User M3 and lenses at local camera store

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wlewisiii

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While stopping to pick up a roll of Portra NC 160 to experiment with, I noticed my FLCS* has an M3 on it's used shelf.

It's definately a user. SN 874107 double stroke with preview lever. It's a bit dirty, there are several small dings in the top plate, a few light scratches and some chipping of the vulcanite down along the bottom edge on the side with the self timer lever. The lens on it is a Summicron 50/2.0 with a fair amount of brassing on the focus ring. The glass appeared fine to my eyes and everything moved and focused smoothly. My guess is this was a camera that someone took reasonably care of but still used heavily. I presume that while everything felt in good working order to me, a CLA would be a good idea.

With lens and a Lieca stamped leather (n)ever-ready case they are asking $899.99.

There is also a Summaron 35/3.5 with eyes and both caps for $299.99. I did not see any fogging.

I have no idea if these are considered high or low prices for this camera; any negotiation is up to you.

The camera and lenses are at the Madison, WI Camera Company store on the west side. The phone number there is 608-833-1411 Ask for Ed Ericson or Brian Carlis, with Ed being the more knowledgable about Lieca. I have no connection with them other than as a customer. I thought that with all the interest in getting M3s around here this camera might be of interest to someone.

William

* Favorite Local Camera Store
 
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My notes indicate Summicron - that was a typo in fhe OP and I'll edit that.

William
 
I don't own any leicas, but I think I've read several places that dents in the top plate are a big thing to watch out for when buying the M's. Can't seem to remember where right now, but someone else probably will.
 
William, is this a store in Odana Road? Big affair with tripods and the whole kit-&-caboodle?

I've been to that store... but it was a loooong time ago, before getting into RF.

BTW, that's a sweet price for a Leica M3 with glass. The dings on the top plate may hint at rangefinder misalignment and that's why they may mean trouble (any whack on that spot might throw the RF out of shape), but, in general terms, if the speeds sound reasonable, and the viewfinder and patch look OK, cosmetics aren't an issue at all.

Thanks for the tip! Now, let's hope Frank picks it.
 
Dents in Leica toplates are bad because drool from Leicaphiles and mythlickers tends to collect here and form green scum on the cameras. Both my Leicas have scratches and wear which makes it possible for subsistance income types like me to have the oportunity to own and use these cameras
 
Yep, that's the store. The dings are really small - I didn't notice them until I decided I should write down what I could about it for posting here. The RF looks good, focusing on a wall gave a reasonable range on the lens scale. If I had $1200 in my pocket it might well be already in a box heading to Essex...

William
 
Last time I went there... I wasn't too happy with the treatment I got, so I chose to frequent the one in downtown, run by a lonely fellow with lots of patience, experience and generosity.

There was a time when I used to go there more often, but when the owner snubbed a lens I wanted to sell... I didn't like his style.

Who knows, maybe I went there on one of their bad days.

Is their film developing still tops? That I remember being their best.
 
digitalox said:
...I think I've read several places that dents in the top plate are a big thing to watch out for when buying the M's.
Click to expand...

On any M, dents on the top-plate anywhere around the viewfinder, can indicate that the RF is misaligned, but providing that the RF works at all, it's a minor repair to fix.

On the older M's that used Canada Balsam as the cement in the RF prisms (M's 1~3), such a dent can indicate a partially separated prism, as this cement gets brittle with age.

A fully separated prism is opaque so you'd notice that right away. A partially separated one will show black/brown lines in the VF when you look through it from the back at a distance of about a foot. If partially separated, it may last for years (Mine has :) ), or it may black-out completely tomorrow, no way to tell. DAG & Luton can re-cement/silver the prisms for around $250U.S..

Anyway, if the VF is clear, that camera sounds like a great deal.
 
I'll agree the downtown store is the best - was the fellow down there bearded, glasses, slightly pudgy? If so, he's still there. They usually have the most interesting used items out on Odana though and there are a couple of the people out there that know what's what. They do have good developing although there a number of good places in town these days. I like Star Photo down on Williamson street and the Walgreen's 2 blocks from my house wins for convieniance.

The biggest thing these days that they sell is digital. So anyone looking at the film stuff gets noticed and I usually get pretty good service.

William
 
Thanks guys. I'm going to hang tough and wait to see what's happening at the camera show/swap meet this weekend. One of the downers about buying stuff state-side is the customs duty. and shipping. and waiting.
 
You can have some Zen-fun with the waiting though if you put yourself in the right frame of mind. The waiting, the anticipation, instead of feeling negative about it, allow it to tease you, like foreplay. You know what's about to come and it's close, but not just yet. Yeah, I'm weird.
 
ddutchison said:
On any M, dents on the top-plate anywhere around the viewfinder, can indicate that the RF is misaligned, but providing that the RF works at all, it's a minor repair to fix.
Click to expand...

My friend got an M2 with a dent which didn't seem like a big thing at the time. Turned out the rf was off, and in order to fix it, the top had to come off. Get this - the dent was in a location such that removal of the top included cutting it, and he needed to get a new top as a result.

Granted he's got a nice lil cam now, 'specially with the new skin, but he could have had less headaches along the way.
 
William, I'm glad the guy in the downtown store matches your description. In addition to being extremely affable, he knows his stuff. And he's also very helpful to everyone who comes to the store, dispensing advice about film, lenses, bags and how to use P&S cameras.

You're convincing me a trip to Madison is in order... And the tip about the digital being the big attraction and the attention they give to film users makes it tempting to go to Odana Road. Thanks for the information!
 
FrankS said:
You can have some Zen-fun with the waiting though if you put yourself in the right frame of mind. The waiting, the anticipation, instead of feeling negative about it, allow it to tease you, like foreplay. You know what's about to come and it's close, but not just yet. Yeah, I'm weird.
Click to expand...


frank, please, this is a family forum!!

;)joe
 
I'm with Frank and his philosophy of waiting... Just think of the arrival, the encounter and all that happens afterwards... ;)

Like throwing away the tape, getting rid of the packaging chips, finding a place for the cardboard box probably on top of the big pile of boxes, all with your name on it, which you sometimes pick up and remember "Oooh, this is the one in which my [insert favorite camara brand here] came to me!!"

Been there, done that... :eek: :rolleyes: :p
 
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