[Leica] Need some guidance on M6 purchase options

[n.wajsman at chello.nl (n.wajsman@chello.nl)]

Hi Scott,

Of the dealers you mention, I would strongly suggest patronizing the Photo 
Village. The owner, Rich Pinto, is an extremely honest dealer, participates 
on this list, and many of us have bought stuff from him over the years.

As for the various designations you see on dealers' sites, they refer to 
cosmetics. Unless otherwise noted, you can assume that the shutter and 
everything else works as it should. I would not budget for a CLA, just 
because you are buying used, certainly not if you are buying from a 
reputable dealer like Photo Village.

If you are a bit patient, you can also wait until Friday, when people here 
post items for sale--there have been several M6s and at least one M7 in 
recent weeks. 

Nathan

> 
> van: Scott McLoughlin <scott@adrenaline.com>
> datum: 2004/08/03 di AM 11:35:19 MEST
> aan: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
> onderwerp: [Leica] Need some guidance on M6 purchase options
> 
> Kind Leica Folk,
> 
> I'm buying my first M body, and after lurking on
> various lists and reading tons of stuff for some
> months, I've decided to get a used, chrome M6
> "Classic" or TTL (saving a few $$ for some nice
> lenses).
> 
> I've isolated several options from reputable
> dealers, but still am having trouble deciding. While
> the dollar difference between the options isn't that
> large (~$1,200 up to ~$1,800), I'm also seeking wisdom
> regarding post purchase precautions, actions (required
> CLA's), warranties or the lack thereof and the general
> "hassle factor."
> 
> Koh's has a LN classic and KEH a LN- classic at
> pretty attractive prices. Should I assume that this
> refers only to cosmetics or also to shutter function
> and meter accuracy? Will a ~$250 CLA likely be in
> order?
> 
> PhotoVillage has some TTL items, including a demo
> with a 1 year warranty. They also have a mint TTL
> for a few hundred more, although that doesn't seem
> to have a warranty. Hmmm. And the mint sample is at
> a price only a few hundred less than a brand new M6
> TTL.
> 
> Of course, brand new TTL's seem available at a few
> stores for around $2K.
> 
> But Accphoto (HK, from various forum reports seems to
> have many, many happy customers Leica, Mamiya, and so
> on) also seems to be offering new grey market M6 TTLs
> for ~$1500. What is the warranty situation in this
> case? I understand there is no Passport, but what is
> the status of Leica's "international" warranty?
> 
> My used items won't have warranties in any case,
> excepting PhotoVillage's demo item and the dealers'
> relatively short return policies.
> 
> I appreciate any help or experiences folks can offer.
> I'm eager to stop shopping and start shooting. Or at
> least, start shooting as well as shopping for a 28
> Summicron ASPH :-)
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Scott
> 
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