Leica LTM Should I buy this IIIc w/Summitar?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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squirrel$$$bandit

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I have been trolling eBay for a budget Summitar and came across this auction for a IIIc with hilariously bad releathering and Summitar with some decementing. If I'm not mistaken you can see the decementing in the photo.

Something tells me I should stay away, but the cursor keeps creeping toward the buy now button. What do you think?

05122009-LEICAIIIC-126627-01.jpg
 
I wouldn't buy it. The Summitar is a great lens - be patient and get yourself a good example.

And yes, the camera is hard to respect. Wait and get equipment that will serve you well, and which you'll enjoy owning.

My 2 cents.

By the way, if you're interested, this thread has some Summitar B&W wedding pictures.
 
Great wedding shots! You remind me, I have to get myself another batch of Neopan.

There was a time when I was looking for a iiic that looked awful but worked, so that I could re-cover it. But I'm nervous that "shutter fires" is code for "shutter speeds off."
 
If it was less than 150 USD, then it's a good deal. You can later on change the leather and get a good one from cameraleather.com
 
I really don't think I will...I'm getting more suspicious with every passing second. A quite nice Summitar just sold on eBay for $127...I'll just sit tight I think and watch for a bargain...
 
I got my Summitar for about 100 Euros - the aperture ring was very stiff, but I cleaned and lubricated it myself (very easy to do) and the glass was perfect.

You may want to think about if you want a coated or uncoated one - I personally went uncoated, because i have other, more modern, 50mm lenses if I want the modern look - I wanted the whole-hog retro look!
 
sleepyhead said:
the aperture ring was very stiff, but I cleaned and lubricated it myself (very easy to do) and the glass was perfect.
Click to expand...
I need to do this on mine. Exactly how easy is this? What kind of lubricant do you use?
I've had the front element off before for cleaning. It suffers from a bit of separation too, but I've read you can reglue the front elements by heating it over a longer period.


As for this horribly recovered IIIc, when in doubt, don't! There are plenty of Summitars out there a nice one will come along for the right price soon enough ;)
 
Mr_Flibble said:
I need to do this on mine. Exactly how easy is this? What kind of lubricant do you use?
I've had the front element off before for cleaning. It suffers from a bit of separation too, but I've read you can reglue the front elements by heating it over a longer period.QUOTE]

It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, I could unscrew the whole optical unit, or al least part of it, and this allowed me to remove the "external" aperture ring to reveal the "inner" aperture ring, which was brass I think, and which was the "gummed up" part. I used a cotton-tipped stick with a bit of alcohol to clean the old dry lubricant away. The inner ring already turned smoothly and easily just from that cleaning.

I therefore never added any other lubricant, and after re-assembly, I have had no problems with stiffness of the aperture ring since.

I hope this is clear enough - good luck!
Click to expand...
 
There are two sets of aperture blades. If you remove them, they must be reinstalled in alternating order. As if aperture blades aren't difficult enough to re-seat.

Regarding the BIN auction, it's a decent price. And you can always pull off that amateurish-looking covering and buy something from cameraleather.com.
 
Thanks Sleepyhead, will give it a try when I have a quiet evening at home somewhere in the near future. ;)
 
ooops, that was the one once I decided to think about. but later on I found another far more better one on ebay.de for 320euro.
ebay american is flooded with lhigh priced leicas. usually I go ebay de for same quality but lower price. the only thing is I dont speak German, I have to write to sellers like" hi please ignore me if you don't speak English or feel uneasy with it....but I do need you speak English with me if you can."
: )
 
Hmmm, if you're allowing for an overhaul/service (and you should) then it would be sensible to start with a cheap one and assume you'll need to pay for it to be done. Now, rather than later on. They all need it eventually - it's just a matter of synchronisation (to your money, mostly, and time).

Cheap or dear in auctions, you are jumping in the dark most of the time.

If that's just an edge problem with the lens then it might just be the start of something worse. Getting lenses sorted out can be expensive or very expensive.

Regards, David
 
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