Arka wrote:
It is this fact (that secondary market values don't keep up with new product price increases) that prompts me to buy all my Leica gear used. There's so much lightly used Leica equipment out there for much cheaper than new. While the digital cameras have the largest delta between new and used, I am often surprised that secondary market prices on lenses are also a lot lower than new. I am kind of interested in a 21mm Summilux at some point, and the new prices are 40-50% lower than new for that lens.
I was contemplating getting the Leica 21/1.4 when I saw Fred's old 6 bit coded VM 21/1.4 and bought it. $700 versus $5k for a used Lux 21/1.4 was a no brainer and considering how seldom it is used glad I did it.
That said I went the WDC and took images in the Capitol and Library of Congress and was favorably impressed with the Nokton. Wonderful on the EV1.
stgrove wrote:
I was contemplating getting the Leica 21/1.4 when I saw Fred's old 6 bit coded VM 21/1.4 and bought it. $700 versus $5k for a used Lux 21/1.4 was a no brainer and considering how seldom it is used glad I did it.
That said I went the WDC and took images in the Capitol and Library of Congress and was favorably impressed with the Nokton. Wonderful on the EV1.
On the other hand, If I have some newer lens(es) that are seldom used, I just might unload them and since I require no more gear as of today, I would use the funds for photo travel.
I plan to keep my older character lenses a long time.
Well I just got my M EV 1 used from BH and hoping I get lent or can find someone to rent a Sony with that thin glass to try but I really like the E V 1 and who knows If i send it back will get a 35 noctilux for sure now other wise later. Glad that is not on the list.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Not to mention that used prices are very stable and in many cases even go up. Just look at the current price of the M9, a digital camera from 2009.
I agree... I bought an M8 w/ about 7000 clicks at the end of 2025, and could probably sell it in a year for what I paid. Fortunately, Kolari can put an M9 shutter in my camera and replace the screen w/ a quartz one. I may do this and live with the "old tech" as my street filmic camera. Short of circuit failure, I think these original digitals will have a long life.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Not to mention that used prices are very stable and in many cases even go up. Just look at the current price of the M9, a digital camera from 2009.
Just decided to get a few older bodies I let go in the past or never had.
Repurchase of he M9M-cleanest body I ever saw. and got an M262 also for under $4k- also very clean, but that M9M looked never used to me.
I believe that my Re-Edition Steel Rim Summilux 35mm Classic will remain the only Leica-brand lens I will have bought new, rather than pre-owned. My budget is definitely VM, going forward, if I want to unbox a factory-fresh lens. I do not see this as a problem, really, as I started M system shooting "at the top," with a pre-owned Summilix-M 50mm ASPH, which I credit with having resurrected my desire to photograph people, thus saving my photography from dying. This pre-owned Summilux did not have a mark on it, when I bought it, so, was as good as new. I plan to keep it, for as long as I am competent to manage my personal affairs.
I am even more certain that my M10, my first M camera, will remain the only digital M camera acquired new. I seem to recall its price being ~$6.9K US, in April 2018. This is not a problem, really, as I am fiercely loyal to the camera that initially "saved" my photography from dying.
RexGig0 wrote:
I believe that my Re-Edition Steel Rim Summilux 35mm Classic will remain the only Leica-brand lens I will have bought new, rather than pre-owned. My budget is definitely VM, going forward, if I want to unbox a factory-fresh lens. I do not see this as a problem, really, as I started M system shooting "at the top," with a pre-owned Summilix-M 50mm ASPH, which I credit with having resurrected my desire to photograph people, thus saving my photography from dying. This pre-owned Summilux did not have a mark on it, when I bought it, so, was as good as new. I plan to keep it, for as long as I am competent to manage my personal affairs.
I am even more certain that my M10, my first M camera, will remain the only digital M camera acquired new. I seem to recall its price being ~$6.9K US, in April 2018. This is not a problem, really, as I am fiercely loyal to the camera that initially "saved" my photography from dying....Show more →
Same here. The Leica 35mm f/1.4 SR is the only lens I've ever bought new from Leica, and I suspect it will probably stay that way.
I hate to admit it, but the price increases did push me to order the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux-M Aspherical Safari Edition. I already have the 35mm Summilux in Safari and the older limited 28mm and 50mm Safari Summicrons, but I was worried that with the recent discontinuation of the M11-P Safari that the new Safari lenses would soon follow suit. Now all I'm missing are the new 28 Summicron and the older limited 90mm APO. The new Safari Summicron with close focus is now an eye watering $6400 and as much as I feel the need to complete a full Safari lens set, I can't bring myself to drop that when I already have the older version. If they had released the 28mm as a Summilux as they did the 35 and 50 I might have been more inclined.
The good news is my slight buyer's remorse on my Q3 43 has been assuaged a little bit by the fact I now got a "deal" haha
retrofocus wrote:
Talking about Leica price increases: Monopan 50 film is now available for $15 per film roll from originally sold at $9. A nice 67% increase.
Well, I have to say I have paid 12.40 EUR for a roll of Monopan, from a Leica boutique in Europe, in November last year. So, at 9 USD per roll you were kind of spoiled, I would say....
catacore wrote:
Well, I have to say I have paid 12.40 EUR for a roll of Monopan, from a Leica boutique in Europe, in November last year. So, at 9 USD per roll you were kind of spoiled, I would say....
Never got it for this price. Actually, never for any price posted. To me, Leica Monopan 50 film stayed illusive.
retrofocus wrote:
Never got it for this price. Actually, never for any price posted. To me, Leica Monopan 50 film stayed illusive.
I wonder why anyone would dream of a Monopan. Is it because it has packaging with a Leica logo instead of ADOX HR50 lettering? All these specialty films that only work reasonably well in certain developers and have peculiar spectral sensitivities are really more for experimenting than for being a standard film that performs in all situations. If it absolutely has to be a 50 ISO film, get an Ilford Pan F Plus. That's a far better choice.
