Leica Lens Prices

[richfx]

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Guess I've missed something the past year or so. Resale prices for Leica's best lenses seem to have dropped considerably. The 35mm Summilux FLE, for example, lists for appr. $4,500 (B&H in NY). I paid $5,000 for mine five years ago. Today, used ones in excellent condition go for around $3,000 - $3,200. The 50 Lux ASPH has a similar discount to its then (five years ago) $4,000 price. The Noctilux .95 now sells for $7,200 - $8,000, substantially below its current list price.

 

Has everyone who wanted one of these lenses gotten theirs or is something else going on?

 

Sorry - just noticed a typo in the topic line - Leica was misspelled (yikes). Can't seem to edit that.

[Vec]

Much of this has to do with the strong US Dollar. Since March (give or take) there's been a "temporary" 12% discount on many Leica products based on the exchange rates. As the new prices went down, it forces the used market down as well. The temporary discount has been renewed every time for another month or two at a time.

 

Even with the 12% discount, the exchange rate still heavily favors imports so Leica's still getting more anyway.

[pop]

... Can't seem to edit that.

I can.

[sml_photo]

The 12% rebate in the US is expiring effective 12/31/15.  

[Vec]

The 12% rebate in the US is expiring effective 12/31/15.  

True enough... but this is around the 6-8th time or so that it will be expiring in past year. Based on where the EUR is trading against the USD I would bet that Leica will once again renew the discount or replace it with something similar. Right now the EUR is lower than several times recently where it has been renewed.

 

Even if the offer is not renewed, there are enough of the "low priced" Leica gear on the market to depress prices for a while I would expect.

 

And yes, I got a small pile of gear before it "expired" in October. I'm happy shooting with it so no regrets. Psychologically I'm sure having the appearance of the discount ending gives a neat boost to sales at the end of every cycle. I know it affected my decision.  :-)

[Joshua Lowe]

I expect that 12% rebate will continue to be extended until the Euro gets stronger.  There's no real sign of that happening so I would expect the rebates to continue.

 

It's certainly made it a buyer's market for secondhand Leica glass.

[sml_photo]

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I believe Leica has announced that the rebates will be ending.  At the previous expiration dates, they indicated they would be continuing. 

In any event, we'll find out in a couple of days!

I would imagine they'd like to get back to their retail pricing structure at some point.

(I wonder if there was an increase in sales due to the rebates.  And, if there was, I wonder if it has slowed down in the past month or two as people got used to the lower prices.) 

[Abram]

I know it's not ideal for those that own their gear already, but it's been really helpful for me in building out my kit, bringing the prices to the fringe of affordability for me. 

[250swb]

 

Has everyone who wanted one of these lenses gotten theirs or is something else going on?

 

 

Hang around long enough and you will discover it is a cyclical event, both second hand prices going up and down and new prices being discounted. I've seen it happen as Leica became more of a niche brand, but that has been plenty long enough to discern the trends.

 

You get the discounts while there are no new models to excite the M market, you get the second hand prices rising and falling with fashion (jumping to and from the M system) and currency rates. So no conspiracy.

 

 

Steve

[Vec]

At least on B&H Leica has once again extended the 12% off until 31-Jan-2016.

 

It's almost like it's a permanent discount.  :-)  Based on what the EUR is trading at now, Leica is still making around 12-15% more than in mid-2014, even with the 12% off of USD. They could offer 20% easy and still be making more money.