Who has bought an M from KEH?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I'm shopping for an M2, having given my friend back his, and there are a couple on KEH: an engraved EX and a non-engraved BGN for much cheaper. (I'm also considering a couple of more expensive repaints from digitalintrigue, but am leaning toward KEH, who also has a lens I want.)

I'm inclined to get the BGN, but I'm curious if your BGN leica purchases have been in full working order. With KEH, one assumes you won't have to send the camera out immediately for a CLA. Is that a safe assumption? BGN lenses from them have been good for me, but I haven't tried a whole camera.

 

[dave lackey]

Hey,

You're on the right track! I have dealt with KEH with purchases such as my F3/T, F5 and lenses and find them to be very, very good to purchase from especially with their no questions asked return policy.

Never bought a BGN camera body from them but the folks I know who have were amazed at the working condition. Of course, the body is less than perfect but with the return policy, you certainly could not go wrong.

Just ask for Dan or Arthur, they are very helpful!

 

[helen.HH]

I highly give praise to TAMARKIN /dealt w/Eric
/there in Connecticut
I recently bought an M4 - 1966 /EXC+ condt
for $795.00 /Its brilliant.... Spot on Working, (CLA by them before buying)
LOOKS FAB cosmetic condition
and I mean BEAUTIFUL chrome & Blackcondt... I LOVE it
otherwise IGORS Camera Exchange is Great as well

in terms of KEH /Sometimes its been FAB other times not so good
Best-H

 

[januaryman]

I bought a "bargain" Canon P from them and was amazed at how good the camera looked and performed. It WAS a bargain, but only in saving a boatload of money for an excellent camera. In fact, I just sold it for what I paid for it a year ago, right here to a RFF member, because I have too many cameras. i second the opinion that you can't go wrong with them. In fact I was eyeing those M2s myself, but couldn't figure out what engraving they were talking about... the Leica engraving? Some etching his SSN on the back?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

In fact I was eyeing those M2s myself, but couldn't figure out what engraving they were talking about... the Leica engraving? Some etching his SSN on the back?

Heh heh there was an "engraved" that just sold on eBay that I kind of wanted...it was one of those custom Leitz engravings, on the back of the top plate, and it said MARIE BUCKLEMAN.

KEH will not tell you specific details about specific cameras unfortunately. Kind of irritating.

 

[jbf]

I purchased an M7 from KEH last week. Cosmetically it looked really great. Turns out it had broken electronics in it. It would work fine in auto mode and faster shutter speeds... but whenever switched to 1/30th or slower it would act as if it was in auto mode still... Something wrong a switch or a circuit board I believe.

Not only that but the shutter release button was awkward. It was not locking exposure properly... the second position of the shutter release would not activate the exposure lock.


I think it is a fluke... but I will say that KEH is a massive retail outlet. They deal a ton of cameras, and I have a rising suspicion that they dont have as much experience with Leicas (thus the ability to accurately check them out).

However, I am pretty positive that any manual camera (m4, m3, m2) from them would in all likely hood work great.

Im sure however that there are higher chances with electronic cameras (or ones with electronic pieces such as m5, m6, m7) are more likely to have issues with them that KEH may not be able to catch or notice.

However, they do offer a 14 day return policy and 60 day warranty period. However I would never trust KEH's service department to work on a leica M. I just highly doubt their experience with a Leica in comparison to say DAG, Youxin Ye, or Sherry Krauter.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I highly give praise to TAMARKIN /dealt w/Eric
/there in Connecticut
I recently bought an M4 - 1966 /EXC+ condt
for $795.00 /Its brilliant.... Spot on Working, (CLA by them before buying)
LOOKS FAB cosmetic condition
and I mean BEAUTIFUL chrome & Blackcondt... I LOVE it

Just got off the phone with them! He described an ex/ex+ M2 to me...lever rewind, no self-timer. But he says it's probably a CLA candidate. At $719, and needing a CLA, I would just go with Robert's repaints, which are fully serviced...

 

[januaryman]

Okay, I just googled "Robert's repaints" and came up empty. What, please, is that?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Ah, Robert aka digitalintrigue, of Rangefinder Restorations. Our forum-mate who does nice repaintings of Leica M's.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

OK, just went for the engraved EX! If it's no good I can return it easily...I'll report here. Now I gotta go teach a class...to earn the dough...to pay for the camera...

 

[bean_counter]

Congrats! You will probably be just fine; be sure to give it a rigorous test before the return window expires.

I bought an M4-P BGN, came in perfect working order; just a scuff on the top plate, one on the shutter speed dial, and a fleck of paint or two off the back. Great user that looks better than most beaters, but I won't fret over scratching it.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I have gotten an M2 from them that worked well for a year, then the shutter curtain tore away from the rest of the shutter assembly and I sent it off to Sherry K. for a fix and CLA. I had no hard feelings on the subject. My feeling is that these are 50-(going on 60) year-old machines with a lot of moving parts (albeit, robust parts) -- they are going to require some TLC to keep them working for the next 60 years. No one, certainly not the folks at KEH, know the exact provenance of the cameras over that time period, how they were used (or ignored). For these sorts of mechanical devices, NOT using and keeping them in a box might be as bad as using them too hard -- the KEH grade is cosmetic only. My experience ordering BGN grade stuff from them has generally been excellent -- but you really need to figure in the cost of a CLA in a camera of this age. If not in the first year, then in the near future.

I bought a panda M6 used from B&H in 1994, which I am still using. After 11 years, the light meter circuit board went bad. Off to Sherry it went and now it is as good as new. These things happen.

Ben

 

[cole]

I've purchased both a BGN 50/2 Summicron and a EXC M2 from KEH, and both arrived better than expected. No complaints - in fact, nothing but praise for the company!

 

[thomasw_]

I bought what has turned out to be my favourite M2 from KEH earlier this year. I bought a BGN lever rewind NO Self Timer M2. I had KEH ship it directly to Youxin Ye for an appraisal and a CLA. Once Youxin had CLA'd the M2, he rated it a 9.5/10, as the original vulcanite is still perfect. That's pretty damn fine for a BGN M2 bought for 619$.

 

[murrayb53]

I purchased an M2-R from KEH about 6 months ago in Excellent condition, just some bright marks on the baseplate and strap wear on the sides. The price was quite nice considering the rarity of the camera. Like always, I'm a happy KEH customer.

On another note concerning engravings. Back in the early 70's I worked at Altman Camera Company in Chicago and was interested in purchasing a new Leica M4 from Leitz using their Employee Purchase Plan. I don't remember the price I paid but upon receipt of the camera I noticed my name beautifully engraved atop the back side of the top plate. This was the Leitz policy concerning employee purchases so that folks working in stores would not re-sell the cameras for a profit.

As an aside I also own a Bell & Howell Foton that also has an individuals name engraved above the pressure plate and was told that B&H had the same policy as Leitz.

Steve

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

My secret hope with this engraving is that THE ENGRAVING ITSELF is the only reason the camera isn't rated EX+. And I do hope it is one of those Leitz-employee engravings, rather than some dude with a dremel and DT's.

Anyway, I sprung for next day shipping so I'll know tomorrow.

 

[murrayb53]

Just call and ask them how the engraving looks. If there is a bit of an annoyance, it's that they have a protocol in which you have to wait a day for their boys to locate the item and bring it to the salesperson for review. They just don't leave their desk , find the item, and call you back. It's a bit frustrating, but with the camera in hand you can ask them for an exact review of the functions as well.

Steve

P.S.
Nikon also had the same policy. Their engravings were on the baseplate. Black on a chrome body, white on a black body.

 

[brachal]

I bought two IIIf from them, both were listed as EX. Cosmeticly, they were. The first one's shutter was a mess, though. The great thing about KEH is that their customer service is first-rate. I think they'll take anything they sell back, no questions asked, if it's within 14 days. They were easy to deal with, no hassles, and were eager to make me happy ... offered a refund, exchange, repair ... whatever I wanted. I had a replacement IIIf in hand very quickly, and have been pleased.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Well, the camera arrived, and cosmetically, it is almost perfect. A bit of wear around the back door, that's all. Freaking gorgeous, and the engraving is a very shallow dremel job that is barely visible at all. It's on the back of the top plate as expected. Mechanically it feels fantastic, but we'll see if all speeds are good. I'm delighted though.

Even more impressively, the BGN grade Canon 50/1.2 I couldn't resist buying turns out to be MINT. I can't find a mark on it, on the glass or hardware. Why they called it BGN is beyond me.

 

[januaryman]

Even more impressively, the BGN grade Canon 50/1.2 I couldn't resist buying turns out to be MINT. I can't find a mark on it, on the glass or hardware. Why they called it BGN is beyond me.

I had a similar experience with them and their wonderful lenses classified as BARGAIN. I check in at least a few times a week to see what they got in.