M prices rising!

[Benjamin Marks]

Well, don't read too much into KEH as a bell-weather. We have no idea how they manage their inventory and cash-flow risks.

 

[duoduo.coco]

In 2008 I brought Zeiss ZM 35/2 From Japan for $400, after one year, trade in here for a Summicron 50/2 current version, sold last year for $1100 and the currently price for that summicron is around $1800-$2000.

Also in 2008, I brought a 35/2 bokeh king from Australia for $500, and I might plan to cash it out this year.

all I can say is the dollor is weaken, it might be a good time to sell your dust covered gear.

 

[MC JC86]

Up, or down, isn't it a matter of currency valuation/devaluation?

That certainly factors heavily, however it doesn't account for why lenses that I was hard pressed to get from $5-$10USD for 3 or 4 years ago (mostly M42) now are bringing $30-$50. (assume auction site start @0.99)

Stuff is certainly screwy right now price wise... Despite my success selling some of my excess junk, mostly, it's working against me 🙁

 

[DougFord]

Supply and demand.
As the options to mount m-glass increases (m9,nex3/5/7,ricohgxr,m4/3) the supply decreases.
This trend accelerates as sensor technology progresses and options multiply.
'Investing' in a lens sure beats the depreciation of the kit lenses.

 

[former member]

When I went to Kurland Photo to look at 35s recently, they told me that Leica hasn't been able to meet demand for new lenses lately, and so the supply of used lenses has dried up as a result. Can anyone confirm this?

So, if I put half of mine for sale I can flood the market, bring prices back down. HHmmmm.

I am down to 22 Nikkor 50mm F1.4 lenses. F-mount, S-Mount (12), and LTM.

 

[tbarker13]

Well, don't read too much into KEH as a bell-weather. We have no idea how they manage their inventory and cash-flow risks.

I don't know. As someone who looks at KEH's offerings at least once every couple of weeks, I'd argue that KEH (and other retailers of used gear) offer a pretty good indication of what's happening.
When the M8 was coming out, I can remember pulling up their M-lens inventory and wading through 10-15 pages of glass. They don't even have a full page right now.
Obviously this didn't happen overnight. But with the introduction of the M8, M9 and other digital cameras capable of mounting M-glass, it's really not surprising that the supply of used glass would erode. (particularly when combined with Leica's inability to make new lenses fast enough for demand.)

 

[jarski]

those who are on market to sell, feel prices have gone down recently. and those who to buy, prices gone up 😀

 

[Keith]

People seem to be asking more for unmetered M's but M6's and M7's seem cheaper to me.

The one that stands out to me is the M4 ... it seems to be overtaking the M6 in value.

 

[tbarker13]

Yeah, I was surprised recently to pick up an M6 classic for just a little over $900.
I'm betting that the prices on used film bodies are much more stable than the prices on used Leica lenses - particularly those in the popular 28-50mm range.

 

[andredossantos]

Keh has a couple M2's from $900 to over a $1000!!! That's ridiculous!!! I bought and sold an M2 a couple months back for ~$500! Shouldve held onto it! Too bad I had to sell it to pay for a trip abroad...Hindsight is 20/20 of course

 

[Keith]

Of course I'm still waiting for the ultimate bargain priced TBBPMP ... but it never seems to happen!

(TBBPMP = tastefully brassed black paint MP) 😀

 

[pagpow]

Interesting -- I, too, thought lens prices were up, but M bodies were steady or declining slowly. I'll have to pay closer attention.

It does seem that Hassy gear is rising from the basement of 6 - 9 months ago.

 

[former member]

I almost bought that same camera, but at a different show on Saturday. Must've been the same one though, same exact price. Ended up picking up a IIC for $120 instead.

Same seller, he told me they did a show on Saturday as well. His prices are always good, then he gives a better price than the one marked. I have wanted to try a Tanar for a while. That gives me a Nicca, Leotax, and now a Tanack- plus a black Leica III and a IIIa. The Tanack has a swing-open back.

 

[MikeL]

Anecdotal, but a friend says a guy with ties to China comes into his shop and buys all the used Leica gear every month or so and sends it over. I'm guessing demand in that burgeoning market is contributing to the decreased supply in others. Not that I understand these things.

 

[Vickko]

A lot of my stuff is going to China. Many positives and negatives. I get higher prices. But many more headaches.

 

[sc_rufctr]

Locally I can't find anything in M mount. There's nothing available!

I talked to the owner of a shop who I bought my SA from and he said he hasn't witnessed this before.
He always had second hand Leica gear collecting dust sitting on his shelves and sometimes it would sit for years before anybody showed any interest.
Right now he's considering importing some second hand gear from Asia to meet the demand.

Even R glass is in demand!

He had a 90mm Macro R lens for about 36 months and that sold the other day!

 

[chris00nj]

Prices rising? I know! Last time I saw one of these for sale it was for well less than $500,000!

 

[healyzh]

Based on my observations the prices on Leica lenses have been going up for well over a year. I think this is due to the M9, and to Micro-4/3rds cameras. I managed to buy my M6 TTL at the low point in body prices, which hit last spring. I can't explain this, and I'm curious as to why the prices are going up and availability is going down on M film bodies (at least for the M6 and newer). I flat out can't believe what's happened with M8 prices.

The 90mm Summicron I just picked up was on the KEH website for probably less than 12 hours. Tamarkin has sold a lot of lenses lately. At the moment the main things I need to add are a Leica 50mm or two, and a second body (actually I need a bag to put everything in more). To make things worse, the last time we were at the camera store, my wife was making noises about how I need to buy her a Leica (this was while I was buying her a Holga).

I hadn't realized Hasselblad prices are going up. A part of me fears I'll never move beyond my 80mm lens. At a minimum I want to add a 150mm lens. I love my Hasselblad, but my Leica and 4x5 camera's make more sense.

 

[dyao]

A lot of my stuff is going to China. Many positives and negatives. I get higher prices. But many more headaches.

This is the real reason - all M gear is ending up in China.

 

[pagpow]

I hadn't realized Hasselblad prices are going up. A part of me fears I'll never move beyond my 80mm lens. At a minimum I want to add a 150mm lens. I love my Hasselblad, but my Leica and 4x5 camera's make more sense.

Well don't take my word as gospel on this. It is just my impression that last year in San Francisco, on Craigslist, there was a period with full Hassy kits for less than I see asked around now.