How long did you own your first Leica... or Why I am such a dumbass

[stuart d]

Today was a thoroughly shitty day. I left my Leica M4-2 and 50mm Summicron (latest version), both acquired in the last couple of weeks, on a bloody plane at Orange County airport. Don't ask me how, or why. I just had a major brainfart. I didn't realize until about 3 hours later, by which time the trail was colder than a very cold thing. I spent the rest of the afternoon calling various United Airlines numbers but they had no news for me. At this point I rather suspect that some cleaning crew member has an object they will have no clue how to use, or what it's true value is. I wouldn't be surprised if it's hawked for $50.

 

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Of course ever since I acquired the camera I had planned to write down the serial numbers, but that didn't happen. I'm hopeful that the previous owner of the M4-2, who frequents this board, may have that item's S/N; I may have the 'Cron's S/N at home on the box. If so, I will post the details.

 

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Although I am covered by insurance (sort of - damn $500 deductible!), the lens was my wife's wedding present to me. So I'm in the dog house. I have a 35mm Summicron ASPH coming in the mail as I write, but I doubt whether I'll be able to afford a replacement body and 50/2.

 

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I guess I just needed to vent a little, but I would be really grateful if you guys could keep your eyes peeled & let me know if you hear of a suspiciously bargain priced M4-2 with 50mm Summicron. The M4-2 is near mint, with just a small piece of vulcanite missing by the baseplate. It has the MR-4 meter mounted on the hotshoe, and has a small black leather strap. The lens is black, latest version, with Leica cap. The whole ensemble was stored in a black Domke pouch (actually a 15" square velcro/wrap thingy).

 

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I'm off to check eBay now, just in case my baby is being hawked by someone with a little nous.

 

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Stupid, stupid, stupid...

[peter_hughes1]

A couple of months ago I was having coffee with an acquaintance. As I

got up from the table I managed to drop a nice, user M3 and do so

much damage that it wasn't worth repairing. The new 50mm Summicron-M

that was on the camera cost $250 and two weeks in the shop to repair.

I had no insurance and, to make matters worse, I had three shoots

scheduled for the following week. I somehow managed to scrape

together enough for a new M6 TTL, partially by selling a beautiful

Compaq laptop to a friend.<p>BTW, I now have insurance.<p>P.S. These

things happen.

[douglas k.]

Go to your homeowners or auto insurance agent and get a "personal

articles" policy for the camera gear. Mine has $0 deductible and

covers even my own dumbassed-ness: if I left gear on a plane, or,

ahem, say, knocked a $1500 Nikon rig off a seven-foot high stage to

the pavement below, it is all covered. A little $$$ buys lots of

peace of mind.

[feli_di_giorgio]

ARGH! Sorry to hear about that Stuart. It's not just the loss

of money with things like this, but the personal attachment to

ones "toys". On the other hand, at least you have insurance...

 

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Cheers,

 

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Feli

[andy_piper2]

I've come close, Stuart, I've come close... There, but for the grace of

a couple of honest bystanders, or my wife's memory, or just dumb

luck....go I.

 

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That's the problem with Leicas. An F5, now, is the size of a horse. You

trip over it getting out of your seat and that reminds you to take it

with.

[michael_kastner]

Let the cleaning crew members know that you'll give them a lot more

than $50. I'm truly sorry for what has happened.

[donald_wansor1]

Stuart- Have you checked with the security people at United? Nowadays

the aircraft are searched very well for loose,forgotten items. Keep

checking with United. Speak with the Station Manager, if you haven't

already done so. Maybe they are keeping the camera for a few days to

examine it with other lost articles. Security is very tight now, and

I doubt if a cleaner would have kept it, and not turned it in. The

risk is too great that the camera could have been a "Security Plant"

to test the cleaners. Maybe a fellow passenger picked it up. It's too

early to give up hope. Best of luck, Don

[alfie_wang]

I did the same thing a few months ago for my first Leica camera---

that wonderful Leica Mini 3... damn, I probably will end up with 2

Minis although I like the +2EV was the bomb on the Mini 3. Of course,

I'm happy not to lose my Leicaflex... too damn heavy not to notice.

 

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Sorry to hear your story. Best of luck recovering your camera. May

you be blessed with extra Summicrons.

 

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Leicafully,

Alfie

[jay_.]

Stuart: get the serial#s, call every camera store in Orange County.

The most likely scenario is whoever took it headed to a camera store

to sell it--or at least determine its value. Pawn shops are less

likely because most people know they don't give very much. Here in

Florida, anyone selling or trading gear to a store has to fill out a

form and put their thumb-print on it, then the store has to keep the

gear for 2 weeks before they can re-sell it. I don't know the law in

CA, but perhaps your M4-2 will turn up sooner or later. After all,

most people won't even be able to figure out how to load it, let

alone focus or set exposure, so they probably won't opt to keep/use

it.

[popeye_cahn]

As far as pawn shops in CA, you should file a report with the police.

Any Pawn shop in CA has to file a report of everything taken in with

a complete description and serial numbers to the police or local law

enforcement agency which means that they'll probably use the serial

number from the summicron as it's the first thing one sees when

looking at the camera. Swap meets are not required to do any such

thing and I can't speak for camera stores, but if they're governed

like guitar shops, yes.

 

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I would not give up so soon, it may take a while but you do have a

good chance of recovery IF you file the report and keep up the leg

work on your own. Oh yeah keep after those turds at United, make up a

heart wrenching story if need be and find out where the plane was

headed and file a report there as well.

[dan_brown4]

Bummer dude, what can I say?

[alfie_wang]

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1297264512 ...

hmm, a Leica M4-2 Winder from Orange County...

 

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Alfie

[wgpinc]

About 20+ years ago I bought an absolute mint Nikon S3 Rangefinder

with a 50 1.4 at a pawnshop on Mission St. in San Francisco. I have

to say this was against my better judgement but it really was a

beautiful camera. A couple of weeks later I ran into a guy at a

photo swap who said it was his camera and had been stolen. It was

awkward but I said I'll do whatever it takes to make it right; go

back to pawn shop, go to police or whatever. I just didn't want to

be out what I paid. He ended up buying it from me for what I gave

the pawn shop. (I think he had already collected the insurance).

Lesson learned I never bought anything else in a pawn shop. Good

luck. A curse on anybody who found your camera and didn't turn it in

to United immediately.

[nathan_chatman1]

What you did hurts like heck but is easy for any one of us to do.

Many years ago I almost walked away from a restraunt leaving my

camera bag under the table because there had not been enough room to

place the bag on the table. Since it is so easy to be distracted and

actually walk away leaving our precious equipment behind, I have made

a practice of wrapping the strap of the camera bag, case or whatever,

around my leg while seated; if I forget that it is there, I will be

reminded when I stand to walk away; another plus of wrapping the

strap around your limb is that it also makes it more difficult for

a "snatch and run" thief to grab. If I have just camera with lense

attached, I wear it or place it in my lap and the weight is the

reminder that it is there. This may sound like a weird method but it

has worked for me for decades.

[scott_evans3]

That sucks!!!!!!!!! SORRY Stuart

I learned this trick early on from a photo journalist so as not to

leave or have my camera equip. behind. Always, when you sit

down and down put your camera bag on the ground, put your

foot through the bag strap and snug it aginst your ankle. It

become second nature after a while. Prevents theft to. Hope this

helps some one else out. I know I would have left my bag at

some photo assinment by now if he wouldn't have told me.

Sorry again. Scott

[popeye_cahn]

Don,

 

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Did the guy have hard proof it was his? BTW pawnshops are no longer

the domain of the Sal Nassermans' (Rod Steiger..) of the world.

[stuart d]

Thank you all for your comments, condolences, advice and

encouragement. So far I have drawn a complete blank with United

Airlines. My attempts to find the camera & lens serial numbers have

only been partially successful. The M4-2�s previous owner did not

have the S/N, but it�s possible Leica, NJ might have it from a CLA

around �96. As for the lens, I think I have the number from its

box. It�s a 9 digit number � 039008756. Does that sound about right

for the latest model of the 50mm Summicron-M? I bought the lens used

from Samy�s Camera in LA, and I�m assuming that the box was the

original one. If so, I�ll distribute that to the Orange County

camera shops, and I�ll file a report with the police.

 

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Having retraced my steps, I know that I left the camera on my seat in

the plane. I plan to speak with the Station Manager (or whatever the

title is) at Orange County airport to offer a reward, directed at the

cleaning crew and flight attendants. We�ll see if that yields

anything.

 

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In the meantime I�m considering selling my Bronica ETRSi kit to help

finance the purchase of replacement Leica equipment. I�ve come to

the conclusion I�m much more of a 35mm rangefinder guy than a MF

guy. And I can only justify to myself buying one set of lenses

costing $1000+ each, rather than 2.

 

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Cheers,

Stuart