albertwang Posted June 30, 2006 Share #1 Posted June 30, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just noted that Stephen Gandy is unable to sell the Zeiss ZM/ZF lenses as an attempt by Zeiss to clamp down on grey market products. Very depressing as Gandy has been awesome to teach people that these fine things exist. I wonder to what extent Leica and gray market stuff get along. I really don't know much about the Hong Kong stuff to be honest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Hi albertwang, Take a look here Zeiss/Leica and grey market.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MP3 Posted June 30, 2006 Share #2 Posted June 30, 2006 I found it interesting there is a recent price decline for new M lenses from trusted authorized Leica dealers in Hong Kong. At least, that happens for a number of models, examples are, 75/2 AA Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 3,495 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,730 35/2 Asph Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 2,095 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,600 And these are not grey market items... Matthew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted June 30, 2006 Share #3 Posted June 30, 2006 You Adorama price for the 75/2 is wrong - it's showing as $2695, the price you have is for the 1.4. Even so, there are useful savings to be made, though depending on where you are, shipping and import duty and sales tax narrow the difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
supperman Posted June 30, 2006 Share #4 Posted June 30, 2006 I found it interesting there is a recent price decline for new M lenses from trusted authorized Leica dealers in Hong Kong. At least, that happens for a number of models, examples are, 75/2 AA Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 3,495 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,730 35/2 Asph Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 2,095 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,600 And these are not grey market items... Matthew They may not be grey market to you, but they are for people not in Hong Kong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted June 30, 2006 Share #5 Posted June 30, 2006 “75/2 AA Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 3,495 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,730” If the actual selling price is this high ($3495), I don’t see how this differential can continue to exist. What possible rational (realistic, not something a marketing person dreams up, like a warranty or whatever) can justify this differential? I encountered a similar situation with a piano recently. The price in the UK is $104,000. In the US it is $180,000. Guess where people are now going to buy their pianos? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertwang Posted June 30, 2006 Author Share #6 Posted June 30, 2006 Perhaps photovillage will be a good outlet for Zeiss stuff now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted June 30, 2006 Share #7 Posted June 30, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Since I put my name on my favorite dealers list for the M8 on Wednesday, I need to start accumulating a few M lenses. I'm also highly in favor of saving a few dollars. Any favorite Hong Kong dealers out there that someone can recommend? Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted June 30, 2006 Share #8 Posted June 30, 2006 HK Supplies has a good rep. Via eBay is painless and very quick. - Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted June 30, 2006 Share #9 Posted June 30, 2006 I've spent a lot of money at HK Supplies. They may not be the absolute cheapest but they are reliable and recommended. Keep in mind they will not yet have coded lenses so if that's important to you, you will need to have them upgraded. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted June 30, 2006 Share #10 Posted June 30, 2006 “75/2 AA CronAdorama price on internet - USD 3,495 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,730” If the actual selling price is this high ($3495), I don’t see how this differential can continue to exist. What possible rational (realistic, not something a marketing person dreams up, like a warranty or whatever) can justify this differential? I encountered a similar situation with a piano recently. The price in the UK is $104,000. In the US it is $180,000. Guess where people are now going to buy their pianos? As I said in my post above, this is the Adorama price for a f1.4. The f2 is about $2700, still more expensive but that's the price to keep Leica NJ and your dealer in business and Leica "reps" on the road. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP3 Posted June 30, 2006 Share #11 Posted June 30, 2006 Woo, a bunch of replies already in early morning. Yes, Mark, thanks for correcting, I was already fainting to sleep when typing that thread 75/2 AA Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 2,695 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,730 35/2 Asph Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 2,095 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 1,600 28/2 Asph Cron Adorama price on internet - USD 2,995 Street price from HK official dealer - USD 2,100 The street price I quoted are from official HK dealers, like Tin Cheung which should be the HKsupplies on the net. They are quite a reputable and reliable shop. I'm seriously considering the ZM21 and 35/1.4 Asph for our much anticipating M8. BTW, Bill, is that a Steinway? Max, it will take one more shippment (whereever > HK > Solms) when you seriously need a fix but it may worth for the initial savings. Cheers Matthew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billh Posted July 1, 2006 Share #12 Posted July 1, 2006 "BTW, Bill, is that a Steinway?" Nope, it is Steingraeber. People do seem to prefer the Hamburg Steinways to the NY Steinways, but this is a very different piano. If you are interested in pianos, you should check this web site. Richard Dain created a version of both the Bosendorfer Imperial and the Steingraeber concert grand he calls the Phoenix. It greatly increases the power, sustain, and clarity. I have CD with five pianos on it (not in this order), a Hamburg Steinway Concert grand, a Stuart (about 12 per year made in Australia) concert grand, A Bosendorfer Imperial Phoenix concert grand, a Steingraeber 272 Phoenix concert grand, and the smaller 7 foot (205 CM) Steingraeber 205. The tracks are about 2 minutes long, the intro to Schumann’s Humoresque. I will be glad to send a copy of the CD with the track IDs sealed in an envelope, so after you hear and rate them, you can see which is which. http://www.hurstwoodfarmpianos.co.uk/ 75 Summicron, http://homepage.mac.com/billh96007/.Pictures/Piano/33-(RGB-scan),psColor2,glos.jpg 180 Summicron, http://homepage.mac.com/billh96007/.Pictures/Piano/Shaun,8698.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted July 1, 2006 Share #13 Posted July 1, 2006 Bear in mind that U.S. prices include a 3-year Passport warranty - even if one drops the lens or camera and breaks it, or drowns it in water, it's still covered for repair or replacement so long as one can send Leica US pieces with the serial number readable. Gray market imports are not covered by the U.S. warranty, although I think they are covered by a 1-year international warranty. But any warranty servicing must be done through the original country (Hong Kong or wherever) or through Solms. Up to the individual (in the US) to decide if the price difference is worth the risk. The same goes for most cameras - you can (or could) buy gray-market Nikon and Canon and so on even through New York stores....but try and get Nikon or Canon USA to fix it if it breaks! I've had one Passport repair in my life - burn hole in an M6ttl shutter. Having a USA warranty saved me probably $500 or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP3 Posted July 1, 2006 Share #14 Posted July 1, 2006 Bill, thanks for your great intro. Though I'm not a specialist in the area, I can appreciate the qualities of these grand gems. I like the 75 Cron shot on the Steingraeber, great mood, can serve as an adv shot for the brand. Andy, just curious, how did burn the shutter hole? Long exposure at shot lights? ... just to know and avoid. Best Matthew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted July 1, 2006 Share #15 Posted July 1, 2006 Hi Check Jacobs Digital in UK http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/content.php?categoryId=768 35mm f2 summicron is £1027 (about $1700) but is much easier to get to from USA than HK Hope that helps ... Digital back for R is only £2550 from Classic Leica shop, so there are deals to be had Ravi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 1, 2006 Share #16 Posted July 1, 2006 Jacobs Digital prices look good for UK buyers - if you buy from HK, by the time you've paid to get it in your hands, the price is about the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted July 1, 2006 Share #17 Posted July 1, 2006 Hi Mark, Sorry I should have said - these prices are without taxes, which non EU people can claim back at the airport, so are not so good for UK people. But as you imply - this is a global age and we can really shop for the best price: I bought my camera from Switzerland with a very good price from the dealer; my Metz flashgun was cheaper in USA as was my monopod, my light meter is from Germany, my lenses are from UK ... and with the money I saved - my wife spent on expensive shoes that hurt her feet and designer clothes which cost more for less material ... why do I bother? Ciao Ravi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 1, 2006 Share #18 Posted July 1, 2006 I took a look at their other non-Leica prices and they are nothing out of the ordinary. But their Leica prices certainly are and, for example, the prices are £300 - £400 less than The Classic Camera. As an example, their price for the Elmarit 21mm: £1513 (€2178, $2780). Compared to that, The Classic Camera want £1979 (€2849, $3641). Leica List (in Germany): £2083 (€3000, $3833). By comparison, B&H in NYC want $3395 + tax. Hong Kong Supplies want $2320 + the cost of importing it. Their price for a 50mm f1.4 ASPH looks especially good. Which mainly goes to show that the most expensive place to buy a Leica lens is about 100 feet from where they are made - at the factory shop in Solms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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