Are Camera/Lens Prices Dropping?

[chris00nj]

Do you think the "economic downturn" is starting to affected the RF used market? I've seen some lower prices for items in quite reasonable condition, like:

1. Leica IIIb and Summar lens for $207
2. A Canon 50/1.4 for $188
3. A Canon 50/1.2 for $202
4. Summaron M 35 with goggles for $150

There seem to still be some strong sales, and they are far from Canon FD prices, but perhaps off 15%?

What have others seen?

 

[Micky D]

I think that RF prices are still holding up better than SLR gear.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I'm seeing a lot more stuff at good prices going unsold on eBay.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Seems like stuff in the classifieds is taking longer to sell too (if it sells at all). Definitely seems to be a buyer's market.

 

[dazedgonebye]

It's a great time to buy. Shame I have to sell to raise funds before buying.

 

[Jonas]

I think prices has to go down cause the dollar has strengthen itself toward many of the worlds currencies. Thats means that Europeans etc cant use the same amount on a ebay item and that prices will go down in dollars. I can sell a item for 800$ and still get the same amount in my currency that I would get for a 1000$ item 6 months ago. Just my two pesos.

 

[Yammerman]

The exchange rate has ruined America for me at the moment that and the increased effciency of UK customs.

 

[FallisPhoto]

What have others seen?

Just bought a Retina IIa for $12.

 

[aizan]

prices are definitely down.

 

[chris00nj]

I think prices has to go down cause the dollar has strengthen itself toward many of the worlds currencies. Thats means that Europeans etc cant use the same amount on a ebay item and that prices will go down in dollars.....

That's a good observation. Especialy the pound sterling.. it's is off a whole lot.

 

[Olsen]

I think that the 2.hand market started to drop months ago. It was this strange frantic activity on the 2.hand market this last summer. Like practically new 1Ds III being sold off with 30% discount. - There were other signs even earlier that some tried to exchange gear for money = short term liquidity.

Now it seems to have calmed. Now it is only the dull stuff being offered. Nor do I believe that the gear offered are really being sold to the offered prices. Nor seems sellers to be in panic any more.

A lot of things have happened in the last 3 -4 months. Fuel prices has dropped. So has interest rates, reducing monthly mortgage payments for many. The dollar has increased and food prices have stabilized. What is the worry now is to keep your job. 16 million employees are being sacked world wide. That in it self will create an economical crisis.

It could well be that yet another wave of unemployed panic sellers will enter the market a few months down ahead.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Simple supply and demand. A lot more people are trying to sell things to get funds. The more there are things available for sale, the less people will expect to buy them, in this sort of gear market, at least.

 

[tbarker13]

I have definitely noticed a difference. Among other things, overseas buyers have really backed off. I guess that's the exchange rate playing its part.
But I've also been watching a lot of sales for a few different types of lense (35 pre-asph summilux, for example) and they seem to be selling at a significant discount compared with prices just six months ago.
We have definitely entered a buyer's market.

 

[Meleica]

higher-end, used Leica lens prices have been hit pretty badly recently....Noctilux's are back in the 3-4K range, down from the absurd 4-5K range they were trading as little as 6 months ago....

Dan

 

[Keith]

used Leica lens prices have been hit pretty badly recently....Noctilux's are back in the 3-4K range, down from the absurd 4-5K range they were trading as little as 6 months ago....

Dan

I think it's affecting certain cameras and lenses and not others ... I just advertised my IIIG in the classifieds based on the estimate on your site and it sold within twenty four hours and I basically recouped what it cost me a year or two ago.

I think the really good stuff will still fetch it's price but the more mainstream gear has dropped a little. Lots of M6's around now for less than $1000.00 and even MP's suddenly seem reachable!

I see the Noctilux as a high end mainstream article that had a stupid surge based on 'whatever' and has now come back to what it's really worth.

 

[LeicaTom]

I think the LTM market has taken a bad "hit" with the economy now, but the RARE stuff, just isn`t on the market anymore.

Many items I see now being sold are people`s "second rate" stuff, user grades and damaged equipment, less then minty lenses are all over the market now.

I alot of folks I know who deal in rarer Leica stuff are holding onto what they have and are`nt even offering things for sale, due to a poor chance of selling items for what they think the items are really worth.

I`d be very hard pressed to find all the gear I now use now, it just is`nt being offered now......

It`s a BUYERS market now if you CAN FIND the cooler rare items that are fun to shoot with..... 😉

Tom

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I think it has finally sunk in here in the US, with the government talking about trillions of dollars and years before things might turn around, that we all will eventually be harmed by the economic mess. As much as we love gear, lots of people that would buy gear to play with and then resale appear to be buying fewer cameras and lenses for fear of losing money or not being able to sell them.

As Tom said, though, for the time being, it's a buyers market!

 

[dee]

Will someone tell the guys in ex-USSR - early Kiev prices have not dropped at all .

 

[Rico]

I know my DSLRs are plummeting in value. Oh, wait - they always do that. 🙂 Leica M is mixed: M6 titaniums cheaper, 35 'crons holding, lens hoods holding or gaining. In general, a buyer's market or, as the Donald might say, cash is king.

 

[FallisPhoto]

I think they are fluctuating wildly. On Ebay, they were way down at the time of the original post, but now I think they are up -- some to more than they used to be.