Selling R equipment

[dryee]

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I have been a M and R Leica user for many years.  I am considering with some reluctance selling some of my R bodies and R lenses.  Any advice from those who have been through this process?  Any recommendations on what are good trustworthy forums to sell my items?   Are there certain lenses or bodies that I should keep for my grandchildren?  Thanks for your thoughts.

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[zeitz]

Where are you located?

[GFW2-SCUSA]

This forum has a classified section which might be a good place to start. 

[ellisson]

A few questions, dryee.  1.   Why are you selling your gear - no specific judgement here, just curiosity about why you are selling it.  Example: not using it?  Too much of it, just cluttering up your home and collecting dust?   Need the money for other more modern gear or another brand?   2.   Why assume that your grandchildren would be interested in old camera gear versus newer gear or another hobby or interest altogether?    They'll have their own lives and would possibly just sell off anything they have no interest in.   

Regarding places to sell it:  Right here in the Leica Forum classifieds is one.  Rangefinder forum, eBay, Fred Miranda, Etsy, Amazon, Popflash photo, KEH (least hassle of all, albeit lower money for your gear ofttimes), your local camera shop, and others.  You have to balance the hassle factor (e.g., possible returns, shipping cost, domestic vs international), seller's fees and commissions from venues like eBay (but huge market of buyers), Popflash photo local camera shop.   And you're asking prices for the gear:  Some want the most possible return - even more than they paid for some of it.  Others factor in the years of use and joy they got out of their gear, age, and imperfections, and then sell it at deep discounts to move on from it.   Still others research what similar items sold for e.g., on eBay, and use that as their starting price, adjusting as needed for a quick sale.  

Edited May 29 by ellisson
typos

[otto.f]

I said farewell to my R bodies, my last one was an R7, which turned out more reliable than the notorious R6 or 2. There are a handful of R lenses though which I would not get rid of in the longer than near future. I only have M bodies now and I use the R lenses on my M10-R with pleasure and fulfillment. I did not like the SL's weight and the SL lenses are too clinical for me, grosso modo. 

For me the list of R lenses which are unique and which I would not sell if I owned them is as follows:

Elmarit 19mm

The last Summilux 50mm, with 60mm filtersize

Elmarit 60mm macro

APO Macro Elmarit 100mm

APO Telyt 180/3.4

APO Elmarit 180mm 

APO Telyt 280/4.0

At the moment I own the last two only and I urgently like to have the 19mm. When I bought the APO 35 - M, I did not need the Elmarit 60 anymore for the type of macro I do. Because of it's very good price/quality balance I might buy the 180/3.4 once for its weight, size and special character.

 

 

 

[250swb]

Consider selling to a large company such as MPB, if not then eBay. Camera forums are a tiny audience and everybody wants a bargain whereas there is the possibility of two people trying to outbid each other on eBay. If it doesn't sell just relist it.  As for which lenses to keep, all of them, plus a camera to put them on, and don't forget to buy some film.