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Leica new lens distribution problems


framestore

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It's not secrete that new leica glasses are in trouble to get.

 

Most of UK leica dealers I phoned, the common response was,

 

RE: summilux Asph 6-bit

 

"Unfortunately we continue to have problems with supply of leica 35 and 50 mm lenses

we still have customers waiting from last summer(2010), I would suggest that you consider Zeiss or Voigtlander as the best alternative.I hope this makes sense" quoted by an UK dealer

 

"we have 3 customers are in our waiting list. you can pay deposit of £500 ($805) and you will get the 4th one, it may be 2014" quoted by an UK dealer

 

"I didn't have any of summilux in 2011" quoted by an UK dealer

 

Last night, I found a hongkong based photography retailer (D*g*T**R*V) have most of new leica glasses in stock, including cron and lux, but lux advertised with premium of £1,000 ($1,611) on top.

It's not only this place that but other retailers seem have no troubles within same country.

 

How annoying it is.. Most of UK retailers haven't had a single cron or lux over one year periods and the other side of worlds, they have in good stocks and gain premium of $1,611 on each Leica glasses they sell. Aren't their any MSRP on these new glasses?

 

Then, how about second-hand market? - Not much different.

I can see many of these used lens listed on ebay with premium (min, $1000 and max $2000).

 

I've heard it from my Japanese friend that these people bought all available Leica (pre-owned) glasses from Japanese market, so the second hand market in Japan is absolutely dried out and prices gone up really high.

 

I would like to share with your thoughts and now, it's time to let Leica speak about this frustrating distribution issues.

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No point bitching about this, save yourself frustration, select one of the down to earth camera/Leica dealers, i can provide you with the extended list, no doubt other members can advise good dealers, make sure you put down deposit and you may be very pleasantly surprised.

 

Recently I put deposit on Lux 50mm and got it after 3 weeks - i was promised minimum 2 months. Dealer is Jacobs, see http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/, and price is one of the best in UK.

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I know many people awaiting in the long queue.

 

Do I really have to wait for two years or pay $1600 premium to get one right now..:D

 

If you start some more threads of this sort, you may have a chance to reach the level of a $ 1600 premium. As you see in the add linked above at the moment some people try to get only about € 500 too much.

 

What's your aim?

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Jo, the market is distorted and it is difficult to get the facts. One respected London-based British dealer used to buy and sell mint Leica equipment. I bought a few items from him and was well pleased with both quality and prices. Nowadays he advertises to buy in such items yet does not appear to sell them in this country. I guess he gets a higher margin feeding sources like the one you identified. Hence nothing for the home market.

 

Even top Leica dealers seem bereft of the flow of mint or near mint Leica lenses which existed as recently as last year. It is a sad situation for anyone starting their Leica-lives!

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Jo, the market is distorted and it is difficult to get the facts. One respected London-based British dealer used to buy and sell mint Leica equipment. I bought a few items from him and was well pleased with both quality and prices. Nowadays he advertises to buy in such items yet does not appear to sell them in this country. I guess he gets a higher margin feeding sources like the one you identified. Hence nothing for the home market.

 

Indeed, given the weakness of the UK currency - buy in Sterling (GBP) and sell in US$ or €. Not a bad business model...

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I'm not sure all the hyperbole is entirely true. I ordered a 50mm Summilux in perhaps February I think, six months estimate, but got it three days later.

 

Now admitedly it did coincide with the latest batch of Summilux to hit the dealers, but Leica build lenses in batches, and if you don't order one and stick with your order, and try to play the field, you could loose your place in the queue. I got mine because the dealer knew I would buy it as a long term customer on the list. I don't play games with them, and they do right by me and I didn't jump a queue. So I suggest ordering whatever lens you want and get on a dealers list, and when the next batch is built you will probably get it.

 

Steve

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things money can't buy can be frustrating, right? :D

 

Anyway, I second what others said here before, if you have a look around especially at smaller dealers, you will certainly find your lens or get on a list. In the mean-time you can check the second-hand-market or variants from Zeiss or Voigtländer, sometimes with astonishing good quality.

 

Also, don't underestimate the "older" lenses like the Elmars or Elmarits, there are plenty of them in the second-hand-market and those are really pretty little lenses.

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Not true...

 

If you are a serious buyer and your dealer knows this then you can be sure you will have one within 3 months.... I got mine in 2.

 

If your someone thinking of buying one but yet to commit may end up on that list and I believe it is common for dealers to have two lists.

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... It is a sad situation for anyone starting their Leica-lives!

 

Oh, come on! What is sad?

 

I was about 14 years old when I first heard about Leica. Then it was far away from anything I could dream about - and to tell you the truth: it was also rather boring to dream about Leica at that age, so it didn't bother me, that I could not get one.

 

I "waited" more than 25 years until I got my first Leica. It was not sad.

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It is a sad situation for anyone starting their Leica-lives!

 

One should look upon it as an opportunity to try out older lenses, or non-Leica ones :D

 

Actually I'm only half joking. One of two things will happen -

 

1) When you finally get your Lux Asph you will be delighted at how much better it is than what you were putting up with before.

 

2) You will realise that in fact you have lost interest in the fancy new lens, as you really rather like the 'compromise' one you bought instead.

 

I have had both 1 and 2 happen to me. I love the 35 Lux Asph I was lucky enough to find secondhand, so both my Cron and Nokton will be sold, but my pre-asph black paint 50 Lux ain't going anywhere - I would not consider swapping it for the new asph version even if they were easy to obtain as the old lens has a quality I've found in images from no other lens.

 

It's easy to fall into a frame of mind that unless you have a 35/50 Lux that your 'Leica-time' is on hold - it's not, go buy some lenses, any lenses, and have fun :)

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Oh, come on! What is sad?

 

I was about 14 years old when I first heard about Leica. Then it was far away from anything I could dream about - and to tell you the truth: it was also rather boring to dream about Leica at that age, so it didn't bother me, that I could not get one.

 

I "waited" more than 25 years until I got my first Leica. It was not sad.

 

With respect, that is a different situation. Had you the funds, you could have bought new or old Leica items. Not so today. Few new items can be bought 'off the shelf'. That is the difference.

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With respect, that is a different situation. Had you the funds, you could have bought new or old Leica items. Not so today. Few new items can be bought 'off the shelf'. That is the difference.

 

Well, even if we could not buy "off the shelf", this would not be a cause for sadness.

We are just dealing with some months' waiting.

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Well, even if we could not buy "off the shelf", this would not be a cause for sadness.

We are just dealing with some months' waiting.

For 'sadness' substitute 'frustration'. Happier?

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Members who got their lux within 2 or 3 weeks, you are just lucky.

Please don't assuming that everyone will be lucky as you're.

 

I just bought 35 cron IV second-hand and having a good time.

 

Anyway, I put a deposit with a dealer who requested only 10% and will see.

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As I recently returned to the Leica fold I was perhaps naive in thinking that if you ordered a lens it would be supplied promptly. In April I looked at the websites of various UK Leica retailers and ordered a 50mm Summilux Asph from Foordes as their price was competitive and I knew they were a reliable firm. They emailed me by return to say they did not have one in stock but were expecting further supplies the following week. My Summilux arrived 10 days after the order was placed. I suppose I was lucky.

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I like to share my experience with Australian Leica dealers. Whenever I requesting for any con or lux lens, the reply is always " we are shor tof stock and we need to place you in the waiting list" . this applies to few leica dealer in the nation.

 

However, if I put down some deposit, the lens would normally be avaialbel within a month.

 

So I think you just have to show the dealer that you are genuine buyer.

 

But there are not much space for price negotiation though.

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