Unopened M6 classic...too good to be true?

[fotomeow]

sounds like shrink-wrapping may be standard practice for collectibles.

However, I would wonder if the shrink-wrapping would not only seal moisture out, but seal moisture inside --> bad for the camera.
How will you know if you don't open it?

sort of a damned-if-you-do (open it: lose value?) and damned-if-you-don't (open it: could be corroded or fake) situation.

 

[kingqueenknave]

I have never seen a Leica M6 shrink wrapped, they are always opened and inspected in the country of sale and aplicable warranty cards placed in the box.



I have visited many major collectors in the decades I have collected, and have never seen a shrink wrapped collectible except at Adorama during the '90s, that is why collectors found it so funny. Collectors do odd things, like visit their valuable collections at bank vaults, but shrink wrap, no. It would totally defeat the point of owning beautiful things, kind of like putting plastic on furniture you can't afford.

Collecting is partly about bragging rights, not pointing out you can't afford to collect. 😀

Salesmen would offer to unwrap the camera only if you were "serious." Of course all that has changed, Adorama is now more modern, but I miss those old grumpy guys.

So you think the actual camera is shrink wrapped? Interesting. I assumed it was the box.

 

[Godfrey]

Like with anything else, research what you're buying and decide if the premium is worth it to you.

If you go for it, check it out thoroughly when you get your hands on it and test it with a couple of rolls of film. If everything's good, just use and enjoy it. If not, have it serviced.

I'd love to buy a brand new M4 or M6. If it needs to be serviced, eh?, I get it serviced. Even if it is new, it is still old. Always plan for some extra expenses when dealing with older cameras, regardless of how well kept they might be. If thy don't need anything, then you're ahead of the game.

G

 

[FrankS]

Schrödinger's Leica 🙂

 

[rlouzan]

In the old days if a New, old stock, Leica body carried USA warranty, Leica would performe a CLA for free, things changed when people start sending used cameras with blanc cards demanding service😱 and bashing leicas against car doors :bang:- remember the 80s/90s passport ads?
Funny😀, I remember the shrink wrapped cameras + the old guy that ran the used camera dept. at Adorama.

 

[SYD_TRIBE]

Good morning all, surprised to see the amount of feedback on this topic. As mentioned before, I'll look for a pre-loved (by which I mean used) M6 original or TTL because it does seem too good to be true and indeed most opinion above seems to recommend against buying it.

I visited the shop last weekend and looked at the box, it seemed the real deal but I'm a total novice and don't want any surprises when I open the box. URL here

http://www.cameras.net.au/secondhand.php

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Beware that the early Wetzlars had serious problems with their electronics and had to go back to Leica for repair. The repair can be costly. IMHO I do not see the advantage of an unused M6 to an LN- especially if the unused is more money and the shutter has not been fired in 30 years.

 

[kingqueenknave]

In the old days if a New, old stock, Leica body carried USA warranty, Leica would performe a CLA for free, things changed when people start sending used cameras with blanc cards demanding service😱 and bashing leicas against car doors :bang:- remember the 80s/90s passport ads?
Funny😀, I remember the shrink wrapped cameras + the old guy that ran the used camera dept. at Adorama.

Old days? I purchased an early NOS M7 with pre MP .58 finder from an authorized dealer for just over $2000 in 2011. I sent the Passport card to Leica and it's covered for three years.

 

[rlouzan]

I'm talking about sending a M2 or M4 body, under warranty, to Northvale in 1998😱😉😛.

Old days? I purchased an early NOS M7 with pre MP .58 finder from an authorized dealer for just over $2000 in 2011. I sent the Passport card to Leica and it's covered for three years.

 

[kingqueenknave]

I'm talking about sending a M2 or M4 body, under warranty, to Northvale in 1998😱😉😛.

That said, still.

 

[raid]

Adorama used to shrink wrap what they thought were valuable cameras, it was kind of a running joke in the collecting world.

I have never seen a collector shrink wrap cameras -- but I have only known US and EU collectors.

Someone here posted about visiting a camera store in Japan where he tried to take a look at a camera that was shrink wrapped. He then was told that cameras stay like that.

 

[btgc]

Couple of years ago I bought NIB old stock Ricoh KR10x to make a gift. It worked right out of box without any issues. Now you realize why rangefinders demised in front of SLRs? 🙂

 

[baisao]

As for it needing immediate service, I got my mint early M6 Classic a year ago and have never had a moments problem with it.

It came with the inner and outer boxes, strap, original promotional sticker, and manual. FWIW, I wasn't looking for mint it just turned out that way.

It had not been used in nearly 30 years but has worked like a charm: no mechanical or electrical issues whatsoever. To read many of the comments here, I should have expected to spend hundreds extra on a broken, yet mint, machine.

 

[baisao]

Beware that the early Wetzlars had serious problems with their electronics and had to go back to Leica for repair. The repair can be costly. IMHO I do not see the advantage of an unused M6 to an LN- especially if the unused is more money and the shutter has not been fired in 30 years.

Again, I'm one data point but I have never a had a problem with the M6 Wetzlar.

 

[rlouzan]

A Leica rep. once told me that early M6 cameras had their elecronics updated as part of a CLA under warranty, silent recall, but don't know the actual time frame.

 

[nobbylon]

None of my wetzlar m6's had meter problems however one hadn't been used in 10 years and the slow speeds were not working. Depends on where it has been kept I suppose.

 

[nobbylon]

It's certainly not worth twice the going rate of a nice recently serviced one.

 

[FrankS]

The only way it MIGHT be worth that price is if you leave it packaged/sealed up and resell it in 20 years.

 

[raid]

I agree. No use i allowed.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

When did Leica shrink wrap boxes? I have never bough a new Leica in a shrink wrapped box.

Here's an M6 sold at WestLicht auctions, apparently original shrink wrapped. It went for €1800.

http://www.westlicht-auction.com/index.php?f=popup&id=206958&_ssl=off#206958