Trade in my cameras. No way!

[Robert]

I contacted a dealer today to ask about the M8 and MP cameras.

Put down a £500 deposit and I should receive the M8 sometime in February.

Four years ago I bought a Contax G2 kit for £1600.

Two years ago I bought a Leica M6ttl for £1600. I had wanted to put the Contax in as part exchange but thought better off it when the dealer offered me £400 as a trade in.

Today I was offered around £500 for my M6 in a trade in for the M8.

Nothing keeps their price, no matter what we buy a loss is always going to be made (an exception being property).

I envy people who buy an old Leica and can be completely satisfied and have no interest in the latest technology or the most recent models.

I love photography, I love cameras but I do a lot more thinking about photography than actually taking pictures.

I liked the days,years ago when I first started taking pictures with a Practica L and a hand held meter. Developing the films with the help of a bag my sister made me and printing in the kitchen with the lights out.

The magic of my first print of my mum and dad coming to life in the developing tray.

Everything seemed good in those days. Content with my lot and learning about lens, D.O.P etc.

Now days I think I need, rather, I want a Leica MP and an M8.

Gone are the days of tradeins for the latest cameras with the insulting quotes dealers give. I won't be giving away any of my cameras, having worked hard for the money to buy them.

Sorry for rambling on but nowdays I can buy what I want within reason, I could buy a Leica MP or a Leica M8 but I will never feel the magic and the fascination from the early days of this great hobby.

 

[Topdog1]

Robert,
Don't give up. You can still develop film in your kitchen and enjoy the magic therein. Digital printing is a good compromise. You can do amazing stuff to fix up problem photos on a computer that would have been impossible printing with light. And if you need or want to sell a camera, try doing it here or on eBay. Removing the middle man puts money in your pocket.

As for needing/wanting ever newer cameras. We all have GAS here. Just kids in a toy store. I believe the philosophers call it serial materialism. The best photo is just over the hill waiting to be taken with the best newest camera.

Regards,
Ira

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Robert, your experience is not unique. A while ago, after purchasing my Nikon F100, I thought about using my Nikon F80 body as trade-bait for a nice zoom lens... I'm the first and only owner, the camera is in the box, cards never sent, treated carefully, never dropped.

The guy at the store offered me USD50.

"How about if I put some medium format gear in the mix?" I asked.

"We don't buy medium format any more. Nobody wants it" he said.

Of course, while I was at the store, they sold three digital cameras.

So... I may sell my gear later, either here or somewhere else. If you want to do the same, go ahead and finance your M8. It's the only way to go! 🙂

 

[Topdog1]

Robert, your experience is not unique. A while ago, after purchasing my Nikon F100, I thought about using my Nikon F80 body as trade-bait for a nice zoom lens... I'm the first and only owner, the camera is in the box, cards never sent, treated carefully, never dropped.

The guy at the store offered me USD50.

"How about if I put some medium format gear in the mix?" I asked.

"We don't buy medium format any more. Nobody wants it" he said.

Of course, while I was at the store, they sold three digital cameras.

So... I may sell my gear later, either here or somewhere else. If you want to do the same, go ahead and finance your M8. It's the only way to go! 🙂

Mint F-100 bodies are going for ~$600 on eBay. Do not despair.

/Ira

 

[peter_n]

Robert you can get more than £500 for your cam here or on photo.net. I would think you should be able to get £660 or so, maybe more. Those are American prices. You can get much more than that in Europe. As Francisco says - think about selling on a forum somewhere - maybe one in Britain.

Welcome to the forum BTW! 🙂

 

[Graham Line]

You're confusing trade-in prices with market value. Dealers will typically offer 50% of what they think they can resell equipment for. An average M6 will bring around $1000 if you handle the sale yourself. In the US at least, many dealers will take an item on consignment and take a 20% cut of the sale price. None of this changes the fact that there is a lot of top-quality film equipment going begging at the moment.

 

[Finder]

Ah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

 

[Trius]

Robert

I agree about selling privately as far as getting maximum value goes. That said, I never look at a camera with an eye to resale or trade-in value. The market is what the market is, and is pretty insensitive to any emotional attachment I may have to a particular camera or lens, etc.

Even more, however, you seem to have a lot of attachment to the early experiences of film/print processing, so I wonder whether you would be as happy with an M8. Just an observation.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Joe is right: market value and trade-in prices are two very different animals. The dealer will buy your gear at their price, but will sell it at the market value.

Now, if you're willing to take a hit because something you have is way too common or you don't want to offer it for sale privately, then dealers offer the quickest way into (low) cash. I had a Nikon AF 50mm f1.7 lens that used very little; after offering it for sale for a while and getting no interest, I sold it to a camera store together with another lens (AF zoom 18-35 Tokina brand) for around $110. Sure, I "lost" money, but got cash on the spot and, to be quite honest, I was so averse to the idea of offering them for sale that I was content with the operation. Besides, the market is flooded with AF glass like the ones I had.

 

[back alley]

trades are strickly for your convenience and their profit margin.
it is never in your best interest to trade but rather to sell independently and then buy.
trades are good with other photographers but never with a dealer.

joe