M prices rising!

There's a big film resurgence going on right now in the wedding industry (at least from what i've seen). A lot of this is directed at medium format, but as a result i've seen a lot of photogs looking to get smaller "personal cameras". These often tend to be leicas for those who can afford it. This could be a little bit of the increase
 
There is no question that Leica prices are holding firm across the board for most items, and lens prices are going up sharply. I am talking about used items here. I think there are two reasons. First Leica continues to be coveted world-wide as a collectible and secondly, the very wise choice by Leica to continue the M bayonet mount forward into the digital realm.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
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.
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I have a Tanack IV-S and it's a really fine little camera. It may be the smallest and lightest swing-open back full feature rangefinder - very reliable too - a good shooter and not overly expensive since they made a lot.

Leotax is never cheap, but check this one out - it is one of the rarest (I've never seen this war-time model for sale before, and may never again):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156
 
When I discovered Leica, around 2005, it was really easy to find excellent equipment here in Tokyo. The Ginza shops specializing in used Leica gear were the best market in the world. I could find any body or lens, any generation, available immediately. Now the stock is way way way down. Sukiya looks like it has closed. Lemon-sha is a shadow of its former self. Other shops have dozens, instead of hundreds, of lenses in stock. I have asked why, over the past few years. First, "The Koreans have bought everything." More recently, "The Chinese have bought everything." So new countries are discovering Leica. And I know from my own experience the M9 raises the value of all Leica lenses. So go figure.
 
There are three M8's for sale on a Dutch vending site, from EUR 1800 for an M8.2 upgraded camera to EUR 2250 for an M8 with three lenses. Third is a dealer occassion with warranty for EUR 1895.

None of them even have an offer in, and have not had for at least a week.

Seems the M8 is not on the rise, at least not in the Netherlands.
 
Senmu said:
I have asked why, over the past few years. First, "The Koreans have bought everything." More recently, "The Chinese have bought everything." So new countries are discovering Leica. And I know from my own experience the M9 raises the value of all Leica lenses. So go figure.
Click to expand...

The one I ran into recently at my favorite local shop here in the US, was "KEH was just in, and bought most of it".
 
I have noticed the 3 lug M5 in KEH - E or E+ go from $850.00 to close to $1000.00 in the past 6 months....
Could be just the demand is greater than the supply on the M5, or the "Cult Classic" Mystique building up some steam... Who knows.....

I just hope the M4 doesn't go through the roof... It may be my 2nd body in the near future.... we'll see.....
 
Well, they're still reasonably cheap in the UK by historical standards. You can get a nice (not mint, but not ugly either) M3 for 500 GBP from a dealer. Lenses are more of a problem but there is good stuff in the 300 GBP-700 GBP range.
 
I think an added point is that people are now realising that Leica have moved on from film and their future is digital. I'd be very surprised if you can buy a film camera from them in another five years!
 
David Murphy said:
I have a Tanack IV-S and it's a really fine little camera. It may be the smallest and lightest swing-open back full feature rangefinder - very reliable too - a good shooter and not overly expensive since they made a lot.

Leotax is never cheap, but check this one out - it is one of the rarest (I've never seen this war-time model for sale before, and may never again):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156
Click to expand...

I picked up a Leotax D-IV, 4-digit serial number with a very early Simlar 5cm F1.5, the 74th going by the SN. Youxin did me a favor by restoring it, had been in a shed for 30 years. I soaked the helical in Ronsonol for 4 days to free it up. The glass- cleaned to near perfection.
 
Keith said:
I think an added point is that people are now realising that Leica have moved on from film and their future is digital. I'd be very surprised if you can buy a film camera from them in another five years!
Click to expand...


Digital is undeniably their future. However, I hope you're wrong but I guess it's just purely speculative in any case. I think the big question is usually whether or not you will be able to buy ANY camera from Leica in 5 years; having seemingly adjusted to digital I don't think that's as much of a problem. I really doubt that they won't offer at least some crazy commemorative edition if not a regular 35mm rangefinder model for quite a while to come.
 
Good grief, where do people come up with ideas that Leica may not be around in 5 years? Or film cameras will not be around in 5 years? Are they on the marketing staff for Leica? Is there some secret squirrel stealing their documents?😱

I have stated before that I think Leica is well aware of what they are doing and their business plan for the years ahead are well thought-out and are in place today. They will be fine. 🙂

Although it would be nice to be a fly on the wall and see what they are projecting for the future...I am happy with their products now. No worries here about Leica or film cameras. Or film for that matter. I am buying film for life. (ref previous thread by the same name). After purchasing a few more film bodies (ain't that the way it always goes), I will be set for life with film cameras as well. Stupid DSLR will last maybe another 3 years before it breaks and has to be discarded but I am getting a lot of good images from it.😉

Now, back to the topic...it does seem that sellers on RFF are selling low, as evidenced by how fast their items are selling...😀
 
I didn't mean to imply that anything indicated that they were going out of business... Simply that in the past 15 years there were questions, now that they've adopted digital, seem to have some things selling well, I highly doubt they will stop making film cameras anytime soon. Long and short, as long as they're around in their present film most likely so will their 35mm bodies (new). (sorry for going o/t)

edit *present form
 
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I was recently looking for a M4 on ebay and the prices were very high, mostly over $1,000. I just did an Ebay advanced search for "completed listings" and only one M4 went for over $1,000 and that one was in Mint condition. I think it went for $1,300. I found a nice M4-P right here on RFF classifieds from JRG and it was in beautiful condition for under a thousand. I think the high priced Leicas in Ebay are not selling. Jim
 
MC JC86 said:
I didn't mean to imply that anything indicated that they were going out of business... Simply that in the past 15 years there were questions, now that they've adopted digital, seem to have some things selling well, I highly doubt they will stop making film cameras anytime soon. Long and short, as long as they're around in their present film most likely so will their 35mm bodies (new). (sorry for going o/t)

edit *present form
Click to expand...


Agreed! Just wish I knew what they were planning...😉
 
I really don't think film cameras are going to disappear very soon. My local camera shop has had to increase their inventory of black and white film in the last year. They are selling much more than they did a few years ago. True, they are selling a lot of digital cameras but there is a small but steady bunch of film users still out there. I bought a M8 last year and don't use it much as all.

If you look at the information about the photographs that are in a lot of photo magazines that show a lot of photographs, there are still a lot of photographers that are using film. I don't think that's going to stop anytime soon. Jim
 
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