Looking for used Leica cameras? Here’s 5 of the best websites where you can get up to 40% off used gear.
Used Leicas vs Refurbished Leicas what’s the difference?
The main difference between used Leicas and refurbished Leicas is that refurbished Leicas have gone trough a process to be restored fully to like-new conditions. This is in theory, in practice a lot of Leicas get used a few times and get returned and the store has to sell it used.
To complicate matters, every company has their own refurbishing process and it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s like new. For all of the used Leica websites you will find below, they are somewhat refurbished in the sense that they all went trough testing that everything works before coming to your house. Their cosmetics may differ and that will determine the amount of savings. This is different than eBay where everything depends on the reputation of the seller.
Best used Leicas websites
| Name | Safety | Savings | Stock | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Keh | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Everything | Go |
| 2. B&H Photo & video | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Current models | Check For Best Price |
| 3. Adorama | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mostly Ms | Check For Best Price |
| 4. Ebay | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Absolutely everything | Check For Best Price |
| 5. Leica Camera | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | Current models | Check For Best Price |
Now that we’ve seen the overall list, let’s do a deep dive on what kind of Leicas you can get used and also more detail on each site’s refund and warranty period. For clarity’s sake, you can get your money back within the refund period, but you can get the camera serviced in the warranty period.
Lastly the degree of savings is based on the condition but also the Leica models, the more popular ones still fetch a higher price.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Savings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (20% average) |
| Refund | 21 days |
| Warranty | 180 days |
| Stock | Pretty much everything |
| Pros | Actual photos |
| Cons | Might need patience |
Every single place you can get a used Leica on this list is primarily a normal retailer that happens to have a used department, but not Keh. Keh is the only one on this list that is pretty much ONLY used gear and it’s highly reputable.
They have their own rating system and the lower they judge the used quality, the more you save. So you can really find some great deals here. Plus unlike the retailers they use actual pictures of the items being sold so what you see is what you get, and some Leicas are pretty unique with custom leather and more.
The selection is a mixed bag, but in a good way. It’s the most extensive you can find besides ebay and the prices are really good. I’ve seen M9s for $4200, M10s for $5200, TL2 for $1200, etc so by and large 20% savings. This of course depends on the condition.
There’s also loads of film Leicas which is great, some nice ones too like the M3 double stroke and Leica IIIs. Their refund period is 21 days but the warranty is pretty extensive at 180 days so it’s really save to buy your used Leica from Keh.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Savings | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Warranty | 90 days |
| Stock | Current digital Leicas |
| Cons | No bargain-bin deals (7+) |
B&H is one of the biggest photography equipment stores in the world. And that means they get a lot of returns, making it possible to snatch a Leica for 15-30% off. They of course check the camera to be in working order and then the potential for savings is mostly about cosmetics.
They have an in-house rating system from 7 to 10 and the prices varies accordingly. But since this is a reputable dealer, you have 30 days guarantee in which you can get a refund. But better yet, you have a full 90 days to get the used Leica and have parts and labor warranty.
This is NOT manufacturer’s warranty but their own, making this one of the safest bets and nice savings. You can always see the amount of savings directly on the listings to know how much less you will pay. The only downside with B&H is, they only sell a rating of 7 (considerable wear and tear) and above so there is no bargain-bin deals here but you know you will get a nice looking camera.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Savings | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Warranty | 90 days |
| Stock | Current + Lesser known digitals |
| Cons | Not a lot of choices |
Right up on BH’s tail for used Leicas is their rival, Adorama camera. They’ve been in business for a quarter of a century so they are just as reputable. They are second place in this list because of their used selection. There are the usual suspects here but there’s usually a lack of the APC Leicas like the CL and TL2.
But on the flip side you get finds like V-lux or D-lux cameras. Unlike B&H that has a quality limit, Adorama sells bargain-bin Leicas that are either completely broken (for parts) or really beat up, but those are sold as-is without any form of guarantee.
The normal used cameras have the standard 30 day refund window with 90 day guarantee. But maybe one of the best aspects is the possibility to get the camera with financing.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safety | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Savings | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Refund | 30 days |
| Warranty | None |
| Stock | Everything |
| Cons | Your mileage may vary |
When it comes to buying used Leicas, nothing beats eBay because there’s everything. It’s not higher on the list because your mileage may vary as your experience depends on the seller.
Make sure to do your due diligence before getting a Leica. Check the serial number (see here) to see if it matches the model, only deal with sellers with a good degree of feedback and only use a credit card in case you need to initiate a chargeback.
Besides this of course the deals are enormous. Sometimes the seller doesn’t really know if a Leica is busted completely so they will sell a Leica that is out of alignment (easy fix) for really cheap.
| Reasons to buy | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Savings | ⭐ |
| Refund | 7 days |
| Warranty | NA |
| Stock | Current models |
| Cons | 5% Savings |
Who else to sell used Leicas than Leica themselves? Indeed it makes sense because they make the stuff, they are the ones who can make them as good as new. There is only one problem, the savings are quite thin at about 5% and let’s not even talk about that 7 day refund window.
They really can’t do better than this or else it’s almost like shooting themselves in the foot with steep discounts. This is maximum security buy because it’s the manufacturer itself but there’s way better deals to be had elsewhere.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this article about where to get used Leicas. My go-to place is Keh because it sells only used models and they have been checked beforehand plus it has the most generous warranty period. B&H and Adorama also have a vetting process but their selection is limited. There’s always eBay where you can find everything but make sure to do your due diligence. Lastly there’s Leica themselves but the savings are skinny. Happy shooting!