Leica 2012 lens Prices Increases

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, Leica is for people with some spare cash, but if we don't spend on what society tells us "everyone buys", then it's surprising how quickly those in decent employment can save up some money.

Another vote for this point of view.

I don't know what cigarettes cost in the UK, but I believe it's around GBP 4 a packet. At GBP 5000 for an M9 that's 1250 days at only 20 a day. About three and a half years. It's quite easy to spend the price of an M9 on a fitted kitchen. And so forth.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

I'm in complete agreement with you Keith, Just a bit of gentle morning banter over my tea and cornflakes as I know what a good sport you are 😉

Buying Leica new is just not an option for me. I couldn't justify it. If a used "bargain" and I use that word relatively, comes along I may bite but I'd have to come into a lottery win or something to consider a new M9/10 body and a couple of lenses too. As I don't play the lottery, I can't see it happening too soon 😀
Hmm, Just off to the shop to get a ticket 🙂

I sometimes seriously wonder if I was rolling in money would I buy this sort of gear. I may have when I was younger but not so much now. I do have some nice camera equipment that I've made scarifices in other areas to own but the gear that gives me the most pleasure out of it all is the OM stuff ... which costs peanuts really!

I guess if you're earning great money in a high pressure job these sorts of prices (Leica) are the reward you give yourself for your efforts ... fair enough too I guess!

 

[Keith]

Another vote for this point of view.

I don't know what cigarettes cost in the UK, but I believe it's around GBP 4 a packet. At GBP 5000 for an M9 that's 1250 days at only 20 a day. About three and a half years. It's quite easy to spend the price of an M9 on a fitted kitchen. And so forth.

Cheers,

R.

But this isn't addressing the fact that the stuff is horrendously expensive ... that can't be denied surely.

Some people eat caviar and truffles on a regular basis too I guess ... good luck to them. But even the most foolhardy gormet isn't going to tell us they do it because it's actually quite good value because it just tastes so damned good!

 

[menthel]

Another vote for this point of view.

I don't know what cigarettes cost in the UK, but I believe it's around GBP 4 a packet. At GBP 5000 for an M9 that's 1250 days at only 20 a day. About three and a half years. It's quite easy to spend the price of an M9 on a fitted kitchen. And so forth.

Cheers,

R.

A pack of 20 sets you back close to 7 quid nowdays!

 

[Roger Hicks]

But this isn't addressing the fact that the stuff is horrendously expensive ... that can't be denied surely.

Some people eat caviar and truffles on a regular basis too I guess ... good luck to them. But even the most foolhardy gormet isn't going to tell us they do it because it's actually quite good value because it just tastes so damned good!

Well, there'd be no other reason to do it, so what other reason could they give? I'd switch from Spanish Cava to vintage Bollinger in a flash, if I could afford it. And I love caviar, though the only concession I can afford towards luxury in that direction is eating trout or salmon eggs instead of lumpfish roe.

@Menthel. Good grief! So it's an M9 in two years at twenty a day! I'm very glad I was so easily bribed as a boy. When I was 13, my father said, "If you don't smoke by the time you're 21, I'll give you a hundred pounds." I didn't, and he did.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JianL]

I guess Leica are only doing what companies like Chanel and Louis Vuitton do. Luxury goods aren't meant for the ordinary man on the street. 🙄

Makes me laugh when people still refer to Leica's as 'tools'.

 

[DamenS]

Makes me laugh when people still refer to Leica's as 'tools'.

Depends on what they mean by "tools" ! 🙂

 

[Roger Hicks]

I guess Leica are only doing what companies like Chanel and Louis Vuitton do. Luxury goods aren't meant for the ordinary man on the street. 🙄

Makes me laugh when people still refer to Leica's as 'tools'.

Um... They can be.

I mean, a solid gold hammer is still a hammer, and would be very nearly as good as a copper hammer for fitting and removing the lugs on wire wheels.

There's no way I could afford an M9 if it weren't a tool of my trade, and chargeable against tax.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JianL]

Um... They can be.

I mean, a solid gold hammer is still a hammer, and would be very nearly as good as a copper hammer for fitting and removing the lugs on wire wheels.

There's no way I could afford an M9 if it weren't a tool of my trade, and chargeable against tax.

Cheers,

R.

I don't find it as funny when a pro says it!

 

[Moriturii]

Summicron-M 50mm f2 - $2500?

I feel the prices of M-Hexanon 50mm going up a few hundred bucks soon, better stock up on a few more.

 

[sig]

But this isn't addressing the fact that the stuff is horrendously expensive ... that can't be denied surely.

I think you hit the nail on it's head with Rogers expensive hammer 😀

 

[ricnak]

Quote:
Originally Posted by thegman
Yes, Leica is for people with some spare cash, but if we don't spend on what society tells us "everyone buys", then it's surprising how quickly those in decent employment can save up some money.

My sentiments exactly.

mine too.......

 

[steveyork]

I've been thinking of selling out of my Leica M stuff, because prices have gone up so much. I can get just as much enjoyment from another system, and I only shoot B&W film. Those great optics are a bit wasted on me anyway.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've been thinking of selling out of my Leica M stuff, because prices have gone up so much. I can get just as much enjoyment from another system, and I only shoot B&W film. Those great optics are a bit wasted on me anyway.

An intriguing observation. Please don't take this as an attack, because I'm genuinely curious. If you could get as much enjoyment out of another system, why did you buy the Leica gear in the first place? And what other system had you in mind?

FWIW, I think I'd probably back my old Pentax SV for a really enjoyable (tactile/ergonomic) and absurdly inexpensive system, but lens quality is very variable and ageing shutters run slow.

Cheers,

R.

 

[outfitter]

I don't think this is going to cost Leica volume at all.

It seems that Leica is very popular with the nouveau-riche of China. That's a lot of people willing to drop obscene amounts of money for a Western heritage brand.

If that is now Leica's business model they are doomed to extinction. The move to assets by wealthy Chinese makes sense because the Chinese government rips off savers - ergo the real estate bubble. This bubble, the economic crisis in the West and rising inflation does not bode well for the Chinese economy over the next few years. Remember when the Japanese were buying up everything and were going to take over the world?

Anyhow, as someone already said, "who cares?"

 

[dandp]

Sure, the Leica stuff seems horrificly expensive....but try putting together a kit for shooting professional sports. Say a Nikon D3s (and backup body), Nikkor 400/2.8 or 600/4 and maybe a 200/2 & 85/1.4 for indoor work. For the average hobbyist it's just as insane as an M9 with 2 lenses. Reminds me of medium format shooters I knew that used Mamiya RZ & RB systems that sniffed at anything that said "Hasselblad" on it....

 

[Roger Hicks]

If that is now Leica's business model they are doomed to extinction. The move to assets by wealthy Chinese makes sense because the Chinese government rips off savers - ergo the real estate bubble. This bubble, the economic crisis in the West and rising inflation does not bode well for the Chinese economy over the next few years. Remember when the Japanese were buying up everything and were going to take over the world?

Anyhow, as someone already said, "who cares?"

Not really. As long as there are rich people anywhere in the world who want to buy Leicas, Leica is in business. That it's the Middle Kingdom buying Leicas at the moment is substantially irrelevant.

Who cares? Well, anyone who wants Leica to stay in business.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jsrockit]

The reality is that Leica lenses are selling for way more than this on the spot market. There is much more demand than supply.

Exactly right... why wouldn't they raise their prices when people are willing to pay them?

That said, I have to get away from relying on Leica. I just cannot (or maybe do not want to) afford them in the digital world. The M9 was a real stretch for me and I cannot bring myself to do it again...especially when the M10 will most likely be $10,000. Here's to hoping Leica's new APS-C "mid-level" camera is at a sensible price and / or the new Fuji satisfies me. Of course, I'll keep using the M9 for a long time as well.

 

[jsrockit]

I can get just as much enjoyment from another system, and I only shoot B&W film. Those great optics are a bit wasted on me anyway.

If this is true, I say go for it. The problem is that once you go Leica and enjoy it, it is hard to find complete satisfaction anywhere else.

 

[hipsterdufus]

I just don't understand why people who can't afford 2011 Leica lens prices even care. I couldn't afford a $10495 Noctilux and I can't afford a $10995 Noctilux. BFD.