Black Leica M2

I'm new to this forum and not a collector, so forgive me if this seems a bit naive.

I'm a retired professional with a black paint M2 and 35 mm summicron I've had for nearly 40 years.

It has been a lot of places and helped me to make some pretty good images, but I haven't used it on the

street for some time.

 

It's time to sell it. I could use the money.

What's funny is, when I bought it, a very long time ago, I knew it would appreciate quite a bit. That was

obvious even at the time. But there is something special about a black body. Even people who have no clue

about photography know you are doing what's meant to be. You politely sort of hold the camera up so

they can see it, gesture like- is it OK? and make your picture. Or just take that quiet little machine and

make your shot so nobody notices.

 

As I used it over the years people would sometimes ask me if it was for sale. Of course not.

 

I've never bought or sold anything on eBay. I would love this camera to go to an enthusiast/collector and

not a dealer. I would even include a couple prints of my favorite TRI-X images made over the years. That's

the real point of this camera. The unobstrusive black camera with a quiet shutter handled by motivated yet

polite photographer is like the magic wand in the hands of the sorcerer's apprentice. Stuff happens.

 

So the camera is for sale.

Any suggestions on getting the best price? There are a couple of camera shows in Detroit coming up. I

sold my black M3 many years ago to a dealer at a show and was happy with the price, but that was many

years before the internet.

 

Thanks

Well, ebay might be your best bet for top price.

 

www.keh.com also has a value calculator if you want to sell to them.

 

Contact www.camerawest.com and ask if they'll sell it on consignment for you.

 

Vick

or just post it for sale here or at rangefinderforum, it'll be sure to go to a good home. An original black M2 should fetch a pretty decent price. Are you sure there isn't a younger photographer or relative, son/daughter or nephew/niece that it should go to...

James

To get the most money put it on Ebay with a high reserve advertising it here will not realise the same amount, people won't like me saying that but it's the truth, and don't give it away whatever you do. alan if a man is honest enough to say he could use the money why sugest he donates it to some ungrateful brat who will trade it for a camera phone or a bag of smack.

good luck Steve

"camera phone or bag of smack" Pure poetry Steve, pure poetry. God among men.

Jim---It's been a while, but I always wondered if you still had that black M2. Good for you. It

should fetch a bit of money for you. Tamarkin in New York is having an auction coming up at

the end of October. They have some very collectable stuff they're selling and might be

interested in your camera. It's Friday, October 26th. They are a Leica dealer. Our mutual

friend Craig sold some of his stuff on eBay this year including his black paint M4. I think he

did okay. You might call him for advice on that. Good to see you on the forum. I hope you're

keeping some bit of Leica gear.

i will give you a hundred shinny dollars.

....and a subscription to photo.net. !

nigerian dollars, of course....

by the way, you are not supposed to sell anything here...

james;

i suggest you have the camera cla's and appraised as what i know of original black

m3's and m2's is that they fetch LARGE sums of money. very LARGE sums...

good luck

john

ps try rangefinderforum for a pricing inquiry... they'll know

You'll lose several hundred dollars or more selling to a dealer. If you have a friend or relative

who could

sell it for you via ebay that would probably be your best bet. Check ebay completed items or

ask around for current value first.

I'd sell it on EBay, and pick the time to advertise it carefully. Best time to sell (British time) is around 5.00 PM on Sunday. That way you get fewest people at work, and get buyers from the UK and the USA (where it's about 9.00 AM). Put a reasonable reserve on it, but not too high, as that can put people off bidding.

Another vote for ebay. You will get around $3000 for the body and $3000 for the lens if it is

an early (8-element) black paint model.

A first-time ebayer with zero feedback is going to hurt resale; have someone with 100+,

100% feedback with a history of selling high-dollar items post it.

I disagree with Robert, a really good ad on Ebay perhaps with a picture of James with the camera in action and a few examples of pictures taken with it and some very good pics of the camera you will overcome the Zero feedback thing.

In fact approached in the right way it could be a plus as long as the buyers know he is the original owner and he is not an experienced Ebayer. I think it could really help, a bit like the proverbial Ferrari in the barn story. I think having a third party sell the camera would be a mistake it would take away the mystique, remember auctions are all about perception, and the one owner with history thing is a real turn on for serious collectors.

Steve