Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]An exercise in hubris. Last year I lived in London and had enough time on my hands to make occasional contributions to this list. In April I got a job in Chicago, sold my house in London and moved with my family to the US. Since then I haven't had time to contribute to the list but have enjoyed keeping an eye on it. I've been feeling flush, quite pleased with myself for making the move to Chicago, and a bit too free and easy with Leica acquisition. Then suddenly reality hits in double measure. I've now got to move to Boston, and I'm in the midst of house buying - and find that we have another baby on the way. Cashflow is suddenly crucial, and some camera gear has got to go - Leica M, screw, and Black Nikon F. Hence: M6 LHSA 0.85 #2595xxx New in box with all papers. I've had this a week, and it's the hardest thing to give up. Bought from a New York dealer for significantly more than the list price of $2,695 that I am asking for it (I know, I know...). If you buy it now you will be able to register the passport before the 30 days since purchase have expired. 35 Summicron f2 (7 element, last non-asph version) #3682xxx Germany, with hood, caps, case and box. In very nice condition - at least ex++. The hood has a few insignificant scuff marks and some marks around the throat where it goes over the lens. The lens has only the inevitable, very few, brightmarks on the front lens ring where the hood mounts. Glass, focus and aperture perfect. $800 IIIC #433xxx, with Summitar 5cm/f2 #628xxx, VIOOH viewfinder (inc. 8.5cm) and case with hump to accommodate VIOOH. IIIC is in nice condition but needs a service. It has no dings or dents and no scratches. The chrome is bright and clean, with no bubbling. There are a couple of small pin-point impressions in front of the accessory shoe (from the VIOOH?). Three small areas of brassing: on front chrome edge, in front of rewind assembly; a little on the slow speed dial; and on top of shutter-release button. Leather is intact apart from a small little-fingernail-sized area near the semi-circular location flange of the baseplate, and a tiny area by the slow shutter speed dial. Much of the black of the lettering in the Leica script is missing. Shutter speeds all work, but shutter does not always trip - it merely needs a CLA. Viewfinder is clear, but rangefinder image has very low contrast - a very common IIIC predicament. The Summitar has a very clean barrel with no scratches or marks. Glass is very nice, with the odd dust speck and 'period' glass-bubble, and some barely visible cleaning marks or coating defects. Inc. front lens cap. Only real problem with the lens is that the aperture function is stiff - needs a CLA. VIOOH is a good clean ex+, functioning perfectly, but with a slightly hazy view. The case is in good solid, functional condition, with some moderate scuffing - no strap. $250 for the lot. And lastly, a treat for any Nikon collectors, an F outfit, not offered separately: Nikon F Black #6712xxx (Nippon Kogaku) with Motor Drive plate, in good ex+ condition - very little brassing, a small edge ding behind the rewind assembly. Mechanically in great shape, apart from perishing of the mirror/focusing screen foam damping, a very small amount of which has adhered to the bottom mirror edge - not functionally significant - and only requiring a CLA by someone competent. Nikon F Black eyelevel prism - almost as good as new. Rare and sought after in this condition. Nikon F Photomic TN Black viewfinder. No dents, only very minimal brassing. Some de-silvering at the edges of the prism. The person I bought this from said that the meter works - but I have not tested it - it has no batteries in it. Nikon F-36 motor drive, with cordless battery pack #1546xx. In good working condition, and nice but definitely used condition. Looks and works great with the camera. Four Nikkor F era non-AI lenses - all with scalloped focus ring: 105/2.5 ex++ with near mint hood; 55/3.5 Micro Nikkor with 1:1 extension ring, ex++; 28/2 ex++ ; 21/3.5 ex++ (a rare and unusual lens) PLUS: a generous assortment of Nikon F era filters; an extra focusing screen; a near mint Nikkor F 50/1.4 hood; AND: an N to F adapter for using Nikon RF telephoto lenses; and an adapter for using Nikon RF telephoto lenses on a Bronica S. All this for $1600 ($700 less than it cost me.) I have photos of the Nikon F, prisms, motor and Micro Nikkor - and copies of the ebay pages of the auctions I originally bought them from. If you are interested in any of the above, please contact me at spulmanjones@sapient.com or on my cellphone 312-399-4460. (I am subscribed to the digest, so I won't see replies to the list immediately.) (Buyer to pay shipping, but maybe we could compromise on the (large) Nikon outfit. If it helps, you can see my feedback on eBay - username spulmanjones@sapient.com). Thanks, and my apologies for the long post, Simon Pulman-Jones. Chicago.