Good deal on M9 with a Summilux - keep or sell?

[aeturnum]

I'm thinking of buying a M9 and 50mm Summilux Version 2 for $4800. This seems like a very good deal to me (M9's seem to be going for $4000, Summilux's for $1600-1900 when purchased separately).

I mostly shoot film and have been looking for a 50mm M / ltm lens to replace my Jupiter-3. That's what prompted my interest in the combo in the first place. However, when I shoot digital, I generally shoot at high ISOs (3200, 6400). The M9 isn't exactly renowned for its high-ISO performance. I'd like the option of selling it quickly if possible.

Has anyone else tried selling a body-only m9 recently? Is there still a market? Is this a worse deal than I think it is? The seller is a professional photographer, so I suspect the gear is in good shape (he reports ~8.5k shutters).

 

[noimmunity]

I'd like the option of selling it quickly if possible.

You may have to price it well below $4000 to get it to sell quickly. If it sells for $3400, how will you feel?

 

[umcelinho]

if you announce it for less than $4000 it should sell quickly.

 

[hepcat]

I mostly shoot film and have been looking for a 50mm M / ltm lens to replace my Jupiter-3. That's what prompted my interest in the combo in the first place. However, when I shoot digital, I generally shoot at high ISOs (3200, 6400). The M9 isn't exactly renowned for its high-ISO performance. I'd like the option of selling it quickly if possible.

I don't think you'll get burned on the M9 as the deal on the Summilux can carry you even if you lose a couple of hundred dollars on the M9. I have to ask though, if you're used to shooting film at normal ISOs, what's the difference shooting digital similarly? iIf you MUST have higher ISOs, the M9 will carry you nicely up to 1250 in most circumstances if you expose properly and shoot raw, and even 2500 can be quite nice if post-processed well. I think you may be quite surprised.

 

[aeturnum]

The M9 would be a great alternative to film, but in the cases where I can shoot film with a decent keeper rate (EV > 5 generally), I'd rather shoot film. On the other hand, for really extreme lighting conditions, (EV -1-3), having a camera with f/1.4 and 3200+ is invaluable (The m9 would cap out around 1/6 at 2500 in an EV of -1). I really like the results in those conditions when I have a camera that can perform - and that's driven most of my digital purchases.

Edit: Thank you to those who put my mind at rest. I may, like many here, fall in love with the M9 and keep it. But I wanted to avoid being "stuck" with a camera that, while excellent, does not fit my expected use cases well.

 

[Boris Stupak]

The price is strongly determined by the condition of the lens and camera. If he lens is really pristine you can get a much higher price. Also, if it has original hood, caps, box, etc.

The same factors for the M9 too. Remaining warranty, condition, box, etc etc. You could get thousands more if the equipment is mint, and MUCH less if it is not. If the lens has poor glass, you could be looking at a dead loss.

Condition, condition, condition.........