Leica condition

[yaacovk]

Helo.
I have a chance to by this camera.
Is there any meaning to Leica M6 camera condition after hard work like in the picture attached?Dead Link Removed

 

[ColColt]

I'd never buy a camera of any make that looked like that. It has high mileage indeed.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Yes, shown condition of this camera means it was wear for years daily. We don't know how many if any pictures were taken during these years or it was meant to be a tie without even lens attached to it.
You know, someone could wear Leica for years to be recognized as Leica Guru, but taking no pictures.

 

[CropDusterMan]

It's a tough call...a camera like that has obviously seen a lot of miles, and generally, it looks like it was a journalists rig...
Any photos of shutter curtain etc, pressure plate? Does it come with any guarantee of usability? A camera like that shouldn't fetch more than $600-700 U.S IMO.

 

[bdial]

It is clearly well used, but what counts is how it functions. Is there any record of maintenance? If so, what has been done to it?
Almost certainly, it either needs service or probably will soon.
The condition wouldn't necessarily keep me from buying it, but I wouldn't be willing to spend very much.

 

[ColColt]

I got this super nice M2 for $750 and it was CLA'd by DAG three years before I bought it. A great deal to me.

M2Top by David Fincher, on Flickr
M2 by David Fincher, on Flickr

for a couple hundred bucks more I added the MR-4 meter.

_1DF3977aq by David Fincher, on Flickr

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'd never buy a camera of any make that looked like that. It has high mileage indeed.

I got this super nice M2 for $750 and it was CLA'd by DAG three years before I bought it. A great deal to me.

OK to above, you purchased your gear at going price ( or even slightly less) for good condition. I don't think OP has something to do with it.

Here is Winogrand's M4 thread. Everybody giggling about camera condition, but nobody making statements what camera will fall apart soon just because it looks used. Some of us knew what Winogrand used to have two M4 and cameras were serviced regularly.

The only thing we have from OP is externally worn M6 with leatherette taken from grandpa old jacket. We don't know the asking price and we don't know what camera actually does.
I purchased my M4-2 as "user". It wasn't perfect outside, but fully working inside and still works without CLA (but it was checked if CLA was needed after purchase and one year ago).
We don't know OP M6 history. It could be serviced regularly due to the obvious need to be used or it could be very cheap and here is no problem to get it serviced. Both scenarios are very common in Leica world.

 

[yaacovk]

Thank you all.
I'll take your advice to my attention.
I just want to say that this camera work well but my deterrent is how it look.
This camera was belong in the first hand to a jurnalist in israel and it say a lot how the camera worked at the past...
The camera didn't was at CLA...

 

[CropDusterMan]

This camera was belong in the first hand to a jurnalist in israel and it say a lot how the camera worked at the past...
The camera didn't was at CLA...

Personally, I'd buy this camera simply for the fact it was used by an Israeli journalist...think of the history it's had...
I think it's a beautiful camera...maybe not worth a ton, but if it's sound inside, go for it.
Baruch Hashem.

Jason

 

[Jim Jones]

That black M6 looks better than my M4, and that M4 has been my most trusted camera for 46 years.

 

[blockend]

It looks ok to me, too. The only obvious wear is brassing where the lug rings have rubbed. Seen far worse Leica M cameras for sale.

 

[rpavich]

I don't know how much it's selling for but certainly, I'd be willing to buy it if I were in your shoes.

I'd factor in the cost of a full CLA by DAG or Sherry or whomever also.

If the price comes in low enough to factor that in, then it makes sense.