Leica secondhand prices

[IWC Doppel]

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I have just flicked through a photography magazine from late 2010.....

 

Seems they are up some 25-30% on this time last year or more !

 

Any views on Lieca supply in 2012 and if and when the market might settle and soften ?

[tobey bilek]

When the current lens making facilities are utilized 3 shifts fully trained staff and then add 1 to 2 years. New facilities may need to built also as I have no way knowing the internal scheduling of Leica. Perhaps all available capacity is already being used,perhaps not because of trained staff shortages.

 

The success of the M8/9 probably took them by somewhat of a surprise. They may have new customers with no older lenses or there may be older customers with a desire to upgrade or add to their kit.

 

Add the mix people are on multiple wait lists for the same lens so they have to be careful not to over plan. These are multi thousand dollar items so if they over supply they end up with under used production capacity. The dollar cost of facilities is high and the labor law in europe does not allow them to release unnecessary workers easily.

 

So it becomes a balancing act of satisfying "real" current and expected future demand as quickly as possible and yet not creating a bubble of excess supply sometime in the future.

 

For the real answer, you will need someone on Leica management team. My guess is 2/3 years.

[wda]

You are entering 'Crystal Ball' territory! With a global recession hanging over most countries I doubt there will be significant changes to availability of new lenses next year. Bear in mind also, the real expectation of new products which will more than absorb extra capacity. Even plants in Japan and Thailand have suffered serious setbacks this year and are unlikely to be fully on-stream by 2012. Order and buy wisely!