tips needed, buying second hand

[hiorgos]

Hi

Yesterday I found a shop with 2 second hand zeiss ikon zm bodies with a good reasonable price tag 🙄, but im wondering what to check if i buy one.

I live in Japan so usually you can trust shops with second hand stuff. Said that, I don't know how to check the good condition of a rangefinder. I'm familiar with slr bodies, but is there something special that I should check when buying a second hand rf?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated!!

 

[kshapero]

I have bought 2 ZI's second hand. No problems at all. Go for it.

 

[Pablito]

check vertical alignment of RF, also this is far from precise, but check that it focuses properly at infinity and that the distance scale is accurate, at, say, one meter.

 

[kshapero]

check vertical alignment of RF, also this is far from precise, but check that it focuses properly at infinity and that the distance scale is accurate, at, say, one meter.

Oh yeah, do that too.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Hi

Yesterday I found a shop with 2 second hand zeiss ikon zm bodies with a good reasonable price tag 🙄, but im wondering what to check if i buy one.

I live in Japan so usually you can trust shops with second hand stuff. Said that, I don't know how to check the good condition of a rangefinder. I'm familiar with slr bodies, but is there something special that I should check when buying a second hand rf?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated!!

Check if the shop provides a warranty for the camera. Most shops in Japan provide a six month warranty on used cameras, though some get around this by selling the camera on consignment - 委託品 (itakuhin). Even if the shop doesn't provide a warranty or if the camera is being sold on consignment, they should give you a 7 to 14 day testing period in which you can return the camera if something is wrong - 初期不良 (shoki-furyou).

Edited to add: I used to think that all shops were required by law to give you a testing period, but I learned the hard way that they don't! So be sure to check before spending your money.

 

[hiorgos]

Thanks for the reply..

Yap, i know some camera shops that give 6 months warranty, i have to check this one though.

umm, alignment? Seems that I'm going to have a good time reading all the threads about alignment in this forum! but, basically, is about the 2 superimposed images matching perfectly, right?

Thanks again

 

[Terao]

yes, two images matching perfectly for an object that is the right distance from the lens according to the distance scale on the lens. So if something is two metres away according to the rangefinder the distance scale on the lens should show 2m as well. Checking infinity is easier - turn lens to infinity and check something at least a couple of km away is aligned. Check the alignment at 1m, 2m, 5m, and infinity if you can.

 

[kshapero]

I guess I was lucky. So far no problems at all.

 

[__hh]

Even if the shop doesn't provide a warranty or if the camera is being sold on consignment, they should give you a 7 to 14 day testing period in which you can return the camera if something is wrong - 初期不良 (shoki-furyou).
.

Best way to remember - "shonky for you"

 

[hiorgos]

Best way to remember - "shonky for you"

I would probably end asking "Do you funky for ya?" 🙂