Hi,

I am looking for an M6 & 35mm lens shortly and have been checking this site to see what people are saying about 2nd hand gear. I have a small problem in that I live in Perth, Western Australia and here in town there are not many dealers who would have a 2nd hand M6.

I did find one and after checking the serial number I found it was a 1985 model M6, it also has a 35mm 1.4 lens and all looks in good condition- but here is the catch - they are asking $2610.00US for the two. Surely this has to be was over the odds. I then checked with a Leica dealer and he would sell me a new M6TTL .58 and 35mm F2 ASPH for $3659.00US.

Question 1 - Are we being ripped off down here or do these prices seem about right. I'm sure the dealer with the 1985 M6 is dreaming but how about the new TTL.

If I'm paying way over the odds I may put my money into the US economy and by mail order from the USA.

Question 2 - Any suggestions on who to try for mail order - ideally with a website that I can check out.

Thanks for any help.

Mark

-- Mark Griffin (gripper@iprimus.com.au), February 22, 2001

Answers

Mark, that price is excessive. You should be able to pick up a nice non-TTL version for about US$1,250 and the lens for about US$900 from www.ebay.com. Just type in Leica M6 for the body and Leica 35 for the lens. I don't know what kind of import duty there is in Aussie for second hand goods; pay to check with your customs.

You also could consider a new Leica 35/2 ASPH lens from the Australian importer and just get the body from ebay. Also when dealing with ebay make sure of the persons history and place your bids at the last moment. Another place worth a look is:

http://www.donchatterton.com and http://www.classicconnection.com/inv_leica.htm

These are reputable dealers and have good stocks of Leica M gear. Again it would depend on what duty you would have to pay as to whether it is worthwhile.

There are two dealers here in New Zealnd who have some second hand M6's in stock: www.cameratraders.co.nz has a black M6 in excellent+ condition for AU$2,700 which is about $US1,300

and: www.dunedin-direct.co.nz/jonathans/jonathans.htm who has a chrome M6 in near new condition except for a deep scratch on the back near the eyepiece for the same price.

-- matt veld (mahv@xtra.co.nz), February 22, 2001.

www.tamarkin.com and www.donchatterton.com are both long time Leica specialists. I've bought from both and have been completely happy. Tamarkin is New York City and his prices may be somewhat higher than Chatterton, but you can depend on both to honestly rate the equipment.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), February 22, 2001.

Mark,

I forgot to mention www.aucklandcamera.com who has brand new Leica stock for he following prices Leica M6 TTL A$3,150 and 35MM f2 Asph Black for A$1,950. These prices are for new Leicas. The prices I gave you in my previous post for the New Zealand Leica M6's are wrong because I forgot to deduct 12.5% GST.

Personally I wouldn't get the 0.58 version unless you wear glasses or have a penchant for wide angle lenses.

-- matt veld (mahv@xtra.co.nz), February 22, 2001.

Try Luigi Crescenzi at www.leicatime.com in Italy, one of the top European second-hand Leica dealers. As good as Don Chatterton or Tamarkin , and worth checking for price, IMHO.

With the greatest possible respect for a wonderful country, it does seem that the average Aussie is not served well by his shopkeepers or government when it comes to the prices ofimported goods. Thanks to the internet all that can be circumvented.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 22, 2001.

Mark, by now you should know that everything here in Oz is way over the top, with the battler paying the most, and the top end of town having the means to pay the least. Why not try cathay photo in singapore, they have a web site, and are very responsive. You can also try www.leicashop.at in Austria, they are very good too. They have a tremendous inventory, and their shipment and management is very good.

Paul Nelson, Denmark WA

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), February 23, 2001.

Mark,

Why don't you get a copy of the Photographic Trader (Aust), it has all the leica dealers in there. A recent copy sells the M6TTL with summicron 35/2 asph for $5750 (AUS) new!!

Tommy

-- Tommy Chung (dr_tommychung@hotmail.com), February 23, 2001.