What the condition grades mean

Every item is checked against the light before it goes online. Descriptions err on the harsh side rather than the flattering one.

A+

Mint

Unused, in the original factory packaging. Blister unopened or opened only to photograph it.

A

Excellent

Glass free of scratches, fungus and separation. Coatings intact, aperture blades dry, focus and aperture rings move evenly. Cosmetic marks minimal or none.

B

Used

Fully working and optically clean, but the body shows its age: paint wear, brassing, rubbed markings. None of it shows up in the photographs.

U

Not tested

Sold as seen, because I could not verify it: no battery for that meter, no film back, or a fault I can see but cannot fix. The specific unknown is always named in the listing and the price reflects it.

Two flags that sit on top

Tested means I put the item through its paces and it worked: every shutter speed fired, every ring moved, the meter agreed with a reference. Collector's item marks a piece worth having for what it is rather than what it does. Both are independent of the letter grade, so a Used (B) body can still be tested and working.

What I always mention

Fungus, haze, separation, oil on the aperture blades, a dented filter thread and a sticky focus helicoid. If the description does not mention them, they are not there.