). I've got some more questions out to her on rf alignment and such. I'm really tempted, although since I got my R2A, I always thought I'd upgrade to an M7 rather than an M6. I often miss street shots with non aperture priority cameras...
 
It's a good price. That's what I got mine for on RFF. A CLA would be normal. When you have it done, get a new meter circuit.

Best,

Roland.
 
morgan said:
Thanks for the responses. They're asking 1k, which I think is pretty good for how clean it looks (at least in the pictures). I've got some more questions out to her on rf alignment and such. I'm really tempted, although since I got my R2A, I always thought I'd upgrade to an M7 rather than an M6. I often miss street shots with non aperture priority cameras...
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You might find the operation of the M6 to be a little slow compared to an R2A,( if you're a stickler for exposure) but $1,000 is a good price.
 
When I bought my R2A (I had begun with a bessa-r and really liked using it for the most part) I thought about the Ikon. But after I handled one, I don't know, I lost my enthusiasm for it. It definitely has a lot going for it though. Maybe I need to go play with one again.

If the M6 going to need a CLA and a meter circuit, maybe I should hold off and just save a bit more for a used M7. B&H has one right now for $2100. On the other hand, an M6 would be sweet as well. I'd need to bid farewell to my very awesome bessa-r (that's admittedly sat quiet since my R2A and R-D1), but I think it'd be worth it. Perhaps I'll offer $900 and see what happens...
 
I just heard back from the seller. She says that slower shutter speeds (below 1/15) are a bit sticky, but everything else is in good shape internally. Sounds like it will definitely need a CLA. I'm so torn about it. I love the idea of the M6 (and non-AP cameras), but in practice, especially for street shooting, it makes it a little tough. On the other hand....
 
No, the meter will work just fine. A new circuit will give you more sensitivity. On paper 1 stop, in practice (I have two M6 from the same vintage) for me it is two stops.

It's just a good thing to have done in the context of a CLA, IMO.

Best,

Roland.
 
ferider said:
No, the meter will work just fine. A new circuit will give you more sensitivity. On paper 1 stop, in practice (I have two M6 from the same vintage) for me it is two stops.

It's just a good thing to have done in the context of a CLA, IMO.

Best,

Roland.
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Thanks. Mine is from '91 and had a CLA done in 2006. Works like a charm.
 
I offered $850, but she's firm on the 1k price for now. I'm not sure I want to end up putting out $1200 or $1300 right now. It is in sweet condition, with the box and everything...
 
morgan said:
I offered $850, but she's firm on the 1k price for now. I'm not sure I want to end up putting out $1200 or $1300 right now. It is in sweet condition, with the box and everything...
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You could offer her something as a partial trade to make up the $$ difference if you really want the camera.
 
Have you considered KEH? I bought a "bargain" grade silver chrome M6 0.72x classic last month. Great condition, save for a couple abrasions on the top plate I would've probably ended up putting there myself (I didn't want a perfect condition camera anyways). It was listed at $1040 and the shutter and meter worked fine. I would not have guessed it was 20 years old had I not looked up the serial. Black chrome is more common so you may have to wait a bit for a silver chrome to come by if you're set on it, but they do show up.

Also, what are you thinking about selling the R for? I have a friend looking for one...
 
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Ask the seller to cock the shutter "many" times during one day...it might be that the stickyness will go away. I had same kind of situation with M4 and I bought it cheaper because of that...one day of just fiddling with the camera the slower speeds started to work perfectly. No need to cla anymore.
 
Your going to have to pony up about $1200 (US) for a nice M. personally I would wait for a later serial number. $1K is okay if it did not need a cla which is obvious it does.

Here, I suspect you will break even, but you will have an older camera, so to speak. I prefer mine late 1998-2002.
 
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