Is Leica prices rising too fast?

[MPJMP]

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With regard to new prices:

 

I purchased my chrome Leica MP brand new from B&H in the Spring of 2004. I paid roughly $2,500 for the body alone. I also purchased a Summicron 35mm ASPH at the same time. It was $1,600 if I recall correctly.

 

Today, only 8 years later, that same camera body new from B&H sells for $5,000 and the lens for $3,200. That's a 100% price increase in just 8 years.

 

I can't think of any other consumer product that has doubled in cost in such a short a period of time. I'm sure there are reasons, but I know that I could not afford to buy a new Leica today like I could in '04.

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[bocaburger]

I can't think of any other consumer product that has doubled in cost in such a short a period of time.

 

For me, gasoline, my health insurance and my homeowner's insurance (thanks to Hurricane Wilma). Thankfully I can do without new Leicas.

[AbbeyFoto]

As to the OP's question "Is (sic) Leica prices rising too fast?" I can note it invites a number of responses based on the respondent's position; that is borne out by the responses here. The world is awash with money of the rich up to the super rich looking for "investments" or signs of "conspicuous consumption". Anything scarce or exclusive is a potential target. Some Leicas are scarce and attract a collectors premium. Clearly there are graduations on this theme; some current Leica lenses have been hard to obtain and there is a premium to be paid by those who wish to have a copy real soon now.

 

For my own part, I like the Leica systems for my modest photography and yet I am happy to know the relative depreciation of my purchases is less than others, especially where I can buy second hand.

[leicafan!]

The fact that this, and many other similar discussions, are so prevalent on this forum is a sad indictment for the direction of the brand in my opinion. Leica have lost their way and seem to be churning out overpriced jewellery for men these days. It's become more a status symbol than a photographic tool.

 

I didn't laugh, I wept.

[earleygallery]

The fact that this, and many other similar discussions, are so prevalent on this forum is a sad indictment for the direction of the brand in my opinion. Leica have lost their way and seem to be churning out overpriced jewellery for men these days. It's become more a status symbol than a photographic tool.

 

I didn't laugh, I wept.

 

I wouldn't say they have lost their way, but they seem to have taken a bit of a wrong turn and need to change direction before they're lost! The jury's out until Photokina......

[pico]

Thinking about art, I wonder if I partially melted a couple of consecutive-serial numbered Leica M4s so that they stuck up from a pool of their melt in a V configuration, leaving the parts with numbers showing,

 

It would be personally satisfying to me to make it, just as making photographs is satisfying. Suppose some uber-rich person would be interested in it as a sculpture?

--

Pico - three days at home ill and just now leaving for fresh air. Can you tell it is needed?

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[leicafan!]

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I wouldn't say they have lost their way, but they seem to have taken a bit of a wrong turn and need to change direction before they're lost! The jury's out until Photokina......

 

Maybe I was slightly melodramatic. Totally agree with you.

[rramesh]

Thinking about art, I wonder if I partially melted a couple of consecutive-serial numbered Leica M4s so that they stuck up from a pool of their melt in a V configuration, leaving the parts with numbers showing,

So now we will have the Dali limited edition.

[Messsucherkamera]

Are Leica prices rising too fast? Apparently not - Leica cannot keep up with customer demand.

 

Are they rising too fast for most of us to keep up? It seems so.

[BJDrew]

The fact that this, and many other similar discussions, are so prevalent on this forum is a sad indictment for the direction of the brand in my opinion. Leica have lost their way and seem to be churning out overpriced jewellery for men these days. It's become more a status symbol than a photographic tool.

 

I didn't laugh, I wept.

 

The new tagline for Leica M will soon be "LEICA M... it's not for you"

There is no pretense of wanting to be accessible to even one tenth of 1% of the market. The M10 will continue the numerology with not the launch date, but the price tag. $10,010.10 perhaps?

 

In any event, what Leica does with their mirrorless solution will speak volumes as to whether they are a camera company for photographers or not. We will know soon if they have 'lost their way'

[pico]

Auto prices have escalated, too. I just got a car that cost more than the balance of my mortgage, but I financed 50% of it at 1.8% interest for three years, with no pre-payment penalty (and monthly payments are automatically taken from one of my IRAs.)

 

It might be interesting if Leica partnered with a financier (Finanzier?)

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[bocaburger]

The only thing that irritates me is the use of a passive expression like "Leica's prices are rising" when in fact what is actually going on is that Leica is aggressively raising their prices.