2005 Price List Anyone

[efreed2754]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi. Just got my 75 Summicron after over a year's somewhat impatient wait. Do lot of concert work so purchased a NOS 75 Summilux two years sgo and anxious to compare them.

 

In the meanwhile got somewhat fixated on the price differences of these two noble beasts. Seems like 2005 was a year both were sold by Leica. Perhaps 2006 too. The Lux was thought to be this most expensive M lens, maybe with the MATE which also use on vacation trips.

 

Did many searches to no avail so turning to this esteemed group. Does anyone have the Leica Photographic Price List for 2005 which contains the MATE and both 75's? Having all the equipment is better.

 

Thanks so much. Oh, while I love my Lux on my M9P (after two trips to NJ), saw some Immediate improvements with the Summicron.

 

Ed

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[rramesh]

Interesting question. It would be great we we could somehow find the price movement of Leica products from launch to date.

 

I would be curious as to what a lens like the Summicron 50 f/2 sold at from 1953 to date through its variants.

[efreed2754]

Well funny you should ask. Been developing a data base but only seem to have good prices from 2007 to today. 1953 prices are available but not much in between.

 

Being in US concentrating on USD.

 

Of course lenses like 50 Summicron had many iterations as did 90 Elmarits, 35s and 50 summilux so all in all not so easy to have comparable numbers. And lenses come and go. Then too have dynamic exchange rates amongst various countries. That's why trying just for US to keep it simpler.

 

Does anyone have old US price lists?

[efreed2754]

Ok Ramchand did some investigating. Guess no one has price lists to share

 

Did find a 1953 price list. Forgive me but in USD. 50 collapsible summicron was $183, Summarit 50 1.5 $224 and 85 Summarex 1.5 a whopping $442!!! For comparison the average car cost $1,650 in 1953, making the Summarex 25% of a new car.

 

Today's price for 50 Cron is $2,295 and 50 1.4 Lux is $3,995. Guess 75 Lux closest to 85 which would go for about $4,000 in today's dollars--about what mint 75 is worth and close to new 90 APO of $4,000.

 

Average new car costs $30,000 today for an annual increase of 5%. So just looking at cars a Leica lens rose at about the same rate as cars; and how much do you think a car depreciates in five years, never mind lasting 60 years. Oh, and 25% of $30,000 is $7,500, close to 50 APO and less than Noctilux.

 

Consumer Price Index is better than cars to compare prices. Using Urban metric the 1953 price is 26.70 which compares with 231.317 last month or almost 60 years later for an annual increase of about 3.7%.

 

The 50 Cron of 1953 went to $2,295 for an increase of 4.3%. The 50 Summarit of $224 is '$3,995 for 50 Lux (close enough?) for an annual increase of 4.9%. So yes Leica did increase a little more than CPI-U and about the same as cars.

 

Wait that's not all. If you purchased these lenses in 1953 and used them to date, then sold them in excellent condition you would receive upto $700 for the Cron and $700 for the Summarex (from Antiquecamera site which seems pretty accurate).

 

So perhaps initial price is less important than the use and net cost for our precious glass. I sold all my LTM cameras and lenses for much more than I paid, same for older M mount glass.

 

Oh, do believe in 2005 75 Lux went for $2,995 and new 75 APO for $2,695. Stil looking for MATE price in 2005 anyone?

[efreed2754]

Guess old lists are hard to come by, so contacted the lovely Sarah at Leica who provided the following prices as of July 2005:

 

Tri Elmar 28 to 50: $3,500

 

75 Summilux: $3,600

 

75 Summicron: $2,950

 

Based on these prices and given the fact the first two are no longer made, perhaps current prices are "in line" even if not reasonable.

[rramesh]

Of course, you can always buy it online on eBay.

 

LEICA RETAIL PRICE LIST OF CAMERAS AND ACCESSORIES | eBay

[efreed2754]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Good to know. Thanks. However none in the 2000s.