SL2-S Resale Prices Seem Very Cheap

[lencap]

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Greetings!

I can't help noticing the large number of SL2-S cameras for sale, many at what seem to be very attractive prices.  I thought it might be a few people looking to move into the SL3, but with supply of that camera still limited, it just looks like a lot of people aren't waiting and selling.

KEH's offer for a SL2-S in "Like New Minus" condition with battery and charger is a $1819.  That seems quite low.  I already have an SL2-S, but if prices keep falling I many add another.

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[Ivar B]

Yes, prices have fallen a lot here in Norway as well. Those who bought an SL2 or SL2S a few months back are probably not too happy.

On the other hand, I was able to get a mint SL2 in box for around $3000 - good for me! Probably quite a few are migrating to SL3, although Leica very much hopes to attract new users. 

Edited April 15, 2024 by Ivar B

[lencap]

That was a great purchase Ivar!  Congrats!  I'm one of the "probably not too happy" folk.  Bought the Leica SL20S bundle six months ago and it's fallen in value by half!

 

[Dr. G]

I sold my like new SL2-S for $2695 USD a few weeks ago.  Just trying to add a data point.

[costa43]

I bought an sl2-s a few weeks ago around the time of the sl3 release. It was like new, unused and still within warranty for 2.5k euro which I thought was a good deal at the time. 

[Chris Nebard]

3 hours ago, costa43 said:

I bought an sl2-s a few weeks ago around the time of the sl3 release. It was like new, unused and still within warranty for 2.5k euro which I thought was a good deal at the time. 

A good deal at the time and a good deal now, Costa43!  I am definitely skipping the SL3 because the SL2-S still gives me the speed, image quality, low light performance I need. I see my Leicas as beautifully designed & engineered tools which I love using, but not an investment. The fact that used prices may be coming down is great news to me - it gives opportunities for a second body at some stage. The SL2-S is a special camera and I’d rather either get that second body at some point or improve my lens collection. I’m not into the megapixel race or “upgrading” to the new “must have” version every couple of years, so I hope that Lencap (#3 above) doesn’t feel too disappointed in his purchase. The SL2-S will be a wonderful camera for years to come regardless of future used prices. 

[Malabito]

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Yep i seen them go for as low as 2.250k euros with box and batteries, original owner, etc.... they gone down in price as bad or even worst than Sony. Here locally they are selling one in perfect conditions for 2.25k.

Basically they are going for less than 50% of the price.

[Almizilero]

Yeah, the SL2-S was the first camera I bought new since forever (former Sony user) because everybody said Leicas don't loose their value. At least I got a good deal, with the trade in and whatnot, but I'd still loose almost 50% if I sold it now, 18 month later. Which I have no intention of doing, the SL2-S was a long term investment and I plan to use it for quite a while.

Since then, I watched the market a bit and this whole “holds it's value” business with Leica seems like a myth from the olden days. Especially for SL system, but also for M. I haven't bought anything new since. But at least for the M lenses, the used market is very consistent. prices there actually seem very stable, sometimes even going up, depending on what lens is hyped at the time. The (digital) cameras, be it SL or M, do what all technology does, they consistently loose value over time.

[aj55]

Last week I was quoted a trade-in price for my almost as new condition SL2-s of €1500.

Not happy. I will keep the body and be happy 😉

[costa43]

4 hours ago, Chris Nebard said:

A good deal at the time and a good deal now, Costa43!  I am definitely skipping the SL3 because the SL2-S still gives me the speed, image quality, low light performance I need. I see my Leicas as beautifully designed & engineered tools which I love using, but not an investment. The fact that used prices may be coming down is great news to me - it gives opportunities for a second body at some stage. The SL2-S is a special camera and I’d rather either get that second body at some point or improve my lens collection. I’m not into the megapixel race or “upgrading” to the new “must have” version every couple of years, so I hope that Lencap (#3 above) doesn’t feel too disappointed in his purchase. The SL2-S will be a wonderful camera for years to come regardless of future used prices. 

I agree Chris. It is the most well rounded of all of Leica's digital sensors in my opinion. Clean images and great dynamic range at a mp count that works really well with my vintage glass. I run it alongside an m10r and have been enjoying using my M lenses on there. I have zero interest in a 60mp camera.

[LocalHero1953]

A minimal bit of common sense research (so easy on the internet) will show that most Leica camera bodies and lenses lose value from new. The exceptions are special and limited editions which become cult or collectors items. If you don't want to lose value from purchase, then buy used film cameras and non-electronic lenses. If you are careful, you can also minimise losses on modern used AF lenses.

I don't remember anyone ever saying that Leica never loses value.

[Ivar B]

23 hours ago, lencap said:

That was a great purchase Ivar!  Congrats!  I'm one of the "probably not too happy" folk.  Bought the Leica SL20S bundle six months ago and it's fallen in value by half!

 

Yes, this annoying. I think the focus should be that the SL2/S is still a superb camera, which will serve you well for a long time. 

[lencap]

Despite the sharp depreciation since buying my SL2-S in a very short time, I still feel that I bought the best camera for my needs.  The 24MP sensor is perfectly fine for the images and resolution I want, and the color fidelity of this sensor actually looks better to my eye than the M10-R or M11.  I also find the low light capability better in many situations than any other digital Leica body.

I bought the body and SL-Summicron 50mm f/2.0 ASPH lens in a Leica bundle, at a discount of $1,100 from individual pricing.  Leica also provided an additional $1,300 voucher  discount,  at which point I couldn’t resist any longer. 

So, yes, I would have preferred buying it at a lower price today, but I bought it new from an AD with full warranty.  If I sold the camera and lens to KEH I’d lose nearly half of what I paid.  To put that into perspective if I were to sell an M11 to KEH in the same condition as my SL bundle, I’d lose more money on the M11.  

Life is too short to look in hindsight at “what could have been”.  I still find the SL body is the most flexible Leica offering, and image quality remains excellent.  

It’s interesting that the SL601  prices are rising lately.  People like the industrial look, great colors and purity of design. These are the same things people disliked two years ago when everyone was selling.  I think the SL2-S is in the same position.  Prices may fall a bit more, but someday soon people will realize that the SL2-S may have been Leica’s best platform and demand will drive prices up.  If that happens great, and if not equally great.  I bought a great camera at a great price at the time, and that’s a decision I can live with easily.

I would still love an M body camera as that is a “true Leica”, but it is also 70 year old technology.  I remember having to recalibrate each of my M bodies, some several times.  I also had issues with framing, especially for distances outside the optimal range.  Grabbing focus consistently with wide open lenses was tricky, and with 90mm lenses nearly impossible.  Still, I appreciate the history and rangefinder feeling, but as an image capture devise to quickly get the shot wide open in any circumstance with a fast lens I dare say anyone being objective would have a hard time picking an M over the SL platform.

Happily we don’t have to chose - Leica feeds our addiction on any platform we want, and may it ever be so.  And if the SL2 prices continue to fall as well, I may add that body to my camera bag as well.

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2024 by lencap

[JoshuaR]

I've been really struck by the fall in prices. I want to try doing some video, and I'm seriously considering selling some of my least-used or duplicative M lenses to buy an SL2-S while the used prices are this low.

[jdlaing]

On 4/15/2024 at 2:01 PM, lencap said:

Greetings!

I can't help noticing the large number of SL2-S cameras for sale, many at what seem to be very attractive prices.  I thought it might be a few people looking to move into the SL3, but with supply of that camera still limited, it just looks like a lot of people aren't waiting and selling.

KEH's offer for a SL2-S in "Like New Minus" condition with battery and charger is a $1819.  That seems quite low.  I already have an SL2-S, but if prices keep falling I many add another.

That’s not really a resale price. KEH is only offering you somewhere in the neighborhood of 50% of what they will try and sell it for. 

[JohnathanLovm]

Meanwhile my country used SL2 and SL2S is around USD3300 - USD3500. 

[JohnathanLovm]

On 4/17/2024 at 9:21 AM, lencap said:

It’s interesting that the SL601  prices are rising lately.  People like the industrial look, great colors and purity of design.

It’s good to know the SL601 is getting recognition. Many still mistakenly think it’s a medium format camera due to the design.

[frame-it]

9 minutes ago, JohnathanLovm said:

Many still mistakenly think it’s a medium format camera due to the design.

yes and they sometimes post in the S forum

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[bab]

On 4/15/2024 at 12:01 PM, lencap said:

Greetings!

I can't help noticing the large number of SL2-S cameras for sale, many at what seem to be very attractive prices.  I thought it might be a few people looking to move into the SL3, but with supply of that camera still limited, it just looks like a lot of people aren't waiting and selling.

KEH's offer for a SL2-S in "Like New Minus" condition with battery and charger is a $1819.  That seems quite low.  I already have an SL2-S, but if prices keep falling I many add another.

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[Camaro5]

I recently upgraded from an SL2-S to an SL2.  Sold the /S for $2400 and paid $3400 for a new SL2.   The /S was fine but I wanted the extra resolution for the landscape prints I do.  I will see this weekend how the SL-2 does with my automotive work using an SL 35 APO.