The Greatest Thrift Store Find EVER: The Leica M240

[@TheWutangclan1995]

At this point finding a Leica at a thrift store is as close to winning the Powerball.

[@97nelsn]

I found a Leicaflex with a Leica 50mm f/2 lens and almost bought it but I was waiting for the day the Orange color tag went for 75% off. I checked back later that week and it was sold out along with a Canon EF 35-350 mm lens. It got away.

[@kenstrauss5841]

I found a black Nikon s rangefinder camera at the Salvation Army for 25 dollars. It wasn’t working , but being a camera repair technician it wasn’t hard for me to repair and refurbish it. I then sold it at a camera fair for 900 dollars. A good thrift store find !!!

[@RobZeigler]

That beats my $999 Leica M9! Good find. You gave me a heart attack when you said you walked around for a few minutes. All I could think was "He better go back. He better go back..."

[@bhop0073]

That is a great thrift store find, but the greatest ever was some guy on Reddit a few years back that found an M2 with Elmar lens for $5. 😅 edit: I'm also jealous btw..

[@JeffJacquesmd]

That’s an amazing story. I purchased my Leica MP240 new when it came out, one of the first ones to arrive in NYC. I use it daily, and its an amazing tool. No need for all this upgraditis, just use the tool you have and know. Happy that you were able to find this and share this story with us. How about some pics?

[@Sp33ddialz]

YES!! I found mine in the discount bin of a goodwill and bout had a heart-attack. It's a tank of a camera, enjoy it!

[@billbailey8628]

What

[@mongodlx]

FOund a Canon 7 w/ 50/0.95 lens for $20 in my local thrift store.. Couldn't believe it, thought I was dreaming

[@timriddick2]

that is insane!

[@adventureStaley]

badass story man. Boom!!!

[@timriddick2]

I am still shocked that I got this lucky. Thanks for the watch@

[@jimvim3497]

The Smile on yr face says it all It was Meant to happen. Blessed from God bro plain and simple. Enjoy Love it!

[@William_Oh]

Amazing story man, hold on to that gold for life (M240 owner here as well)!

[@charliipresley]

That brassing looks so good

[@NineVoltDigitalCinema]

Damn! I thought I’d scored a good deal on my M240 at $2.5K! Enjoy that camera, they are amazing. 📷😍

[@rorythorns1597]

Words cannot express my jealousy! Awesome find man!

[@timriddick2]

thanks brother. A lot of luck was involved

[@phototristan]

Would be cool if the cracked screen was just a glass screen protector that was cracked lifting it off revealed a perfect screen underneath, that’s quite possible by the way.

[@msamiullah001]

well you should be happy with broken screen its a Leica M-D :)

[@sanderhoersted3170]

Amazing story, and completely insane find you have made! The closest thing to a leica i have found at a thrift the is the good ol' Minolta CLE, for 50 bucks also an amazing camera.

[@marvinsuarezstudios]

That’s awesome bro..side note..film Leica don’t have a screen in the back either lol

[@paulsehstedt6275]

What a story! The M240 is a great camera. You can get a firmware update from Leica's website for free. Get it completely serviced and you've an all life companion. Good luck!

[@timriddick2]

Thanks for the info! I heard that Leica's turn around time is super slow but thankful to have found it. I will def check them out

[@larrymccormick3226]

I think you should get the screen replaced ! I would have contacted Leica and see if they'll fix it, then send it ASAP ! By the way, have you checked if it's just a broke screen protector and not the glass itself ? LarryMac

[@karim2k]

Lucky 🤞

[@berndvandecruys]

Cool story! Amazing what some people consider ‘trash’ or ‘broken’. I would most definitely get the screen fixed and enjoy multiple years with the Leica taking pictures.

[@jimvim3497]

Legacy lens w L39 adapter Various Leica/Copy screw mount lens are another option Voightlander M 40 1.4 BW work. Works like a charm.

[@tamilhoward9708]

great story and nice brassing on the camera!

[@wilhinds8144]

So Cool!!

[@LeicaM82]

Were you able to register it on the Leica webpage? This would ensure that it can be traced to you if ever lost or stolen, and would also ensure the camera was not lost or stolen on its way to the thrift store.

[@timriddick2]

I did and it was not reported lost or stolen. Thanks for watching

[@rileysmithphoto]

Nice one. Never let go of it. Great camera and amazing luck. Chance favours the prepared.

[@timriddick2]

Riley Smith I will never sell this camera. I may send it in for a RMA though! Thanks so much for watching!

[@benjhaisch]

WAIT WHAT. UNREAL!

[@benjhaisch]

lol, that’s my main camera

[@timriddick2]

Yeah, it was totally nuts. My heart was racing the entire time! I remember it vividly. I called Scotty Perry and asked him if he had any idea how much leica’s cost to get repaired. It’s literally in my camera bag everyday👀

[@tchin2020]

Good job, since you jumped into the Leica pool, it’s well worth it to fine tune the camera with either an authorized second party Leica manufacturer or through Leica themselves. The camera will last along time, and you can probably make up the money you spent by trading up to another Leica, like most Leica owners do. Good luck...

[@composeexpose8009]

Awesome find! Congrats.

[@alexanderg7564]

This is a great story! I hope you get the screen fixed for a decent price. The M240 is a lovely camera, just got a MP240 last week. Additionally, the 7artisans 50mm is a good starter lens for your Leica. Sometimes you find a 50mm Summicron for around 900 that matches the beat up look of your Leica! Have fun!

[@timriddick2]

I hope I can score one for around 900 that would be rad

[@GONZOFAM7]

That's a win.

[@timriddick2]

yeah, I agree. Thanks for the watch! Much appreciate it

[@digitallyhandmade6727]

Great find!!! Would love to find one of these some day!

[@FlareRide]

Wouldn’t even fix the screen. It tells a awesome story right now. Might not be pretty, but way cooler than a fully refurbished ‘new’ camera without any story to it. My greatest find was the Meyer Optik Trioplan 100mm F2.8 M42 lens. Bought it together with 4 other lenses and some camera’s for 50 euro. Sold the things I didn’t needed for 30 euro. So if you only count the 4 lenses, each lens costed me 5 euro. So I bought a trioplan just for 5 euro. Sold it for 400 as I needed the money at that moment. Should have never sold that lol 😅😂

[@ronitsingh85]

WHAAAAT!!!!!! ENVIOUS DUDE, ABSOLUTELY ENVIOUS! But glad you got it! Love thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales and estate sales, found a few leicas - M3 and M2, 50mm f2 chrome for half the price on eBay at an estate sale but I got lucky at the same place when I got a canon 50mm 0.95 lens with canon 7 body for $125! How was that possible, the estate sale people were going off ebay prices but on the canon, they just went off the canon 7 body and slapped on that price not knowing if the lens came out or not.

[@cjwillis6965]

You are one lucky dude. I spent $3200 dollars for mine. It's my workhorse though and has already paid for itself. Enjoy!

[@HawklordLI]

My best thrift store find was a Yashica MAT 124 G for 20 bucks.

[@sixteenbitter]

I saw in your T2 video that your favorite focal length is 40mm. If you want the best "bargain" Leica M-mount lens, check out the Summicron-C 40mm. Best regards!

[@timriddick2]

oh man, I need to scoop that up. I love the 40mm focal length. Thanks so much for watching!

[@wookchang8852]

Good for you!

[@Renzsu]

That's hilarious, you don't even need the screen really.. Enjoy your Leica M!

[@BSCOTT145]

Good for you. Lucky you because I never find anything remotely close to that

[@ryanzhong1]

Great story!

[@Pmike404]

Wow that’s an amazing find especially all in for a lens as well. I thought I got a good deal for my M8 that came with a Voigtlander 35mm Nokton classic for $1200. But you sir found a diamond in the rough

[@davehenderson9105]

Great story super jealous and super happy for you at the same time!

[@lifeofdennisnyc]

looking to buy one soon

[@raymondtay5512]

Definitely a good find. You are very lucky.

[@killerskincanoe]

Siiiiiick

[@thegreatvanziniphotos5976]

& the Oly VF is worth ? Probably 100 used if not more.

[@mikeDrzal]

great story!

[@gandulfcharpentier282]

I got a mint contax t2 for 4 euros, just needed 2 new batteries

[@krisceuppens5273]

Great story :-)

[@losmalqueridos2009]

NICE! =)

[@chloescanlon1107]

The rear screen costs $1750 to fix

[@timriddick2]

Yikes. that is expensive. I guess ill keep rolling with it broke. LOL. Thanks for the heads up! It works. its just the glass is broken.

[@chloescanlon1107]

@@timriddick2 I’m only joking, I haven’t a clue tbh. But I bet like iPhones you would find somewhere who’ll replace the screen for less than $100, they can fix anything now. You did great, here in the UK your M240 used would be £3k minimum. Enjoy and I’m happy for you 😘

[@richardyeung6562]

Dam it ! I spent $3000 to have my M240.

[@bonkersblock]

Leica will fix that LCD for 400 dollars!

[@MamboFerido]

I thought this is a click bait. Hahaha Lucky you!

[@timriddick2]

hahahahahaha. I hope to never do that that anyone. LOL. Thanks for the watch

[@MamboFerido]

Subbed to you man! Waiting for the update!

[@zoltankaparthy9095]

It was your day, friend.

[@vysynphotos]

How do you know what vintage camera you find is a gem and worth buying? I venture to thrift stores from time to time.

[@timriddick2]

Chante Ramsey I think the thing is to always check out eBay to gauge what they are selling for... Case in point, I have purchased around 9 Canon AE-1’s for an average of $25 bucks per camera. I have sold each one from anywhere between $65-175 dollars on eBay. It's just keeping an eye out and checking listings on eBay.

[@vysynphotos]

tim riddick got it! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@Shmyrk]

I’m so salty rn 😂

[@timriddick2]

Lol. Pure luck my friend.

[@stuartbaines2843]

Get it serviced 👍😅

[@segzeeman7356]

Awesome! It would have been icing on the cake if you had got it for like $50-100, that’s what I thought was gonna be the case.

[@timriddick2]

Segzeeman I was trying to get them to come down on the price but they wouldn't!! Thanks for the comment brother!

[@marloncrutchfield1625]

Lucky guy!!! Can you send me a few lottery numbers?!?!?

[@vysynphotos]

lol

[@timriddick2]

Marlon Crutchfield hahahahah right!

[@phatcrayonz]

At this point finding a Leica in a thrift store is like winning the lottery.

[@ronanderson2130]

Hi Tim. What a great deal. Did you get the screen fixed? I have a Leica D-Lux 7 a great little travel camera with 24mm to 75 zoom. Have you ever gone to Thorsten von Overgaard's you tube channel Magic of light . He is from Denmark and he also has a www. newslettler overgaard.dk. He has a lot of reviews on Leica camera's & lens and classes and how to be a better photographer. He says, always wear a camera. HE has just reviewed the 7 artisan 50mm 1.1 and he likes it a lot. So go to his newsletter find it listed with all the Leica 50mm lens and you will find his review. He has photo's he has taken with your lens. I go to his news letter page ever week or so. Lots to read and learn about Leica. He sells his books on line and they come to you as a PDf on line. I wait till he has them 80% off and 90% off . Sign up for his newsletter and He will send notice when they are on sale. Be sure and post some of your images. I think there is only 10 or so Leica stores in the US. I am lucky that a Leica store is in Bellevue ,Washington about 40 minutes away. The people at the store are great people to work with and I bought my D-lux from them. I plan on getting another Leica like yours some day but not deal $400 like you.

[@timriddick2]

I will definitely check it out. thanks so much

[@RadTwin]

I’ll give you 700 lol

[@googleminus3230]

If you're going to believe this story, might as well as believe that there was a 35mm Summilux V2 right next to this camera.