<rant ON> eBay has 47 black or olive paint Leicas...

[hepcat]

of various models right now, mostly used and mostly Ms and Barnacks, that have asking prices of $4,000 or more. FOUR GRAND!!! The most expensive one out there currently is a BP Swedish Army IIIf at $122k. Now, I really like black paint bodies... and I've even paid a little more than a chrome body for them, but wow... am I the only person on earth who thinks cameras are for making images?

eBay search for "Leica paint"

<rant OFF>

 

[AusDLK]

they are for making photographs, not images, not captures, photographs.

 

[santino]

never call a leica just a camera 😉

 

[swoop]

I think a lot of those cameras are repaints with marked up prices.

 

[colyn]

I think a lot of those cameras are repaints with marked up prices.

That's obvious..

A "real" Leica black paint does not age well...

 

[Roger Hicks]

. . . A "real" Leica black paint does not age well...

I've seen many, and owned a few, that have aged well.

Besides, what's wrong with "collector" cameras like the Swedish Army model? Pretty much by definition, they're rare, so you can't really say they're depriving many "real" photographers of a usable camera.

Look at it another way. How many people actually "train" in "trainers"? You can't force people to meet your preconceptions.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nikonosguy]

happy with my black paint iid --- my black paint cl, my black paint r5 -- had a black paint m4-2,m4-p, and m5 - no paying a premium for any bp ---

 

[gdi]

I've seen many, and owned a few, that have aged well.

Besides, what's wrong with "collector" cameras like the Swedish Army model? Pretty much by definition, they're rare, so you can't really say they're depriving many "real" photographers of a usable camera.

Look at it another way. How many people actually "train" in "trainers"? You can't force people to meet your preconceptions.

Cheers,

R.

I agree totally, don't fret it. Original rare models should be preserved - whether they be cameras, cars, motorcycles, etc. If you want a Leica to use "like they were meant to be used", don't consider buying a rare or expensive one. If you have one to use and want get a nice piece to preserve, spend the money.

After all, you could slap a couple inverted Jennys on a postcard and mail it, but it would be kinda dumb.

 

[hepcat]

I don't have a problem with some cameras being museum pieces, and there are some models that are quite rare and I recognize the collector value of those. But let's say that even seven of those cameras are truly museum pieces... forty more black paint cameras for sale at any given moment means that they're NOT rare. I'm just suggesting that perhaps the market is a little inflated.

 

[zuiko85]

How many of those offers are sold? Of course you can ask watever price you want for a camera, as much profit as the market will support. But, in the end, prices are set by the customer (if the camera is sold at all.)

 

[kbg32]

Nikonosguy, M4-2s never came in black paint. Chrome or black chrome only. If you had one, it was a repaint.

 

[Ronny]

The Swedish Army model of Leica IIIf was sold in Sweden in Surplus Stores called "Överskottslagret" in the seventies for a few USD each. Should buy a few of them in those days but never did. Have a nice weekend from Sweden.

 

[thegman]

All you have to do is not buy the item.

Kind of sounds like you just want the right to buy a camera at the price you want.

Compared to many collectors' pieces, such as art by Tracey Emin, these Leica cameras are true bargains.

 

[nikonosguy]

yeah whatever keith it was black chrome may have been yours at one point can't remember

 

[Roger Hicks]

I don't have a problem with some cameras being museum pieces, and there are some models that are quite rare and I recognize the collector value of those. But let's say that even seven of those cameras are truly museum pieces... forty more black paint cameras for sale at any given moment means that they're NOT rare. I'm just suggesting that perhaps the market is a little inflated.

OK... 40 Leicas out of 4,000,000. Who cares?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

All you have to do is not buy the item.

Kind of sounds like you just want the right to buy a camera at the price you want.

Compared to many collectors' pieces, such as art by Tracey Emin, these Leica cameras are true bargains.

Hmmmmm... A black paint Tracey Emin....

Cheers

R.

 

[hepcat]

All you have to do is not buy the item.

Kind of sounds like you just want the right to buy a camera at the price you want.

Compared to many collectors' pieces, such as art by Tracey Emin, these Leica cameras are true bargains.

Well, yeah, of course I want to buy cameras at a bargain. Who doesn't?

The truth is that I really don't. I've got more than my fair share of bodies for using. I'm pragmatic and I'm not a collector, so looking at those prices gives me a little sticker shock. I can't quite wrap my head around those kinds of prices for a camera especially when, as a genre, they just don't seem to be that rare and they're not functionally any different from my M4-P for making images.

 

[thegman]

Well, yeah, of course I want to buy cameras at a bargain. Who doesn't?

The truth is that I really don't. I've got more than my fair share of bodies for using. I'm pragmatic and I'm not a collector, so looking at those prices gives me a little sticker shock. I can't quite wrap my head around those kinds of prices for a camera especially when, as a genre, they just don't seem to be that rare and they're not functionally any different from my M4-P for making images.

Sure, but functionality has little to do with anything when it comes to pricing.

Compare watch prices, Panerai vs. Seiko, functionally the same.

The prices are crazy for most of us, but I guess if you're rich and love Leica cameras, maybe it makes sense for those people. I'd like to think if I was ever rich enough to afford something like that, I'd still not buy.

 

[gdi]

Well, yeah, of course I want to buy cameras at a bargain. Who doesn't?

The truth is that I really don't. I've got more than my fair share of bodies for using. I'm pragmatic and I'm not a collector, so looking at those prices gives me a little sticker shock. I can't quite wrap my head around those kinds of prices for a camera especially when, as a genre, they just don't seem to be that rare and they're not functionally any different from my M4-P for making images.

As suggested earlier - try looking at the Sold listings for black paint, it paints a much different picture. It seems a lot of dealers throw these things out there with absurd prices hoping for a sucker - that doesn't set the market....

 

[hepcat]

Sure, but functionality has little to do with anything when it comes to pricing.

Compare watch prices, Panerai vs. Seiko, functionally the same.

The prices are crazy for most of us, but I guess if you're rich and love Leica cameras, maybe it makes sense for those people. I'd like to think if I was ever rich enough to afford something like that, I'd still not buy.

Yeah... that's where I struggle... I'm willing to spend the money necessary for the quality I want, but spending more than necessary diverts funds from other pursuits. I've got an automatic Seiko diver's watch I bought in 1978 that I've had serviced once in nearly forty years and it still keeps great time. What more can you ask of a watch? Although my daily watch for the past ten years has been probably a now-twenty-five year old Tag Heuer that was a gift from a dear friend. I'd never have bought the Tag tho.