Prices - Thinking out loud

[Kim Coxon]

I have been looking at various options, I am going to pass on the M3, thanks for the input. In searching I have come acroos these. They seem like good prices, any thoughts?

Leica M6 Classic Black Body Boxed - Exc++ condition £699 ($1200)
Leitz 35mm f1.4 Summilux + Hood & Box- £699 ($1200)
Leitz 90mm f2 Summicron-M Boxed - £599 ($1040)

These are all from a dealer rather than private sale.

Pictures attached

 

[former member]

All look like good prices, the 35/1.4 seems like a really good price.

 

[scigeek]

Nice kit - at these prices, with Dealer Warranty thrown in you can't really go wrong.

If you want a 50mm rather than 35mm the latest Elmar is a great lens...

 

[markinlondon]

Good as you'd get from a dealer in this country I think, Kim. I bet I can guess which dealer as well 🙂

Nice outfit, by the way

Mark

 

[Meleica]

My Leica M Lens Price Guide

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/a.htm

Price on the 90 way too high for sure....

Dan

 

[Gid]

I've see a couple of M6 classics go for way over that price in the last few days on *bay. There's one on there now with a starting price of £749 and a BIN of £899 - also black. I was considering bidding, but not now you've told me your price 😡

I'd go for it.

Can't comment on the lenses.

Regards

Gid

 

[Fred]

Those prices look pretty good. The body and the lux prices are very good compared to the dealers around here.

 

[John]

Looks like a pretty fair price. I would not be shy to see what else they will throw in to the deal, since you are spending $3,500. A case, filters, hoods, a user lens they might have kicking around - Nikon, Canon, FSU? 🙂

 

[peter_n]

Body looks like a good price to me but can't comment on the lenses. If that's a good price for a Summilux then it may be worth it but the lens looks like it has been well used (maybe that's a good thing! 😉).

I bought a 24mm recently that is well used and the seller threw in a viewfinder because of the cosmetic condition. Lens is perfect though.

 

[Ronald M]

Seems to be in good condition. The 35mm lux is the old one and not the best at 1.4 or 2.0. The contrast is pretty low. Some like it though. Roger Hicks, a well known English photog, used one for years. I think you would be better off with the new used Asph 2.0 for just a little more.

The shade unscrews to hold ser 6 filters, or maybe 7. I can`t remember. It will take either the 39 or 55 reversed.

The 90 is ok, but heavy. At less than 6 feet, it will get a little soft not curred by stopping down. Mine sits mostly and I carry a 2.8 thin tel-elmarit at 1/3 the weight. A lot of these have problems with the rear elements though.

I don`t mean to discourage you, just pointing out the problems with these particular items so it doesn`t come as asuprise.

 

[x-ray]

This might be good for UK prices but US prices are lower for the lenses. i would expect $700-800 for the 90 and around $1,000 for the 35. Consider the CV 35 1.2 if you want a really fast lens. I used the same version of 35 summilux for years and generally liked it but it suffers from serious flare problems and internal secondary images. If I had a bright light in or near the frame it was bad news. I just went through the decision process of buying a super speed 35 and deceided on the CV 35 nokton. I've now had a chance to really run it through the paces and can say it's in a class all its own. it far exceeds the performance of the 35 summilux 1st version and is a fraction of the price. I owned two of the regular versions of 90 summicron and found it to be rather lack luster in performance. I far prefer my 1 st version 90 elmarit. I see these regularly around $400-500 in nice shape.


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045

 

[Kim Coxon]

Many thanks for the input, It certainly helped clarify the thoughts. The dirty deed is done or at least partially. The prices are more favourable in the US but to import it properly, I need to add 20% to cover shipping, tax and handling fees so a $1000 lens would cost me $1200. Also UK dealer = 6 months warranty and the option to return for full refund if not happy for any reason.

I decided against the 90. Price was too high and I tend to use wides more. If I need short tele, I can use the 75CV, if I need small and light - the Canon 100/3.5 or for speed the Canon 85/1.9.

The 35 Lux. I had thought about the F2 asph but they are generally $400 more over here. If I wanted sharp at that speed then I would have gone for a new ZI for the same price as the lux but this would have duplicated the Canon 35/2 as well. The CV is fast but I wanted to try that slightly older Leics look with the option of speed if need be.

Camera. It started as a look for a second body mainly for different film stock at a reasonavble price. I wasn't looking M6 because there are generally in the £900 bracket. The M3 in anoher thread was a good (UK) price but I didn't want DS for handling reasons. It can be done alongside the chrome M6 but easier not to. To get a good SS M3 would not have been that much less than the cost of this M6. This one is black, t'other is chrome so easy to grab the right one.

And just for John, the lens has hood and a MC B+W filter etc. However I did manage to persuade him to through in a free CV 50/75 adapter!

I now know that Leica feeling - you know the empty wallet one! Watch the classified. With this kit, the rest of the FSU gear is going to go and I will probably thin some of the Canon glass as well

Kim

 

[peter_n]

Good luck with the new kit Kim!

 

[ywenz]

"I need to add 20% to cover shipping, tax and handling fees so a $1000 lens would cost me $1200."

OUCH!!!! 🙁 🙁 >:

 

[John]

I am glad you were able to find the kit and configuration you like. That adaptor will come in really handy because it sounds like you have a full complement of LTM glass. I am new to Leica and have started with LTM lenses. So far so good. I will be discovering the vintage signatures of each one. 🙂 🙂

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Kim, if you want a speedy 35, why not go for the CV Nokton? I've seen shots from the thing wide open and it's superb, plus you get that slight bump in speed from the f/1.2 as opposed to the f/1.4.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Hi Steph,
I wasn't really that fussed about very fast speed. Although I tend to shoot slide, I haven't really found a problem with anything slower than a 2.8. Also my RF shooting is for pleasure rather than if I need the photos. (the Pentax's get used for that) I wanted more to try some of the Leica glass. This seemed like a good compromise, not spending a complete fortune, reasonably fast in case I wanted to push it and with some re-sale value if it all goes pear shaped.

Kim

Kim, if you want a speedy 35, why not go for the CV Nokton? I've seen shots from the thing wide open and it's superb, plus you get that slight bump in speed from the f/1.2 as opposed to the f/1.4.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Heh, cool. I was just wondering. Regardless of the name, I'd take the CV over the 'lux. When you shoot a lot of available darkness, speed matters more than name. 🙂

 

[Nikon Bob]

Kim

Nice piece of kit. I think the old model Lux will serve you well as you seem not too interested in lens performance wide open but have it as an option. My M kit is similar, M4, 90 fat tele-elmarit F2.8 and an old model lux 35 was bought together as a deal. In the few instances that I have used the lux wide open I have not been bitterly disappointed in it's performance and stopped down not at all. As you likely know it also does not focus very close and can flare, but knowing that you can easily work around those drawbacks. It is hard to imagine a smaller fast 35 lens and I like that for travelling. I hope you enjoy yours and will let us know if it meets your needs.

Nikon Bob

 

[J. Borger]

It is always amazing how many people try to talk somebody out of a 35 lux pre-asph when the name comes up ......