thedwp Posted August 2, 2018 Share #1 Posted August 2, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've always leaned towards black lenses. But I recently had a Silver-Q and really enjoyed the sliver lens. I now have an M10-Silver and was curious what the groups thoughts were on resale value of silver lenses. Any thoughts on this? I know its personal preference, and ultimately I'll have to decide on my own...just wanted to get a consensus. thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 2, 2018 Posted August 2, 2018 Hi thedwp, Take a look here Black vs Silver Resale value. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pedaes Posted August 2, 2018 Share #2 Posted August 2, 2018 Buy what you want. Where silver is available, it looks great with a silver body. The best advice is never to sell any lens. If you do the difference would be negligible. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hello Posted August 2, 2018 Share #3 Posted August 2, 2018 (edited) I've wondered this too. Does the brass construction make a lens more desirable? Or does the lighter material in the black lenses pay off? I guess it's all up to what people want and need. I wasn't a fan of mixing colors but after getting a silver 35mm ASPH 'Cron, I'm happy I went with it as I like the heft and find that more desirable than the color. Either way, they both function as intended so maybe it comes up a wash. Edited August 2, 2018 by Hello Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted August 2, 2018 Share #4 Posted August 2, 2018 I've wondered this too. Does the brass construction make a lens more desirable? Or does the lighter material in the black lenses pay off? I guess it's all up to what people want and need. I wasn't a fan of mixing colors but after getting a silver 35mm ASPH 'Cron, I'm happy I went with it as I like the heft and find that more desirable than the color. Either way, they both function as intended so maybe it comes up a wash. You need to understand which silver (chrome) lenses are brass, and which are 'silver' aluminium. The majority of the current catologue are the latter. Some users find the brass lenses uncomfortably heavy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertknappmd Posted August 2, 2018 Share #5 Posted August 2, 2018 It is a giant wash. Resalability is a function of many variables including but not limited to total number of lenses made, used vs unused state, presence of box and all paperwork, damage, scratches etc... silver vs black is a minor variable IMHO. Just pick what you want and enjoy it! Albert Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted August 2, 2018 Share #6 Posted August 2, 2018 The only silver lenses I have or ever had were vintage ones which were only made in silver. Idk about the latest silver lenses (as Leica priced me out of new/later lenses years ago) but the ones from the 80s-90s were significantly heavier than the black ones, and I'm not interested in adding a pound or two to my travel bag merely for the sake of cosmetic appeal. YMMV. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted August 3, 2018 Share #7 Posted August 3, 2018 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would love to have black collapsible Cron and re-sell it. Or even silver Cron 50 IV. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted August 3, 2018 Share #8 Posted August 3, 2018 Europe is said to have mainly black whereas in Asia its silver. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted August 3, 2018 Share #9 Posted August 3, 2018 Buy what you want. Where silver is available, it looks great with a silver body. The best advice is never to sell any lens. If you do the difference would be negligible. Silver looks fab on a black paint body too... like the Summaron 28mm on my MP Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkmoore Posted August 3, 2018 Share #10 Posted August 3, 2018 To answer the OPs question specifically: In the US, I have sold at least 25 Leica lenses and cameras and the silver version lenses typically sell for 10% more. For instance, if you sell a black 35 Cron ASPH (V1) for $2k, I would sell the silver version for $2.2k. This can be seen in all the major Leica sellers in the US. Bodies are very similar but the difference may only be 5%. However, there is generally less demand for silver bodies in my experience. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp995 Posted August 3, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 3, 2018 Silver looks fab on a black paint body too... Same as my preference für black lenses on my silver M10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted August 3, 2018 Share #12 Posted August 3, 2018 (edited) Really like the silver ones. And it do seem that they in general were produced in smaller numbers than black. Resulting in that «mint» cromes produced in lesser volumes depreciate less than blacks. Like my 35 cron v4. Old school brass and heavy, but so nice... and seemengly asking for sky high prices at e-bay (the «dreamers» market I guess...). PS: Still puzzled about what to do with my mint/boxed 28 cron asph first (trial) anodized aluminum version by Leica (?!) produced in 500 pcs... common production method today by Leica but really rare 10 years go. Foru membees; please comvince me to use this beautifull silver 28... I can not afford to become a collector anyway... Stayes consequently and unfortunately most of the in the box (using a very nice 28 Elmarit v4 in the meanwhile). Enjoy what you like must be my final word! ,-) Edited August 3, 2018 by Stein K S Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp995 Posted August 3, 2018 Share #13 Posted August 3, 2018 (edited) ... Still puzzled about what to do with my mint/boxed 28 cron asph first (trial) anodized aluminum version by Leica (?!) produced in 500 pcs... common production method today by Leica but really rare 10 years go.... Use it! I your eyes are getting worse, you can only enjoy viewing it in a showcase. Bad idea ... NB: The Elmarit IV is not the badest option - Love it! Edited August 3, 2018 by cp995 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedwp Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share #14 Posted August 3, 2018 When I had my Silver Q, I felt like I was getting more eyeballs looking at it as I walked by. I never really worry much about someone hi-jacking my camera, but I think the silver def stands out more. To me silver has a more classic look, and it sounds like they do pull a small percentage higher resale value, but at the same time, I don't think there's as much demand for silver. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted August 3, 2018 Share #15 Posted August 3, 2018 Use it! I your eyes are getting worse, you can only enjoy viewing it in a showcase. Bad idea ... NB: The Elmarit IV is not the badest option - Love it! Thanks! I really will try. But at the same time I am starting to love the Elmarit IV as well (it replaced the Elmarit 28 asph which I really never liked...). Again; thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 3, 2018 Share #16 Posted August 3, 2018 Silver or Black. Can't help but think of little girls dressing paper dolls. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stein K S Posted August 3, 2018 Share #17 Posted August 3, 2018 I guess however «unimportant» it seems a few still have opinions and prefrences on this issue... also when spending quite some money... And I can not see how this could be wrong. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 3, 2018 Share #18 Posted August 3, 2018 I guess however «unimportant» it seems a few still have opinions and prefrences on this issue... also when spending quite some money... And I can not see how this could be wrong. Indeed, we all have opinions and preferences. That has been written here thousands of times. So have rebuttals. If I were God, I'd automatically put them into a thread called purgatory, although I'm not sure the place exists today. My father and, surprisingly my late father in-law espoused dressing unconscious of fashion, and to that end for thirty years I had a wardrobe of blue Oxford cotton shirts and black trousers. I did go wild with ties. Enjoy your chrome or black lenses! Seriously. Then there are the so-called Titanium versions just to confuse us. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M11 for me Posted August 3, 2018 Share #19 Posted August 3, 2018 well, there are definitely regional differences. When in Germany 80% are bought in black (I do not know the real number) then it is more difficult to sell silver ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 3, 2018 Share #20 Posted August 3, 2018 (edited) well, there are definitely regional differences. When in Germany 80% are bought in black (I do not know the real number) then it is more difficult to sell silver ones. I would dearly like to have your citations supporting that assertion. Thank you. Recently I was tempted to buy a titanium body Summilux 35mm for a reasonable price, then proper sense informed me that light passing through the glass could care less for its cladding. Edited August 3, 2018 by pico 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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