Printmaker Posted August 18, 2011 Share #1 Posted August 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) With a world wide lens shortage, many camera stores and individuals have been asking inflated prices for popular lenses. In some cases, used lenses are selling for 10 to 15% above the price of a new lens. A quick check of several stores shows 20 - 30 year old 50 Summicrons selling for hundreds of dollars more than the a new lens. Pre ASPH Summiluxes are going for nearly twice what they sold for just a few months ago. I don't know about the rest of you but I resent being taken advantage of. Sure, I know, supply and demand... but, personally, I plan to scratch off my list of suppliers any store that price gouges. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 18, 2011 Posted August 18, 2011 Hi Printmaker, Take a look here Taking Advantage of the Lens Shortage. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pico Posted August 19, 2011 Share #2 Posted August 19, 2011 \I don't know about the rest of you but I resent being taken advantage of. Sure, I know, supply and demand... but, personally, I plan to scratch off my list of suppliers any store that price gouges. It's called Voting with your Wallet. Let it be so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_big Posted August 19, 2011 Share #3 Posted August 19, 2011 I don't know about the rest of you but I resent being taken advantage of. Sure, I know, supply and demand... but, personally, I plan to scratch off my list of suppliers any store that price gouges. Tom This is one of he reasons why I'll never consider a digital M leica as a serious professional tool. Need to send your 50mm Summicron in for service? That'll be a four-month wait. Want to buy one in a hurry for a job? Not available unless you find someone selling it on the Internet for double retail. No thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabow Posted August 19, 2011 Share #4 Posted August 19, 2011 I finally got my new 75mm Cron yesterday. Close to a 6 mth wait, but the price was actually a lot cheaper than I expected. Actually €300 cheaper than originally quoted. I suspect my dealer was just being kind, trying to soften the blow of the long wait I'd had to put up with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted August 19, 2011 Share #5 Posted August 19, 2011 With a world wide lens shortage, many camera stores and individuals have been asking inflated prices for popular lenses. In some cases, used lenses are selling for 10 to 15% above the price of a new lens. A quick check of several stores shows 20 - 30 year old 50 Summicrons selling for hundreds of dollars more than the a new lens. Pre ASPH Summiluxes are going for nearly twice what they sold for just a few months ago. I don't know about the rest of you but I resent being taken advantage of. Sure, I know, supply and demand... but, personally, I plan to scratch off my list of suppliers any store that price gouges. Tom I agree I have fought back by simply going for new lenses. Whats the point of a pre-asph summilux for £2000 when you get can a new ASPH one for £2500 ? Whats the point of a second hand 90mm summarit f2.5 for £999 when I can get a new one for £1099 Its loopy..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 19, 2011 Share #6 Posted August 19, 2011 How is that "fighting back"...? I'd also point out to the OP that not everybody wants the clinical rendition of the newest lenses; some of the older designs - particularly Mandler era - that are going for higher prices are because of that. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 19, 2011 Share #7 Posted August 19, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is one of he reasons why I'll never consider a digital M leica as a serious professional tool. Need to send your 50mm Summicron in for service? That'll be a four-month wait. Want to buy one in a hurry for a job? Not available unless you find someone selling it on the Internet for double retail. No thanks. Just as a matter of interest, where is it that you are sending your Summicron that is taking 4 months to service? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwilliamsphotography Posted August 19, 2011 Share #8 Posted August 19, 2011 How is that "fighting back"...? I'd also point out to the OP that not everybody wants the clinical rendition of the newest lenses; some of the older designs - particularly Mandler era - that are going for higher prices are because of that. Regards, Bill I agree, "How's that fighting back?" It is simply the Law of Supply & Demand. If supply is low and demand high then prices will reflect that. If you can't pay the current rate, then you can't. Others seem to be paying it. You or I do not have to agree with it or like it, but it is what it is. Even Leica is cashing in on this ... like the so called last of 50/1.0 Noctiluxes nestled in a satin lined box and offered at inflated "collectors" pricing. As if it will produce a better image than a regular Nocti 1.0. I also agree with Bill in that not everyone wants the new look for all their lenses. I went through every newer 75mm Leica made and for my application ended up with a late model 75/1.4 German with factory 6 bit coding. Leica has discontinued that lens so the available supply will eventually diminish little by little. I have been offered almost $13,000. for my 50/0.95 ... which is both outrageous and tempting. Trouble is, if I sell it to fund something else like the studio lighting I need, then I'll never be able to get another one later ... nor will I be able to replace it with a 50/1.4 ASPH since that is also in short supply, as in ... None. If Leica produces a higher spec M10 ... the lens thing could actually stay in short supply for quite awhile ... at least the more high performance popular focal lengths. If the US treasury prints yet another Trillion $ and devalues the dollar even more, prices could well go up on the new stuff in the US anyway. -Marc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbbonthemoon Posted August 19, 2011 Share #9 Posted August 19, 2011 With Leica plans to quadruple lens production by 2012 I believe it will ease pretty soon. So be patient, or hunt for deals on used lenses, they pop up from time to time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted August 19, 2011 Share #10 Posted August 19, 2011 How is that "fighting back"...? I'd also point out to the OP that not everybody wants the clinical rendition of the newest lenses; some of the older designs - particularly Mandler era - that are going for higher prices are because of that. Regards, Bill sorry if I was too perfunct I did not mean anything against older lenses. i will admit to having a particular soft spot for many Leitz canadian designs which render beautifully. I was just making an assumption for the latest lenses. I simply don't think the pre-ASPH summilux is worth £2000. Maybe £1500 perhaps, tops. At these prices you might as well buy new, was my point. Look, oldish 28mm f2.8 pre-ASPH elmarits selling for £999 when the new ASPH elmarit is £1,199 !!!!! I am not knocking the old designs, but paying so much for a lens with no box, no guarantee and no hood that can be more then 10 years old when the latest design is only 20% more (and comes with a hood and 2 years gurantee) is ridiculous by any measure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted August 19, 2011 Share #11 Posted August 19, 2011 If the US treasury prints yet another Trillion $ and devalues the dollar even more, prices could well go up on the new stuff in the US anyway. -Marc a very good point and impossible to predict I am very worried about the world economy Conventional wisdom says that very expensive products and very cheap products are the least effected by recessions. Its the middle tier products that get slammed. but so many Leica owners are really streching themselves away from the 5Diis and D700s of this world. ...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 19, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 19, 2011 You are paying for the fact that the lens is available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted August 19, 2011 Share #13 Posted August 19, 2011 I finally got my new 75mm Cron yesterday. Close to a 6 mth wait, but the price was actually a lot cheaper than I expected. Actually €300 cheaper than originally quoted. I suspect my dealer was just being kind, trying to soften the blow of the long wait I'd had to put up with. I must have been lucky. I walked into Glazers in Seattle a couple of months ago and bought one 'off the shelf'. ___________________________ Regards, Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted August 19, 2011 Share #14 Posted August 19, 2011 dealers must buy used lenses and the price sellers want reflect to current demand. They can not buy high and sell low and stay in business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_big Posted August 19, 2011 Share #15 Posted August 19, 2011 Just as a matter of interest, where is it that you are sending your Summicron that is taking 4 months to service? Regards, Bill It went from Los Angeles to Solms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 19, 2011 Share #16 Posted August 19, 2011 Directly, or via a dealer? Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted August 19, 2011 Share #17 Posted August 19, 2011 As there is a new lens shortage, in order to satisfy customers desire for a lens, a dealer has to buy somewhere - and he has to pay a price. He then has to both make a bit of profit (otherwise he'll go out of business) and give a warranty on his purchase. It does require careful buying if the dealer wantsto keep pre-owned lens prices reasonable, but an upward creep is inevitable in times of new lens shortage. By the way, I am not defending blatant profiteering! It's all supply and demand, so please look at it from the dealers' point of view. Oh, and is that f1.4 lens really absoultely essential? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 19, 2011 Share #18 Posted August 19, 2011 a very good pointand impossible to predict I am very worried about the world economy Conventional wisdom says that very expensive products and very cheap products are the least effected by recessions. Its the middle tier products that get slammed. ...... Is film in the middle tier? I'm thinking of a gold coin we found in an old dresser ten years ago. (There's a charming story about that find.) Right now it seems just crazy to do what I want - buy another M9 when real investing is critical. May I tell the story? My mate and I were moving out of our old house. She had a dresser handed down from her great-grandmother. I removed the drawers and turn it upside-down, preparing to take it to the truck and something fell from a drawer slider. It was a five-dollar gold piece. I shouted excitedly, "Molly, I found a gold coin here!". Molly came over, handled it and said sadly, "Oh dear, someone lost a gold coin. It must have been tragic." How can one not love such a person? She gave it to her mother. -- Pico - Pass forward good fortune Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_big Posted August 19, 2011 Share #19 Posted August 19, 2011 Directly, or via a dealer? Regards, Bill I sent it to New Jersey. They couldn't fix it so they sent it to Solms. Still, it resulted in a four-month wait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 19, 2011 Share #20 Posted August 19, 2011 Thank you for the clarification. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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