keh.com

[2F/2F]

These KEH posts really need to be merged into a sticky thread IMHO.

 

[CGW]

Friends are longtime KEH customers. Their experiences have been mixed, ranging from DOA items to NOS bargains. Their "BGN" purchases always interest me since there's not been much consistency--sometimes it's jaw-dropping quality, other times borderline ratty. Their better grade gear can be pricey. Their shipping charges to Canada are steep. KEH is a great supermarket if you want or need something in a hurry. Where KEH does deliver, though, is warranty and support. That's what's in short supply on the big auction site.

I've never shopped them. I like pretty stuff, usually EXC+ or better, and I can usually find it with some patience at a better price under the big tent.

Still, their giveaway priced NOS Mamiya lenses keep talking to me late at night. "Buy me. Take me to Canada."

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I have a RB67 wide angle (50) from KEH while I don't remember the price, it was a pretty good deal none the less.

Jeff

 

[jpreston]

I've been a very satisfied KEH customer for several years. Around the first of this year I purchased an RB 67 Pro S with WLF rated EX, a 6x7/8 revolving back adapter rated BGN, a BGN 6x7 120 power drive back, a BGN 65mm Non-C, a BGN 90mm C, an EX 180mm C and an UG prism finder all for $450.00. Honestly, most of the items looked excellent or like new except for the prism. It's ugly on the outside but the glass is spotless.

I recently bought a BGN 82mm extension tube with caps that only has one small mark in the paint and slight wear on the mounts. Once again, very nice.

 

[Brian Legge]

I picked up a Super Ikonta IV from KEH in 'As Is' condition. I was looking for a parts camera to repair a SI I picked up on ebay.

The camera they delivered was in excellent condition. A little fiddling - opening it, activating the shutter a few times, etc and i realized the camera not only looked great but worked well too. I'm sure they spotted something wrong with it but I didn't. The camera even came with a UV filter which had kept the front element in great condition. Only issue was that the bellows didn't set quite right and obscured a slight amount of the image. No bit deal.

I know it was just luck but still... its a data point. I've purchased a few lens from them, mostly in bargain condition, and everything worked well for me in the end.

 

[NJS]

bought some SQ-A gear from them all rated BGN, well, they weren't quite bargains, glass had marks and metal was scratched and beaten, ME prism faulty (+2EV).

 

[Joe O'Brien]

I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've bought from them. I do however always buy something above "BGN" when I buying glass, because according to their scoring chart BGN is where the lens may be effected to the point that your photographs will suffer.

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I have bought BGN lens from KEH and they seem to be pretty good!

Jeff

 

[Pumalite]

KEH is great. They are fast and they are honest.

 

[greylensman]

Good, mostly, but careless in what they ship out

I've mostly had good experiences with KEH.com - except...

My first order was a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II. It came with the focus knob and shaft of one side at a 30 degree angle off true - obviously dropped, the damage unnoticed or ignored and shipped. They replaced it, the second body was quite good. Frustrating.

I just received an order today. A Canon P Rangefinder body rated at "EX", and 100.00 more or less more than bargain rated bodies. At the same time I ordered a BGN 50mm 1.8 lens.

The camera body has a dent in the top just to the left of the viewfinder port. The front of the camera is bowed out and the viewfinder port canted to the right 3 to 6 degrees. This is EXcellent??? This is significant impact damage to a mechanical precision instrument.

The bargain lens on the other hand I would have rated excellent - not a mark on it, smooth focus, clean glass.

The rating is made and then the camera consigned to the warehouse. In shifting stock or in packing, the stuff can be (and in two cases for me have been) damaged and either the damage is ignored at shipping or no one qualifies the order before it is packed.

I've had many orders with no issues. And they are shipping out a second EX rated body today. But should not happen. This is very obvious damage and they don't see it. Something wrong with the process.

 

[wotalegend]

I have bought several items from KEH - mostly lenses and small peripheral items and adapters, never a body. Often their prices are less than eBay and their quality assessments are certainly far more honest. The goods when received are always better than their own quality assessments. The downer for me is that I am on the other side of the world and shipping is often very expensive because of KEH's insistence on using FedEx, although I have to say that in my experience FedEx have always been fast and efficient in their delivery service. A couple of weeks ago I bought a Mamiya leaf shutter lens from KEH for my 645 system. I was losing patience with waiting for one to come up for a decent price on eBay and KEH had one complete with the cable which joins the lens to the power winder to re-set the leaf shutter. It was rated BGN, but when it arrived in less than a week it turned out to be in a condition that many eBay sellers would call "mint". However the connector cable was missing. I emailed KEH Customer Service that night and within six days the cable was on my desk. So this purchase was a little bit like greylensman above - sloppy initially in the warehouse but quickly and unquestioningly corrected by the Customer Service department.

 

[bushpig]

I JUST bought a lens from keh. This is my first time buying from them. The price for the lens I wanted was so low I couldn't resist getting a bargain rated lens.

The positive reviews I've seen for keh have FAR outnumbered the few negative reviews, so I'm hoping for the best.