M11 New York USA Edition - use or keep sealed?

[T25UFO]

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35 minutes ago, pippy said:

Much depends on how many cameras were manufactured rather than just which colour they were painted. As Al Brown says here...

...Black-Paint models made in relatively small batches will always be popular and tend to do well over time. This one - sold at auction around 18 months ago - is a pretty good example in that it realised over twice the upper sales-estimate;

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Philip.

Ah, you win.

Pippy   1 - 0   T25UFO

[Elliot Harper]

Not meant to muddy the water, but in the investment world which I have been for more than 2 decades, liquidity is the king.

How much time do you think you need to sell an 50-year old camera for over $50,000? And how deep the bid/ask book is? You can ask for $50K and the next highest bid might be $20K, that's how illiquid assets are doing in the market. 

[Han.sen]

vor 10 Stunden schrieb Al Brown:

Old black paints up to M4 and some LHSA and other precious M6s. All film cameras.
But to answer your question in modern editions, it was the M10-R BP that beat the M10-P Safari in used prices, however M6 TTL 0.85 Safari beat all recent digital black paint editions. M11 BP does not beat anything as it is not a SE.

„M11 BP does not beat anything as it is not a SE“ - well, I wouldn’t be to sure - know one knows how large the batch was when Leica made it last year. As we all know it’s not an ongoing manufacturing process at Leica. They use so called „Losfertigung“, which means the production is somehow limited until the next batch is being planned. So, if demand is low, fewer batches will be produced. Maybe 4000 instead of 2000 M10R BP (if so) at the end? Who knows…

 

 

[charlesphoto99]

9 hours ago, pippy said:

Much depends on how many cameras were manufactured rather than just which colour they were painted. As Al Brown says here...

...Black-Paint models made in relatively small batches will always be popular and tend to do well over time. This one - sold at auction around 18 months ago - is a pretty good example in that it realised over twice the upper sales-estimate;

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Philip.

Of course shaving your head, bulking up, and pretending to star in fifties/sixties costume epics on Tik Tok isn't going to get you more at auction for that M11 "New York" in fifty years time. Maybe less. 😂

I would use it. At least make sure it's all working correctly while under warranty. You don't need to take it to a war zone. I'm doubtful of the collectability of the digital bodies. You might double it I suppose leaving it sealed. But as others have said, when, how long, and which rare buyer is the key. Anyway, no way will you be able to resist beyond a week or two unsealing it as it is...

[T25UFO]

You bought a plain vanilla M11 with New York scratched on the top plate.  Probably the most stupid idea from Leica’s marketing department to commemorate the most important milestone in photographic history.

Three options:

1) Use it but put masking tape on the top plate to cover up the embarrassment.

2) Put it on eBay now and cut your losses by taking the best offer.

3) Take it back to Leica on Thursday and plead with them to swap it for the M11-P Safari.

 

[DadDadDaddyo]

Seems to me kind of a Nigel Tufnel problem...

Remember? The guitar that had never been played?

[Stephen.s1]

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Buy land.  They don't make it anymore.

 

 

[jakontil]

4 hours ago, Han.sen said:

„M11 BP does not beat anything as it is not a SE“ - well, I wouldn’t be to sure - know one knows how large the batch was when Leica made it last year. As we all know it’s not an ongoing manufacturing process at Leica. They use so called „Losfertigung“, which means the production is somehow limited until the next batch is being planned. So, if demand is low, fewer batches will be produced. Maybe 4000 instead of 2000 M10R BP (if so) at the end? Who knows…

 

 

4000 is considered plentiful in the world of leica.. even 2000 alone isnt considered limited but rather a special edition

[dkmoore]

On 5/4/2025 at 2:10 PM, Overgaard said:

It's a beautiful camera to behold, it has a few discrete details you will appreciate. 

"The number 32 holds significance in numerology and other fields, often associated with creativity, spontaneity, and a positive outlook on life." 

 

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The discreet detail you mention has nothing to do with the camera. Just an fyi.  
 

I fine this version a bit ho hum. Give us special Hermes leathers, a one of a kind thumb grip with Hermes leather. I don’t know. Something.  
 

this camera will sell on the used market for the same as a M11P in 2 years. 
 

To the OP, use it and enjoy it. 

[dkmoore]

2 hours ago, T25UFO said:

You bought a plain vanilla M11 with New York scratched on the top plate.  Probably the most stupid idea from Leica’s marketing department to commemorate the most important milestone in photographic history.

Three options:

1) Use it but put masking tape on the top plate to cover up the embarrassment.

2) Put it on eBay now and cut your losses by taking the best offer.

3) Take it back to Leica on Thursday and plead with them to swap it for the M11-P Safari.

 

Nailed it. I was much nicer. 🤣

Edited May 5 by dkmoore

[DadDadDaddyo]

I'm feeling it's likely time to watch This is Spinal Tap once more. 

It's that kind of day and age....

[Kiwimac]

12 hours ago, Elliot Harper said:

Not meant to muddy the water, but in the investment world which I have been for more than 2 decades, liquidity is the king.

How much time do you think you need to sell an 50-year old camera for over $50,000? And how deep the bid/ask book is? You can ask for $50K and the next highest bid might be $20K, that's how illiquid assets are doing in the market. 

I was reminded by this of an episode of Red Dot Forum where Josh produced a - entirely my opinion - hideous but rare Leica called the Grip. The camera was covered in the rubber they put on Ping pong bats. In red. 🤢

 

 Each to his own however - they put it live for sale in the middle of YT and iirc it had sold by the time they finished the stream! They didn’t say what the price was but several tens of thousands I’m sure. 

[Crem]

23 hours ago, IkarusJohn said:

Film

In 25 years I think there is a chance 35mm film will still exist. The same can’t be said for M11 batteries and circuit boards. I suspect this will hold back the long term collectibility of anything electronic. 

[eleven24]

16 hours ago, T25UFO said:

You bought a plain vanilla M11 with New York scratched on the top plate.  Probably the most stupid idea from Leica’s marketing department to commemorate the most important milestone in photographic history.

Three options:

1) Use it but put masking tape on the top plate to cover up the embarrassment.

2) Put it on eBay now and cut your losses by taking the best offer.

3) Take it back to Leica on Thursday and plead with them to swap it for the M11-P Safari.

 

Personally, I find any iteration of a Leica dressed in "Safari" to be an embarrassment. 

To each his own. 

[T25UFO]

11 minutes ago, eleven24 said:

Personally, I find any iteration of a Leica dressed in "Safari" to be an embarrassment. 

To each his own. 

Yes, I agree, never liked the Safari but there are many here that do and previous iterations seem to hold their value better.  Holding (or appreciating) value seemed to be important to you, which is why I commented.

This 100 year edition was a huge marketing own goal.  Use up old stock for a product that’s been discontinued and try to dress it up as a “city special edition”.

You would think the Milan edition would at least be inscribed with the correct spelling - Milano - but they couldn’t even get that right 🙁.  And don’t get me started on Steif teddy bears and expensive pencils.

But much better things are coming this year, and I don’t mean Safari or M11-V.  As others have commented here, if you’re looking for a camera as an investment then it has to be analog.  I suggest you start saving now because the 100 year milestone surely cannot pass without something truly spectacular coming along before the year end.

[WvE]

Never really understood the SE hype, especially not with digital M's. I would have expected something more spectacular for Leica's centennial. Let's hope we'll see more exciting stuff. 

Edited May 6 by WvE

[tiendamquang]

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[eleven24]

3 hours ago, T25UFO said:

But much better things are coming this year, and I don’t mean Safari or M11-V.  As others have commented here, if you’re looking for a camera as an investment then it has to be analog.  I suggest you start saving now because the 100 year milestone surely cannot pass without something truly spectacular coming along before the year end.

Even when driving to the NYC event and talking about the unlikely what-if I had an opportunity to buy one, I was speculating on the notion that collectors would be there looking for a shelf trophy to perhaps go along with the other 100th editions.  The surprise when I found out they had one, coupled with the excitement of the event itself, the idea that this was a limited edition 100th year anniversary M11, AND... to anyone who has ever walked into a Leica store, the knee buckling feeling of holding the demo model in your hands was enough to convince my irrational decision making process that yes, yes indeed I should get this one. After all, it will be a collectors item!

I was shocked that I left it unsealed in the box for the rest of my time at the NYC event. Utterly amazed that it stayed that way until late Monday night. 

Pfft. My wife says I have no will power! Ha! 

For now though, I'll just list my M11 on FredMiranda (but hey, PM me here if anyone is interested) 

 

Edited May 6 by eleven24

[Paul-home]

I bought one of the Dubai cameras and I am using it as my almost main camera. I really like slightly different design, especially the dials. It would be a shame not to use such a beautifully crafted tool.

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[colonel]

On 5/4/2025 at 4:16 PM, eleven24 said:

Driving to NYC yesterday with my wife for the Leica 100th celebration, we were talking about the special edition New York USA edition M11. We were both saying that if one was available we should get one and keep it unopened as an investment. Didn't really think much of it because I was certain there'd be no availablity anyway, given the nature of collectors. To my surprise, one was available - so I bought it.

Having never bought a camera to do anything with but use it, this is foreign to me -- holding a new unboxed Leica only to put it on a shelf and wait. This is where the dilemma is. I stepped into a world (Leica collectors) that I know nothing about because a 1 in 100 version of a 100th edition Leica M was unexpectedly on the counter in front of me. The photographer in me wants to use it and appreciate it, and sell my current M11 as I've never been one to have a camera that sits unused. But... what if this becomes a legit collectors item? 

Would appreciate the insight of anyone who might be a collector here, or at least have a better perspective than I do on the collectors market. 

I wouldn't count on it appreciating. Even in 20 years.

Better to buy shares in the trough ....