Film body value, post-M8?

[matt fury]

I know it would be pure speculation at this point, but I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks the value of film M bodies will be like once the M8 comes out. My guess is that there will be a large amount of M6s and 7s hitting the market as people try to raise money to buy M8s. What do you guys think?

 

[Sparrow]

Their value will remain the same. It’s the purchase price that will change.

 

[Fred]

I appreciate your thougts Matt, an interreting point. All speculation though.

For me I'll be keeping my camera, so the residual value post M8 is not an issue. I guess that a lot of M owners will feel the same. The market is driven by supply and demand so if the hordes of M owners sell the film bodies then the market value will initially fall with bargains a plenty fot the buyer.

Will I get an digital M? Well I have a lot and I really mean a lot of saving to do first. Will I sell my M? Not a chance in my universe unless times get really hard. In which case the digital M becomes a mute point.

 

[sgy1962]

You'll see an influx of used Ms, especially M7s, as some people sell their analog camera or a portion of their film equipment to fund their plunge into the digital world. You may also see a bunch of used 35mm lenses come on the market because of the 1.33 crop factor on the digital M. Used 28mm lenses may be quickly gobbled up.

I do expect, however, a high percentage of those M users who go for the M8 to also retain a film M, at least initially, but maybe always.

I believe the M8 will be a good seller, but their will be a whole bunch of M users who will continue to use film and don't want to go digital. All those MP and M6 and earlier users who appreciate the mechanical nature of the M may continue to use their M as long as film and film processing is available, which will probably still be a very long time.

One of the reasons I got into Leica rangefinders 15 years ago was because of their simplicity and mechanical and durable nature. Some day I may go digital, but it won't be next year. And I believe their are a lot of folks who view the situation like I do.

 

[sgy1962]

I also anticipate the M8 really hurting new M7 or MP sales.

 

[Paulbe]

I think the price of M3s, mint condition, with serial numbers starting at 116, will fall to zero. Please sell me yours now for $75.00---🙂
Paul

 

[Nick R.]

Their value will remain the same. It’s the purchase price that will change.

That's a good one, Stewart 🙂

 

[ampguy]

I think they'll be worthless

I think they'll be worthless

btw, anyone have an M4 or M5 for sale?? 😀

I know it would be pure speculation at this point, but I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks the value of film M bodies will be like once the M8 comes out. My guess is that there will be a large amount of M6s and 7s hitting the market as people try to raise money to buy M8s. What do you guys think?

 

[humanized_form]

i am selling my Panasonic LC-1 digicam and maybe some other stuff to help finance a M8. however i would never sell my M7 to finance a digital camera. i think the analog and digital M's will be a great combo.

even when i get an M8 i still plan to shoot slide film as long as i can get it processed same day. i feel lucky that there are still a few places in DC that do three hour turnaround.

 

[Avotius]

I hope a lot of people start selling off their m7's, make it a lot easier for me to get my hands on a good 58 one I hope.

 

[Nick R.]

I don't know about the film bodies but I'd be real hesitant about buying a Digilux 2 right now. That''s where I think you'll see a price drop.

 

[Gid]

I've noticed a general increase in the number of Ms up for sale recently and also other film bodies. It may be that those who are thinking of going down the digital M route are already shifting stuff before any price impact actually hits. Personally I'll be keeping my film stuff - I've already been down the digital route (and still am) and I like film more (but not the hybrid workflow) - there's just something special about it.

 

[ghost]

i wouldn't be surprised if film body prices went down. it happened to every other camera marque.

 

[spysmart]

Personally I'll be keeping my film stuff - I've already been down the digital route (and still am) and I like film more (but not the hybrid workflow) - there's just something special about it.

I totally agree ... hours spent scanning and retouching is not at all enjoyable time.

While darkroom time is very therapeutic and rewarding.

Long term M8/MD for color and M6 for B&W.
The money I don't spend on a 50 1.4ASPH and a second M6 body will eventually contribute to a M8 on which I can use my existing 35 1.4ASPH as a standard lens.

I was up at ffordes a few months ago - their shelves are bowed under the weight of unwanted M2s, M3s and Hasselblads ( all at all time low prices). But classic M6s are in short supply, so should hold their prices over time.

 

[sf]

Sparrow is a genius.

Price will decrease, value will remain the same!

 

[Ben Z]

I think a lot depends on how quickly Leica can meet the demand for the M8 and what the initial reports are regarding its features and performance, such as noise issues at and above ISO 400 and vignetting. If Leica can only trickle out M8 bodies for the first year, that will slow the dumping of film bodies and keep the supply and prices even. Likewise if reports are that people are unhappy with the image quality for b&w in low light, many people may opt to keep at least one film body. And I think that if as I predict, Leica discontinues production of the M7 within 6 months to a year after the launch of the M8, its used prices will stabilize. Likewise, even if Leica keeps the MP in production for another few years, due to its exceedingly high and ever-increasing price, the prices of used mechanical Leicas will also remain fairly level. When you'll see a real drop in film Leica bodies is when there is a good supply of used and demo M8 bodies in the $2500-3000 range.

 

[John]

When you'll see a real drop in film Leica bodies is when there is a good supply of used and demo M8 bodies in the $2500-3000 range.

Now you're talking, an M8 for $2500! 😀

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'll give you $100 and two toasters for your valueless film Leicas. OK, three toasters (and I mean the plain bread kind).

 

[edodo]

I think that the film M bodies will continue to devaluate a bit faster than before (five years ago
a M3 or M2 would have gone for a thousand bux, now you can have one for 500 bux). The introduction of M8 will cause film based leitz M body to be ignored for their digital counterpart. And maybe one day I'll have that black enamel M3 I want so bad!

 

[anselwannab]

Did the RD-1 hurt Leica prices, or even Bessa prices, or keep Zeiss from bringin out the IKON? I know it isn't an apples to apples comparo, but I don't see people dumping their M5-M7s for the M*, unless they are seriuosly strapped for cash.

I think the bigger issues is, can Leica get new people into the RF world with this camera. If we just get incestuous marriages of film RFs for dRFs, that really doesn't grow the market. At $5000 (?) for the M8, I don't see people switching from dSLRs.

For the long term viability of dRF and RF in general, I think you have to make a better value proposition than the M8. We need a sub $2000 dRF, even if it is a generation behind in sensor technology. If a dRF can offer the compactness of an EVF with the image quality of a dSLR with out much of a price premium, that is the sweet spot.

Mark