Well used M's - The anti-collectors

mdarnton said:
You guys are reminding me of the M I didn't buy once. On the outside it was mint. On the inside, there was an actual depressed track worn by film into the pressure plate. It had been used on a tripod at Fort Dix during the Viet Nam war, and before, to shoot input IDs of soldiers. It was available cheap, but I held off because of the wear I couldn't see.
Click to expand...

Marks left by the film? Garry Winogrand anyone?
 
I also like when you see that a camera is used, some brass shining through, the odd scratch and ding here and there, all fine, but what I could never stand is when the leather or vulcanite just hangs in patches on the body.
I would replace it immediately.

Different preferences, I guess.
 
Great idea for a thread, and I definitely love all your well worn instruments!



My frankenleica, bought from Anders who bought it from Phil, both RFF members (hi fellas!). I got it like that, and I know that Youxin maintained the camera for both owners before me. The photo above shows some mods done on it by YYe, old style back door and winding lever, ten points and hats off to you who noticed the cold shoe is wrong. I was told the mechanics were so worn that YYe replaced its chassis and shutter with one from an MDa. He also removed the 135 framelines so the 35 is nice and clean. I love it to bits, now waiting for a Nikkor HC to arrive.
 
I don't own a Leica but this thread is making me feel better about my Nikon F5 showing signs of being used...no dings or dents but plenty of scuff marks, the film door hinge has plenty of scratches (missing paint) and recently had to re-glue the front bottom cover...also on the look out for a replacement main front covering...
My F4e with four times the exposures looks better at this point...
I love that these cameras I'm seeing look this way because they're being used...not abused but well loved and working
 
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bit of wear... nothing too bad.
patched up hole in the shutter is worth mentioning more so, i think...
 
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I admit that I didn't bring the M4 to this state myself, but I am keeping the tradition and the M4 BP is remaining a total user, carry-everywhere camera under my ownership.
 
Lawd. Definitely some heavily used cameras in here haha. I got my M3 and lenes brand new in box (literally, it was still in original plastic and boxed up and didn't have any wear on the lens mount) from my grand father probably 7 years ago and the vulcanite is just now starting to chip heavily and there's a small ding on the top plate but no brass is coming through the chrome yet and I use it every day. A couple of the lenses are showing wear but nothing like in here. Maybe I'll post some pics in here soon. I applaud you all.
 
Not a Leica but my Canon 7 is showing some considerate wear now - been used by my grandad up until 2007 until he died and used by me from 2014 onwards, Brassing of the advance lever, around the edges and the film door lock got done in by a in bag lens collision.
 
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