Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]that survived a few wars, or a fine example of "bush (as in Aussie) style camera care"? A divertimento that I wouldn't withold you. A few weeks ago, I acquired a Contax 35T via eBay. At the end of the bidding phase price was 329 AUD, about 229 USD. So it looked like a bargain. The accompanying text was: In perfect working order. Some external wear and tear shows as per pictures. Pictures that went with it: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/5b_3.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/73_3.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/75_3.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/a1_3.JPG It looked like the owner had some problems focusing... This is what I received a few days later by mail: http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000329.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000330.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000332.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000333.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000334.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000335.JPG http://users.telenet.be/philippe.orlent/L1000336.JPG I was, and this is an understatement, very surprised to discover some people caressed their camera in such a way. The horror... I'm still in the process of testing if it works properly, but it looks like the meter isn't working as should. The lens looks OK, luckily. About the titanium cast of this gem: it is about a micron thick and it tends to peel off ;) Underneath it might be plain plastic. Or was I just very lucky and did I get a very rare aluminum colour painted black version of the 35T? :P Lessons to be learned: 1 out of 10 eBay deals go wrong; You cannot wish that people take care for their cameras like Karen Nakamura does. (I bought a beautiful Yashica from her, that was exactly as described); If it looks like a bargain, beware. Hey, I can still say to people when I pull out my 35T that I did a shooting in a chemical plant, documenting the production of sulphur acid... As they say down under: Cheers mates, Philippe A. Orlent