Leica R with Lens for $20 at Goodwill

RetroCameraReview · Apr 24, 2015

So I got really lucky at Goodwill the other week, I found a Leica R4 with a 70-210mm F/4 Leitz lens for $20.00

I felt sort of bad haggling them down from $300, but It was a win for me. It was my first time to ever get to shoot a Leica, which after 10 years of wanting one to try, it was special. I made a video about it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KES0TxvYbj4

snapguy · Apr 24, 2015

rescue

Personally, I don't collect cameras, I rescue them. That's what it looks like you did here.

RetroCameraReview · Apr 24, 2015

I really think the last owner might have been given it as a gift or something. It had zero rubs around the tripod socket, and the exterior was practically perfect.
I heard these cameras build up acid inside of it, as you can see from the pictures in the video. It looks like acid spots were building on the old light seals. Jon Goodman makes a great kit, I was surprised he had such specific kits with detailed instructions for such a lesser used camera.

Norkusa · Apr 26, 2015

Amazing find. I visit a lot of junk & antique stores too while trying to find cameras. I've found a lot of great stuff for cheap (like a Pentax LX a few weeks ago for only $15!) Only Leica I've found though was a Mini 3 point & shoot.

The most amazing part of your find is that you talked the owner down to $20. If it was originally under $100, most would have been happy to pay the asking price.

pdeeh · Apr 26, 2015

Norkusa said:
The most amazing part of your find is that you talked the owner down to $20. .

But it must feel so good to talk a charity shop out of so much money

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 26, 2015

pdeeh said:
But it must feel so good to talk a charity shop out of so much money

No kidding.

removedacct1 · Apr 26, 2015

I would be too embarrassed to tell anyone that I'd haggled the price of a camera at a Goodwill store.

Fixcinater · Apr 26, 2015

RetroCameraReview said:
So I...found a Leica for $300.00 and was able to beat them down to $20.00.

Fixed that for you.

RetroCameraReview said:
but it was a win for me.

And that's all that really matters, isn't it?

MartinCrabtree · Apr 26, 2015

Never heard the word Leica said so many times in one sitting. See you found a nice way to up your hit rate on yootoob.

hollowman · Apr 27, 2015

RetroCameraReview said:
So I got really lucky at Goodwill the other week, I found a Leica R4 with a 70-210mm F/4 Leitz lens for $20.00

I felt sort of bad haggling them down from $300, but It was a win for me. It was my first time to ever get to shoot a Leica, which after 10 years of wanting one to try, it was special. I made a video about it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KES0TxvYbj4

your video says it was an antique shop, but above you state a goodwill....
which is it??

film_man · Apr 27, 2015

Never thought someone could go as low as haggling in a charity shop.

lxdude · Apr 27, 2015

You are incorrect about the origin of the Leicaflex. Minolta was not involved in the design of Leica's original SLR, the Leicaflex, and its successors, the Leicaflex SL and SL2.
The later design did involve Minolta. Those cameras, the Leica R series, were not called Leicaflex.

lxdude · Apr 27, 2015

Why dismiss the "weird beer can lens" as you did in the video? What's weird about it? The combined zoom/focus ring? With a manual focus camera, the combined zoom/focus ring allowed doing both at the same time, very useful for shooting action before the AF era.

film_man · Apr 27, 2015

paulbarden said:
I would be too embarrassed to tell anyone that I'd haggled the price of a camera at a Goodwill store.

You know what would be more embarrassing? Taking said camera, cleaning it and changing the seals then selling it for $300. Which is what this looks like its heading to.

macfred · Apr 27, 2015

film_man said:
... then selling it for $300 ...

Great idea !
--
and as a small compensation a donation (maybe $150) to charity

JW PHOTO · Apr 27, 2015

macfred said:
Great idea !
--
and as a small compensation a donation (maybe $150) to charity

Very good idea! Plus, he can write it off anyway. If the price is good at Salvation Army or Goodwill I just buy it. I like Salvation Army much better 'cause their top management gets paid very little. If something is not right or the item is broken then I might point that out to them and pay accordingly. I never screw them since they are a charity and also employ folks who need a helping hand, but that's just me and it takes all kinds to make this world up I guess. John W

AgX · Apr 27, 2015

film_man said:
You know what would be more embarrassing? Taking said camera, cleaning it and changing the seals then selling it for $300. Which is what this looks like its heading to.

Would anyone buy that kit for $300??

SLVR · Apr 27, 2015

Really nifty. Not being an SLR person I am kind of intrigued by these leica SLRs. Mostly because I love leica glass.

Great deal

Also Im not sure if its released yet but the Weapon upgrade for the RED epic dragon increases resolution further.

RetroCameraReview · Apr 27, 2015

Thanks for your feedbacks. I feel bad that I got the Leicaflex information wrong.
I don't feel bad about getting a good deal, the camera was extremely rough and I doubt anyone else in the area would have restored it. It wasn't like I haggled them down by yelling, I just told them I'd have to risk it not working. I actually didn't know the Lens was included until they gave it to me out the case. I'm not ashamed to take a good deal, have had plenty of bad luck, as we all have so when something good comes, I'll take it.

I appreciate the honesty

It was actually a Goodwill just to clear it up. I haggled a goodwill. I have no shame.
Maybe this is just me fending off guilt, but I don't know how much of a charity goodwill is:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-hrabe/the-worst-corporation-in-_b_1876905.html

wwilliams · Apr 27, 2015

So bad behavior is ok if you have a note from Huffington Post.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 27, 2015

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile

RetroCameraReview · Apr 27, 2015

Well, then I ask you. What would you have done differently?

BrianShaw · Apr 27, 2015

One thing for sure: not brag online about the haggling part of the story.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 27, 2015

In post #1 you say the exterior was nearly perfect and later surmised it was a gift to someone. In post #18 you say it was "extremely rough". Either way, my guess is that it looked fairly decent when you bought it. I assume you tripped the shutter at least and you knew it wasn't total junk when you were buying it.

That said, you could've offered them something like $150 and it really would've been a win for both you and the store.

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 27, 2015

RetroCameraReview said:
Well, then I ask you. What would you have done differently?

If you have to ask...

Leica R with Lens for $20 at Goodwill

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