Purely as an Investment: Leica film or Digital Cameras?

[MarylandBill]

We are discussing the "investment" potential here, so when part of a market vanishes, the rest of the market may suffer, especally since most young people are growing up with electronics.

I agree that film cameras are not a good investment (though I think better than their electronic successors). But you didn't say that part of the market would suffer, you claimed that film photography was doomed, and that is what I was responding too.

I would also point out that Lomography is doing an excellent job of marketing film cameras and photography to young people growing up with electronics. There are plenty of younger folks out there who like the artistic capabilities of film over doing everything with their I-Phones.

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Bill

 

[MarylandBill]

One could argue that B&W developement is way easier to do at home...

Maybe... though you can buy chemicals for home C-41 processing, so it probably is not outside the abilities of a dedicated amateur. As it is, I suspect one has to be a pretty dye-hard (pun intended 🙂) C-41 enthusiast to stick with color film at this point.

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Bill

 

[raid]

"Doomed" is to me an extreme word for "suffering". I recently bought an expensive film camera, so I do not believe that there is suddenly no film. It simply is a risky or poor investment if someone buys a camera as a money investment.

 

[bosjohn]

The value of almost everything is dictated by supply and demand, the value of old PCs is so low because there is zero demand, you literally cannot give them away.
A Leica M9 will always have value where there is demand, and for a working one, there will be demand, just not that much, as there are plenty of them around to satisfy collectors, and the collectors will always prefer a manual camera, just like watch collectors will always prefer mechanical over quartz, it's just a fact of life.

A 'first ever Apple' computer has huge demand, and supply that can be counted on one hand, Apple is a collectable brand just like Leica, and the rare pieces will hold value.

Digital cameras will never be a good investment, even Leica, there are too many of them, and not enough demand to keep prices high, simple as that.

maybe but a half frame Leica Canadian valued at 20000 in 1996 was sold for 12000 in 1009. many valuable collectable leicas have slipped in value in the last ten years. hopfully they will go back up. Garden variety Ms have been pretty stable.
Anyone who thinks collectable cameras are a great investmen come see me I got a nice bridge I wanna sell you