Lots of M9s for sale....

[edge100]

The 5Dc prices held relatively well till the 5DIII came out. When the M10 comes out the prices will plummet as people look to move to the M240/262 generation of cameras from the M9 while the M240/262 owners who can afford it dump their cameras to move to the new model and M9 owners who have been holding out for something better than the M240.

I disagree. There will some downward movement on M9 prices, given that some percentage of M9 shooters are holding out for something better than the M240 (which can already be had for a comparative bargain).

But my experience has been that a lot of people shoot the M9 because it's an M9. It doesn't really fit the same economic model as all other digital cameras.

I'd expect a modest price drop, at most.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I've seen M9s around the $2000 mark at the lowest (a friend bought one 3 months ago with a replaced sensor/shutter for $2100). I'm almost willing to bet that they'd hover around that on average once the M10 becomes readily available and not "backordered."

 

[gb hill]

Can you explain this? $400 cheaper than what?

Cheaper than the M9 that was listed in the classified. The topic is about the M9.

 

[aizan]

But my experience has been that a lot of people shoot the M9 because it's an M9. It doesn't really fit the same economic model as all other digital cameras.

I'd expect a modest price drop, at most.

we should start betting on how much it will drop. 🙂

 

[willie_901]

we should start betting on how much it will drop. 🙂

I would... but I can't figure out how to 'short' the M9 market.

So, where are the new customers coming from?

Maybe M9 owners who want a back-up body? The tail end of Leica owners who are interested in using less film?

Younger, new owners are unlikely to be swayed by the 'CCD-sensor-is-special' school of thought. If they have experience with newer, non-Leica digital cameras, they will want the signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range of the M240/M262. That's what they are use to. A new to Leica owner is a niche of a niche. A new to Leica owner who believes the CCD adds value is a niche of a niche of a niche.

Status, luxury oriented buyers will not be interested in M9s... specially if the Asian market is has moved on.

Current M8 users (not necessarily the same as owners with one in the closet) would have switched a long time ago if they weren't in perfectly content with their M8s.

 

[drec]

2100 and cheaper? Wow that's good. I just bought an M9 from someone in the Classifieds for 2300 with brand new sensor and thought I was getting a deal.

 

[user237428934]

What I've seen in the last couple of month is, that the difference between an M9 with old sensor and an M9 with new sensor is about 300-400 EUR. That's what people are obviously willing to pay for the fact that they don't have to send the camera to Wetzlar and wait some weeks.

 

[fireblade]

2100 and cheaper? Wow that's good. I just bought an M9 from someone in the Classifieds for 2300 with brand new sensor and thought I was getting a deal.

....You did.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

So, where are the new customers coming from?
Current M8 users (not necessarily the same as owners with one in the closet) would have switched a long time ago if they weren't in perfectly content with their M8s.

I am far from perfectly content with my M8, which is not in the closet and does get used, and abused (verbally), but the price leap to the current offerings from Leica does not provide the step up I am looking for.
Having shot recently with a D500 and a CFV50c, two very different animals but boy the output, the current sensors from Leica are too far back on the quality curve against cost to attract me. I will look at the M10 of course and that could tempt me but in the right light and especially in monochrome the M8 offers enough.

 

[edge100]

the current sensors from Leica are too far back on the quality curve against cost to attract me.

I can understand that, but I have not found any digital camera of any vintage capable of producing the same objective quality of an ISO 160-400 file from the M9/M9-P/M-E sensor. Above that, things go downhill quickly, but there's no question that, for me, the M9 is one of the best daylight cameras ever made.

 

[willie_901]

I can understand that, but I have not found any digital camera of any vintage capable of producing the same objective quality of an ISO 160-400 file from the M9/M9-P/M-E sensor. Above that, things go downhill quickly, but there's no question that, for me, the M9 is one of the best daylight cameras ever made.

Yeah.

The M9 data stream has no significant disadvantages up to ISO 640.

Increased intentional underexposure (ISO > 640) when you 'do what he light meter tells you to do' is the reason: "Above that, things go downhill quickly, but there's no question that, for me, the M9 is one of the best daylight cameras ever made."