I'm looking at purchasing, from a camera store, an M4-2 in mint- appearance. The mechanicals are perfect since they had it serviced by Leica in Northvale. The store has all the paperwork as proof of service, however it has been sitting on their display for approximately one year since it was serviced. Not a high volume camera in my area. What would be a fair price, for both parties, for this body? I already have an M4 in M- condition CLA'd by DAG and want another body for another film.

-- Ron Snyder (STUDIO1401@AOL.COM), February 12, 2002

Answers

An example from Denmark:
A Copenhagen shop w. "international prices" has an M4-2 w. a missing patch of vulcanite (3/4 inch x 1/4 inch) but otherwise exc- cond. They ask $760 including a 1 year warranty and 25% VAT.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), February 12, 2002.

Let me add: the body covering is in perfect condition, and the body would include a one year warranty. They are asking $1050. :>0

-- Ron Snyder (STUDIO1401@AOL.COM), February 12, 2002.

I wouldn't worry too much about the camera sitting in the display for only one year. Leica NJ has told me that a new in box M6 has a "shelf life" of 10 years (meaning that the unit is expected to work properly despite being stored unused for a decade). That sounds a little optimistic of course, but it does put the one year storage of your M4-2 in perspective. Just check it out thoroughly before buying it and make sure you secure a return policy. Leica NJ gives a 1-year warranty for service and it's obviously expired by now. Personally I'd rather go for another M4 or a user M6 but if someone were to put a gun to my head I'd offer $800-$900 (tops) for the M4-2 if everything checks out ok.

-- Anon Terry (anonht@yahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

A CLA runs approximately $300 from Leica NJ. You will pay $700-900 for a mint- M4-2 without the CLA. $1050 is a fair but not outstanding price.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 12, 2002.

For only a couple hundred bucks more, you could get a nice clean M6 with a built-in meter. I think that fact, combined with the fact that the camera has been sitting on their shelf for a year, should allow you to haggle down the price a bit. Offer $800 and see what they say.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), February 12, 2002.

I walked by the same Copenhagen shop today, and noticed that the also have a M4-2 in overall Exc. condition for $825.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), February 13, 2002.