Well, the 35mm FLE II will get a quite noticeably large price increase. My more-likely target, the 21mm SEM, will increase by “only” $100 US, so, is probably not worth straining my budget to buy it sooner.
Acquiring an MP camera having been a long-term goal, it is disappointing to it increasing to $6K US. That is a psychologically-defeating price point, for someone on my budget. Even though I would probably buy pre-owned, anyway, this increase will probably affect asking prices.
Bumping this to the top, in case anyone needs a reminder. I decided against adding an SEM 21, or any other Leica lenses, for the foreseeable future. (A new M camera was not possible, to even consider.)
Hate to briefly derail the thread by asking, but where did you get the bag, strap, and half case? I like your style!
airfrogusmc wrote:
My usual street and travel kit. When I travel I throw extra batteries and a charger in the bag. Nice and compact. No need for anything else because it all fits the way I see and work. https://pbase.com/airfrogusmc/image/174280991.jpg
I have not bought a new Leica M camera since they broke the $7K US price barrier. I bought my M10 new, in April 2018. At that time, a new M Type 246 Monochrom would have cost right at $8K US, but, the M10, being a base model, was less than $7K US. I did crunch numbers, in early 2021 and again in in early 2022, when I considered adding an M10 Monochrom, but, I had to be realistic about priorities. 2018 was my last really good year, financially. That was also when I bought my pre-owned M 246.
In the present day, I can realistically hope to pay about $4K US, for one camera OR lens, within a calendar year, without having to go into interest-accruing debt.
I recently looked into liquidating some of our big wildlife lenses; we are aging-out of wanting to carry them about. With the tanking of SLR/DSLR lens prices, we will do good to be able to trade them for much more than one new Z8, for my wife. (It is her turn for a new camera.)
champagne.ivers wrote:
Hate to briefly derail the thread by asking, but where did you get the bag, strap, and half case? I like your style!
Bag is a WWII M 209 calculator bag. IIRC when I bought it years ago it was $35.00. Strap is made from WWII straps. And the half case is a Leica black half case.
