M8 price drop in the coming months?

[ryley]

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Thanks for this, Noah. I'm actually waiting to hear back from a guy here in Melbourne who may be able to sell me his mint second hand M8 this afternoon. It was sold at auction on ebay a couple of days ago for a tick under $US2,500, but he's less than hopeful that his winning bidder will actually produce the cash, and he will therefore be keen to sell it locally.

 

Unfortunately the auction has ended, so I cant post a link, but the camera appeared to be in mint cosmetic condition (save for a "surface rub" mark on the LCD, which he says has no affect on photo viewing). He bought it as an exDemo model with 100 actuations on it, and has since taken that number up to just 1000. It seems to be reasonable value, right? The problem is... there's no warranty, and that's a big concern for me, because I've heard horror stories like the ones you've described.

 

So my question is, is there any way to acquire a warranty for a camera like this after a private sale? Excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject, but could a certified leica dealer inspect the camera and sell me a 12 month warranty based on it's good condition?? Or is that not a possibility whatsoever?

 

Cheers,

 

Ryley

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[ryley]

...could a certified leica dealer inspect the camera and sell me a 12 month warranty...?

 

Clarification: By "inspect" I mean "service" (for a cost, obviously).

 

Ryley

[wilfredo]

Ryley,

 

I've never heard of Leica selling warranties after inspecting a camera but you could always call them and ask. Maybe a reputable third party repair facility would do that, but I've never heard of any. My own M8 is being repaired as I write, fortunately it is a warranty repair. Leica repair jobs can be very costly but if the camera is minty, you shoudl be O.K.

[ryley]

I've never heard of Leica selling warranties after inspecting a camera

 

Thanks, Wil. I thought this would be the case.

 

Leica repair jobs can be very costly but if the camera is minty, you shoudl be O.K.

 

Yeah, I guess it's just a gamble. Hopefully this afternoon I will get a chance to hold the camera in my hands and take some test shots before I decide whether I want to buy it or not. I've already called the Leica repair place here in Melbourne, and they told me that just about all their M8 repairs are sent to Germany, which often means 6 week turnaround times and many dollars for out of warranty cameras, so I guess it's just playing on my mind a bit. The worst case scenario being that if something were to go wrong with it in the 6 weeks leading up to my trip, with or without a warranty, I might not have a camera to take OS at all...

 

I know there are a vast array of variables, but does anyone care to share their horror stories about M8 repairs? Or, alternatively does anyone care to ease my mind about buying an M8 that's seemingly in mint condition, despite being out of warranty, for $US2,500.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ryley

[wstotler]

Alternatively does anyone care to ease my mind about buying an M8 that's seemingly in mint condition, despite being out of warranty, for $US2,500.

 

Glad you're getting it sorted through. Happy to help out on this one, BTW. I paid $5K for mine new. You're getting yours for half price, only slightly used. And, even if it has to go out eventually for repair at a cost of $1K you're still very much ahead over having paid a new price for it--and way ahead compared to the cost of a new M9. Don't fret. Enjoy the camera. Go shoot! Cheers, Will

[AlbertoDeRoma]

ading up to my trip, with or without a warranty, I might not have a camera to take OS at all...

 

I know there are a vast array of variables, but does anyone care to share their horror stories about M8 repairs? Or, alternatively does anyone care to ease my mind about buying an M8 that's seemingly in mint condition, despite being out of warranty, for $US2,500.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ryley

 

Ryley,

 

Forget about it. Not the camera - the worrying.

 

However, if you can't forget about worrying, then forget the camera ... because the worry will always be in the back of your mind.

 

The reality is that, as a complex electro-optical-mechanical device, there is always the risk of unexpected problems. It is also the reality that, as with most high-end products (think Porsche, Ferrari, Patek Philippe watches, etc.) if it needs repairs out of warranty it will be costly. Period.

 

I believe that anyone considering a Leica M8 or M9, should factor in the possibility of it needing some pricey out-of-warranty repairs at some point. You should expect it and set money aside for it. This way, when it happens, you don't feel too upset. And if it does NOT happen, you are happy as a clam.

 

If it makes you feel better, I bought a used M8u (new shutter, new frame-lines, sapphire glass) for $3,300 - without warranty. I am hoping to get many years of trouble-free shooting out of it. So far, so good, but I am expecting that at some point it will have to go in for some repair. A pricey repair. No problem, it's factored in.

 

Also keep in mind that, unlike a lot of modern electronics, this is something that makes sense to repair rather than throw away. And that Leica, although taking its sweet time, will repair for years to come.

 

Test it. Make sure you download and look at pics on a computer to see if there are any problems that are not visible on the LCD. Then fork over the cash and get it out of your system :-).

 

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”

 

Alberto

[john_newell]

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I know there are a vast array of variables, but does anyone care to share their horror stories about M8 repairs? Or, alternatively does anyone care to ease my mind about buying an M8 that's seemingly in mint condition, despite being out of warranty, for $US2,500.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ryley

 

I don't know whether factory refurbs are still available, and I don't know what they're selling for if they are. The last price I saw for a factory refurb M8.nothing was US$3k. YMMV, but for $500, I wouldn't touch a used camera that had neither a Leica nor at least a minimum 60 day dealer warranty.

[nzav]

Using lomo lenses?

 

I think you just violated your NDA!!!

[Guest PhotoWebb.co.uk]

The fact that Leica guarantee decades of reliable operation from these cameras should help ease your mind....

 

[Angelos Viskadourakis]

Price of M8 is based in condition and number of exposures-easy to check-and under warranty or not.Try to find people that never got confident with M8 ,they will propably sell at lower prices,but those they have strong technique in M system photography an M8 will be as valuable tool as any next M9,10.....15 ,etc,those people- if they ever sell- will sell at the price they know that the camera is capable as a top photography tool,and 10 MP from M8 in good hands is up for any job -even for bilboards.

[SJP]

Good to see that Daniel is endorsing Leica in this thread

[Guest PhotoWebb.co.uk]

Good to see that Daniel is endorsing Leica in this thread

 

- It's one of the reasons I felt confident about buying an M8 second hand.

[graeme_clarke]

Good morning Ryley,

 

Take a look at Ffordes website here in the UK. They list several M8s in the second hand section. I've always had great service from them and they'll post world-wide. I do stress I've no connection with the firm.

 

The £ is low at the moment against some major currencies - but whether or not the A$/£ is a good exchange rate at present I don't know!

 

I print A3 pictures from my M8 with no aparent lack of sharpness.

 

Best wishes,

 

Graeme

[Angelos Viskadourakis]

Thanks, Wil. I thought this would be the case.

 

 

 

Yeah, I guess it's just a gamble. Hopefully this afternoon I will get a chance to hold the camera in my hands and take some test shots before I decide whether I want to buy it or not. I've already called the Leica repair place here in Melbourne, and they told me that just about all their M8 repairs are sent to Germany, which often means 6 week turnaround times and many dollars for out of warranty cameras, so I guess it's just playing on my mind a bit. The worst case scenario being that if something were to go wrong with it in the 6 weeks leading up to my trip, with or without a warranty, I might not have a camera to take OS at all...

 

I know there are a vast array of variables, but does anyone care to share their horror stories about M8 repairs? Or, alternatively does anyone care to ease my mind about buying an M8 that's seemingly in mint condition, despite being out of warranty, for $US2,500.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ryley

 

Hello Ryley

 

i use leica M many years now-over a decade-and i use LEICA M8 from the first days of its birth,i very frequently visit the Leica local dealer ,so far i have not heard a single M8 to go in Solms for any kind of repair-upgrades yes ,repairs no as it looks that is a highly reliable camera.I sent mine for RF calibration but you can always plan with Leica Solms the day you send your camera according to their availability in schedule and in few days-depends on the kind of work-is back in hands and ready for action.I dont have knowledge from your local dealer but i found the Leica repair charges always reasonable and justified-given the fact that is a kind of handmade and assembling and disassembling is not quite fast process.Some times a dealer discourage a buyer to get a used camera in order to sell a new with higher profit-some times.

We hear more problems with the new M9 new deliveries and zero stories for mint condition used M8"s.

[ryley]

Many, many thanks for all the generous responses to my original thread.

 

I'm very happy to report that I've purchased an M8 and have begun shooting with it!

 

For the record, the body cost me AUD$2700 (a tick under US$2,400), and although it's out of warranty, the camera appears to be in mint condition. Overall I feel really good about the purchase, and now I'll have plenty of time to get accustomed before my trip to Africa in June.

 

Kind regards, and happy shooting,

 

Ryley

[wilfredo]

Hey Ryley,

 

Congratulations. Enjoy your M8, it will deliver! Don't forget to post some of your favorite shots from your trip http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/112892-m8-photography.html

 

Wilfredo

[Olsen]

Many, many thanks for all the generous responses to my original thread.

 

I'm very happy to report that I've purchased an M8 and have begun shooting with it!

 

For the record, the body cost me AUD$2700 (a tick under US$2,400), and although it's out of warranty, the camera appears to be in mint condition. Overall I feel really good about the purchase, and now I'll have plenty of time to get accustomed before my trip to Africa in June.

 

Kind regards, and happy shooting,

 

Ryley

 

AUD$ 2700 - that was cheap. Equals about € 1750 - which is in the lower end of the market here in Europe, right now.

 

Regarding price of 2.hand M8s; a factor to consider is currency rate. I agree with a poster here claiming that 2.hand M8 prices seems to have settled at 'around' € 2000. I see no reason to why it should fall. As long as the M9 price is stable. The nearest equal camera, the Epson RD-1 has kept up remarkably regarding price, even though it is a far inferior camera to the M8. Digital rangefinders are sought after.

 

But € 2000 could well mean that the 2.hand price of M8s in USA will increase with a falling dollar (sure, right now it is increasing, but watch it; I fear we have not seen the worst yet regarding dollar depreciation). While AUD$ is one of the strongest currencies in the world, and will remain so. I suspect that AUD$ and US$ will be at the same value a few months down the road. The first on the way up. The latter on the way down. Just wait and see. Conclusion; those in USA with a possibility buy a 2.hand M8 for less than 2,500 US$ should run and buy one now.