Used M8 What's up with prices (or down)?

x-ray

x-ray

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I've had little interest in the M8 because I thought it was way overpriced for what you get or don't get but yesterday I noticed one of the dealers I've bought from has a mint- chrome M8 with all the goodies for $2395. I was shocked to say the least. I haven't followed the digi M system but has the M8.2 put prices in the tank? Is the M8.2 that much better? I also noticed Popflash has M8.2 cameras certified for less than $5K. I thought these were around $8K. What's going on. Is it anticipation of an M9? It looks to me like the used M digi is suffering from the same falling price issue as used Nikon, Canon and the others. What are your thoughts? What would you guess the price would be if an M9 comes out?

Is the M8 worth picking up just to shoot B&W? I would guess most have had little use and certainly not pro use and have been well taken care of. It sounds like some good deals might be coming.
 
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It might have something to do with the rapidly changing technology. You can put modern Tri-X in a 1954 Leica M3. Unless Leica figures out a relatively inexpensive way to replace the sensor in an existing M8.2 with a full frame one, and change the frame-lines also, the M8 will soon be dead meat.

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com
 
No one yet has started to update the technology on older digi cameras to my knowledge. You buy them with the understanding it's what it is with little improvements from firmware updates. At the right price though the M8 might be worth getting particularly for some B&W apps. The only way I would consider one is at the right price and it's still got a way to go but it might be there soon.
 
I've not kept up with the M8 so I'm surprised at the percentage of price drop. It appears the M8 is no different than any other digital camera and prices will continue to fall as new models come out. This is totally unlike the M film cameras which have appreciated. I know that no one knows but where do you think the M8 price will be in six months if the M9 is a winner assuming an M9 is coming?
 
Back Alley I don't even know what an RD1 brings. I've never even seen one in person and have never seen an images other than the Inet. Same with the M8. I just couldn't get excited with digital for personal use other than a P&S.
 
rd1's seem to start around 1k used these days and can go up to near 2k.

for my use, non professional and average enlargement to 8x10 it is perfect.

i still get the rf experience and the dry and quick processing of digital.
 
I bought mine at $2400, refurb with 1 year warranty. That was my threshold. My justification:
- it's a Leica
- it might be the only Leica M that is digital
- didn't want to subject myself to the anguish and compromise of a 4/3 Micro with adapter, despite that it would have produced just fine files (as far as I've seen)
- hoping after the year, it continues to work and make good files. I might rip the cover off of it and put on Levant leather, and maybe paint it black.

I know its value will plummet, especially after that 1 year warranty expiry. But, it is fun to use.

....Vick
 
I had two M8's and 'dumped' them both...:eek:

I would take an RD1 over it anyday
just for Fantastic 1600 iso
in house camera filters
and the overall ergonomics of the RD1
(None of this coding crap for lenses )

but Bottom Line
Film Rules
and if I had to have a Digital
I wouldn't put it in a Leica

(Mind You my Film Cam & lenses are Leica)
 
helenhill said:
I had two M8's and 'dumped' them both...:eek:

I would take an RD1 over it anyday
just for Fantastic 1600 iso
in house camera filters
and the overall ergonomics of the RD1
(None of this coding crap for lenses )

but Bottom Line
Film Rules
and if I had to have a Digital
I wouldn't put it in a Leica

(Mind You my Film Cam & lenses are Leica)
Click to expand...

I can understand Helen's position on this. Not only is there the "coding crap" but also the "filter crap" and the "undersized framelines crap."

Thing is, though, that with the R-D1, you have the "rangefinder out of alignment crap" the "only three framelines crap" and the "can't even see the 28mm frameline with eyeglasses on crap." That is without counting the "only six megapixels crap" which I do not count as you can do a lot with 6MP.

So I bought the Nikon D200. It has the "focus confirmation with manual lenses is not worth a crap" crap; and the "focusing screen had the wrong shims under it so focusing by eye was way off" crap.

I do like my Leica D-lux 3 and D-lux 4. And I like my Leica M2, M6, and MP.
 
Priceless

Priceless

Rob-F said:
I can understand Helen's position on this. Not only is there the "coding crap[1]" but also the "filter crap[2]" and the "undersized framelines crap[3]."

Thing is, though, that with the R-D1, you have the "rangefinder out of alignment crap[4]" the "only three framelines crap[5]" and the "can't even see the 28mm frameline with eyeglasses on crap[6]." That is without counting the "only six megapixels crap[7]" which I do not count as you can do a lot with 6MP.

So I bought the Nikon D200. It has the "focus confirmation with manual lenses is not worth a crap[8]" crap[9]; and the "focusing screen had the wrong shims under it so focusing by eye was way off" crap[10].

I do like my Leica D-lux 3 and D-lux 4. And I like my Leica M2, M6, and MP.
Click to expand...

I know by heart that this post marks a record here.

You made my day ;)
 
x-ray said:
I've not kept up with the M8 so I'm surprised at the percentage of price drop. It appears the M8 is no different than any other digital camera and prices will continue to fall as new models come out. This is totally unlike the M film cameras which have appreciated. I know that no one knows but where do you think the M8 price will be in six months if the M9 is a winner assuming an M9 is coming?
Click to expand...

M film cameras have not come anywhere near appreciating. None of them have appreciated even in nominal terms, much less adjusted for inflation.

Not that they haven't kept their value slightly more than, say, a Nikkormat, but appreciate? No.
 
climbing_vine said:
M film cameras have not come anywhere near appreciating. None of them have appreciated even in nominal terms, much less adjusted for inflation.

Not that they haven't kept their value slightly more than, say, a Nikkormat, but appreciate? No.
Click to expand...

When I say appreciating I mean they haven't dropped and have risen in price at least some. No they haven't kept up with inflation but I make a living with my cameras and if I toss them in the trash in the end It really doesn't matter. They're tools that generate money. My first M2 cost roughly $250 used in 1968. My 21 SA f3.4 was about $250, the 35 Summilux was $333 new and my 90 Elmarit was about $150 used in the same time period. That set of gear earned roughly $14,000 a year for about five or six years until I traded it for a Linhof system and then bought new M gear. I have to consider the value in what I earn with it. if it's only a toy then it's still not a factor what I get out of it if I sell it. It's value is how much enjoyment I got with it. I guess others look at their toys different but that's how I see it.

I wouldn't want to shot color just B&W. No filter for B&W? ISO noise isn't a problem in my case. I'm used to film grain and actually like some grain in my pix. As far as being Leica, it could be made by GE and I wouldn't care if it makes the images i want. Leica glass, another I don't care. I've got Zeiss, Leica and CV and I don't get warm and fuzzy about one over the other although I like the Zeiss slightly better than the others.

It's all about how will it perform for B&W only? The M8 would be for play not work.
 
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[FONT=&quot]I believe that the M8 will produce a classic ‘camera cult’. It’s best days lie ahead. My guess is 1500 - 1800usd as an entry price is foreseeable in the next 6 months providing that the FFM9 is for real. The down side of buying used out-of-warranty M8’s are the associated expensive repair costs. It would be nice if Leica service offered some basic extended warranty packages to these ‘new’ M8 owners. A whole different group of individuals will be using the M8 in the near future and I’m looking forward to the images that they’ll produce. [/FONT]
 
If the rumors are true and the M9 will be announced on September, 9th and it will have a full-frame sensor and IR filter .... Prices will drop below $2000 I guess. In the last two month the prices for M8 already went down from ~ 2.700 to now ~ 2.300 and even cheaper....
 
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