Has the SL2 really lost that much value?

[marcg]

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I've just watched this SL2 sell on eBay for £3650 – which means that it has lost about £1700 in the short time they've been around.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leica-SL2-digital-40MP-camera-body-and-box-used-/254527411173?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&autorefresh=true&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=KYbR5%2FCYPXnhOfYf%2Fm%2Bn5jQsTKk%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

 

Are Leica Digital cameras really depreciating that quickly?

[Macberg]

Have you read the description? "Mild scuff on top plate" - in the worst case, this could mean a "mild" fall on the floor... It's very hard to get a good price on ebay with such a flaw, even if superficially, the camera seems to work perfectly. Just imagine you want to send it to Leica (within the warranty period) to have it inspected, cleaned, adjusted, repaired etc. - with such a scuff, chances are good that you will pay for the bill, not Leica (as they could argue that the camera was damaged by some kind of hit).
So who would pay a higher price for that offer?

Edited March 8, 2020 by Macberg

[marcg]

So what do you think is the going rate without a "mild scuff"?

[hillavoider]

probably the worst time to sell anything right now, eve of a global recession and all that 

that said, the SL dropped like a lead balloon as well, which never bothered me, still think its better then a M camera

Edited March 8, 2020 by hillavoider

[marcg]

It's the weight of it all which puts me off – the camera isn't so much heavier – but the lenses mean that you can quite easily be carrying over 4 pounds of weight

[Ivar B]

The seller could have done a much better job with the listing. Lots of dust, poor photos. Buying on eBay probably also price a risk premium in the final prize. 

[Jon Warwick]

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1 hour ago, marcg said:

It's the weight of it all which puts me off – the camera isn't so much heavier – but the lenses mean that you can quite easily be carrying over 4 pounds of weight

Given your apparent concerns over residual value and also weight, do you think the SL2 just isn’t suitable for you ....or are there aspects of it that you like that would outweigh those things?

Edited March 8, 2020 by Jon Warwick

[Simone_DF]

1 hour ago, Jon Warwick said:

Given your apparent concerns over residual value and also weight, do you think the SL2 just isn’t suitable for you ....or are there aspects of it that you like that would outweigh those things?

Weight, AF performance and battery life is the reason why I sold the SL2. 
if Leica manages to fix #2 and #3 and Panasonic releases some nice, small glass like any other brand on the planet already managed to do, I may consider purchasing it again

[Chaemono]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb marcg:

So what do you think is the going rate without a "mild scuff"?

The going rate for “mild scuff” is about 200 GBP, assuming no drop. Add a suspicion of a drop but still a working camera, that damage cost the seller anywhere from 550-750 GBP, I’d say. A mildly used SL2 without a “mild scuff” would, therefore, go for 4,200-4,400 GBP right now, IMO.

[marcg]

2 hours ago, Jon Warwick said:

 ....or are there aspects of it that you like that would outweigh those things?

… yes, I just feel I would like to own one - I'm having a bad attack of flatulence.

[Donzo98]

5 hours ago, Ivar B said:

The seller could have done a much better job with the listing. Lots of dust, poor photos. Buying on eBay probably also price a risk premium in the final prize. 

Definitely... sloppy listing.

With that said... I only buy LIKE NEW used equipment, unless I am buying new.

[Macberg]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb Donzo98:

Definitely... sloppy listing.

With that said... I only buy LIKE NEW used equipment, unless I am buying new.

A camera in that price-category, I would only buy directly from a seller where I could try it with my hands and ask questions, prefereably a camera that has been checked by Leica and which is sold by a Leica-Store.

[Macberg]

vor 3 Stunden schrieb Chaemono:

The going rate for “mild scuff” is about 200 GBP, assuming no drop. Add a suspicion of a drop but still a working camera, that damage cost the seller anywhere from 550-750 GBP, I’d say. A mildly used SL2 without a “mild scuff” would, therefore, go for 4,200-4,400 GBP right now, IMO.

I would consider those values as well. In addition, I think, ebay-buyers are more suspicious than buyers in a store because they can't try such a camera with their hands. And those pictures of an uncleaned (and therefore probably not well-looked-after) camera also add up to that low price.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Couldn’t care less what they sell for 2nd hand. No intention of selling mine, so what does it matter? I still have my SL’s as well. As far as I’m concerned the money is spent. I’ll just enjoy the camera. I expect my cameras to devalue like I expect a new car to devalue as soon as I drive it off the lot. Buying gear new costs more, as does being an early adopter. It is what it is.

Maybe someone can explain it to me because I don’t understand why it matters. Does the rate of devaluation affect how much someone enjoys a camera or how good it is? Do people really budget devaluation as part of the purchase price? After all, it only needs a strap to break and a camera might be worth zero. Is the real value of a camera based on it’s resell price or the usability and enjoyment it gives? Is the SL2 now a lesser camera because one sold cheap on eBay?

It’s a good deal for the buyer. I just don’t see how it matters to those of us who wanted a new one.

Gordon

[insideline]

On 3/8/2020 at 2:46 PM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Couldn’t care less what they sell for 2nd hand. No intention of selling mine, so what does it matter? I still have my SL’s as well. As far as I’m concerned the money is spent. I’ll just enjoy the camera. I expect my cameras to devalue like I expect a new car to devalue as soon as I drive it off the lot. Buying gear new costs more, as does being an early adopter. It is what it is.

Maybe someone can explain it to me because I don’t understand why it matters. Does the rate of devaluation affect how much someone enjoys a camera or how good it is? Do people really budget devaluation as part of the purchase price? After all, it only needs a strap to break and a camera might be worth zero. Is the real value of a camera based on it’s resell price or the usability and enjoyment it gives? Is the SL2 now a lesser camera because one sold cheap on eBay?

It’s a good deal for the buyer. I just don’t see how it matters to those of us who wanted a new one.

Gordon

Oh my G.. thank you for sharing this, I run into FAR too many people on some of the forums who are so concerned with how cheap they can buy their Leica equipment vs considering how much pleasure and utter enjoyment it is to obtain the stunning photographs this equipment produces. The Hasselblad community seems less fanboy-ish and accepts new equipment depreciates. I have been lucky/fortunate to have taken some very very special images that to me are worth the entire cost of an SL, or SL2, or M body and to me that is the complete reason I enjoy photography and this wonderful equipment.