wilfredo Posted August 3, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's been months since I fish around the internet for used Leica lenses but I've noticed what appears to be significant price jumps. I bought my 35mm Summicron ASPH about 7 years ago in virtually brand new hardly ever used condition for $1200.00. Now these are going used on E-bay for about $3000.00. What's going on out there? I feel for those who are new to Leica. Even the used market is starting to become prohibitive. On the upside a Leica lens, generally speaking not only retains it's value, but will generally increase. Leica Summicron M 35mm f/2ASPH (Chrome) LTM | eBay Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 3, 2011 Posted August 3, 2011 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here Used Lens Prices Going Up?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted August 3, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 3, 2011 Supply and demand. Leica have sold a lot - for them - of M8s and M9s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 3, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 3, 2011 It's a combination of very high demand (largely from China and the USA) and consequent constrained supply in those markets. The buy/sell forum at getdpi is a good gauge of the prices being asked (and often obtained) for desirable lenses like the Summiluxes and Noctilux. I think it is a bubble that will burst at some point but it is presently possible to sell a used (but near mint condition) lens like a 50 Summilux for more than the current new RRP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmradman Posted August 3, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 3, 2011 Combination of global demand and weak USD makes goods manufactured elsewhere and sold in US market more expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted August 3, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 3, 2011 AKA Price elasticity of demand so Leica isn't an investment then? 7years at 3000/1200 = 2.5 => 2.5^1/7 per year = 1.1398522810475968 (sorry I like decimal places ) = 14% per year. In euros it might still be a loss...... (LS please ignore the last comment if in financial trouble, it is intended purely in jest, or feel free to ignore me anyway) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 3, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 3, 2011 [...]I feel for those who are new to Leica. Even the used market is starting to become prohibitive. On the upside a Leica lens, generally speaking not only retains it's value, but will generally increase. Generally, yes they will but for those of us who really use 'em hard, ding lenses and bodies, and let 'em brass out, they won't. Cameras are not, to me, an investment. I'm sure many others are the same. I couldn't get a dime for these. They have consecutive numbers, but that was no big thing back then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfage Posted August 3, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) R lenses have "basically" remained constant. Of course, that could change dramatically if there were a new body. Personally, I am not in any hurry... and, I'm not a big fan of adapters. So, I am perfectly happy to continue to use my L'flex and R gear. In the end, it's not the machine that makes the art... and investing "another" 3 grand won't make one a better artist. ... going to Havana might. Or Rio. Or India. That's where the "real" money is. No-one -here- needs me to tell them that a good photograph of a bad idea isn't worth much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted August 3, 2011 Demand for Leica gear remains strong even in this weak economy. Good luck to all the newbies buying Leica equipment unless of course you form part of that tiny minority sitting on 40% of the wealth here at home. That small group will have no problem getting all the Leica gear they want. BTW I use all my gear, and have reached a place where my needs are satisfied. It's nice to know that even when we don't purchase gear as an investment Leica retains it's value, especially when you don't have bottomless pockets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted August 3, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 3, 2011 Good luck to all the newbies buying Leica equipment unless of course you form part of that tiny minority sitting on 40% of the wealth here at home.. There is plenty of excellent photographic gear available made by companies other than Leica - at prices to suit all pockets. Does a "newbie" need to buy Leica stuff? When I was getting interested in 'serious' photography I was quite content with a modest manual focus Contax body and 50mm lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 3, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 3, 2011 There is plenty of excellent photographic gear available made by companies other than Leica - at prices to suit all pockets. Does a "newbie" need to buy Leica stuff? When I was getting interested in 'serious' photography I was quite content with a modest manual focus Contax body and 50mm lens. I had a Petri F1.9 and was very happy with it until my soon-to-be mentor loaned me an M2 and Summicron. One red dot for another. I got an M2 like his and it took months to pay for it. Today I have more Ms than I can be sure of. Maybe 9. They all work, but a few are in desperate need of a CLA. I still have that Petri. It broke long, long ago, but it was a happy camera to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted August 3, 2011 Ian, "Newbies" in this case refers to newbies to Leica, not photography. I didn't start acquiring Leica gear until I was into my 40's. I've had a love of photography since Junior High School. I even keep a Kowa SET R2, my first camera. Every now and then I load it with film. Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted August 3, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 3, 2011 There is plenty of excellent photographic gear available made by companies other than Leica - at prices to suit all pockets. Does a "newbie" need to buy Leica stuff? When I was getting interested in 'serious' photography I was quite content with a modest manual focus Contax body and 50mm lens. A friend of my bought a few days ago a mint Leicaflex SL + Summicron 2,0/50 for €150,-. The Leica R cameras and lenses are a very cheap way to start in the Leica world... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted August 3, 2011 R lenses have "basically" remained constant. Of course, that could change dramatically if there were a new body. Personally, I am not in any hurry... and, I'm not a big fan of adapters. So, I am perfectly happy to continue to use my L'flex and R gear. In the end, it's not the machine that makes the art... and investing "another" 3 grand won't make one a better artist. ... going to Havana might. Or Rio. Or India. That's where the "real" money is. No-one -here- needs me to tell them that a good photograph of a bad idea isn't worth much. Here's one of my recent Cuba shots http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/194408-tia-artemia.html#post1790673 I used a 90mm Elmarit R which remains a great value even today. Usually around $600.00. You are absolutely right, investing big bucks won't make you a better photographer. Either you have an eye for photography or you don't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted August 3, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 3, 2011 ....and here with the incredible Apo Summicron 90 asph * Wilfredo taken recently... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/193762-rhythm-hell.html sold quite expensive on the market of second hand : http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/ebay-offers/194299-ebay-usa-leica-apo-summicron-m.html and a little cheaper here http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/market/listing/4761/90_Summicron_APO_ASPH.html Best Henry * new :2860 Euros Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfage Posted August 3, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 3, 2011 Thanks Wilfredo. I should private message you one of these days. I could use some advice on where to stay in Havana. I want to shoot urban decay and quite a bit of macro work (rusted metals, peeling paint, that sort of thing). I never, ever, ever photograph people. I won't do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted August 4, 2011 Sadly there is plenty of urban decay in Havana which would make for some fantastic photography. Even with all the decay, the old buildings maintain their character and exude a special beauty. I can check with my cousins for inexpensive places to stay when you are ready. Just drop me a message. @ Doc Cool shots! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 4, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 4, 2011 Ian, "Newbies" in this case refers to newbies to Leica, not photography. I didn't start acquiring Leica gear until I was into my 40's. I've had a love of photography since Junior High School. I even keep a Kowa SET R2, my first camera. Every now and then I load it with film Well, don't get too bummed out when your Leica does not deliver any better results than your Kowa. It happens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 4, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 4, 2011 Here's one of my recent Cuba shots http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/194408-tia-artemia.html#post1790673 I used a 90mm Elmarit R which remains a great value even today. Usually around $600.00. You are absolutely right, investing big bucks won't make you a better photographer. Either you have an eye for photography or you don't. I could have taken that picture by walking next door to my neighbor with almost any camera. Show me the "Leica" part of the picture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Fluff Posted August 5, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 5, 2011 I could have taken that picture by walking next door to my neighbor with almost any camera. Show me the "Leica" part of the picture. Seems a pretty mean-spirited post there Pico. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted August 5, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 5, 2011 Seems a pretty mean-spirited post there Pico. The price inflation seems to be true of (some) non Leica LTM lenses, CV and ZM seems to be tracking their new price as the Yen moves, but even Canon LTM & Nikon LTM lenses from 50-70 are moving similarly. I bought a Canon f/2 type I 35mm f/2 for 224 GBP in '07 mint, same lens with cleaning marks appears in same web shop & lasts three weeks at 399 GBP. A Canon P (LTM) body has not really moved in price in same interval. So must be supply and demand, Leica have dropped way behind in supply volume. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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