What's going on with used prices?

[pressureworld]

I get the sense (not backed up by anything but my own observations) that genuine demand from a younger audience is driving higher prices of Leica M6, Contax G and premium compacts such as the Nikon 35ti. But other Leica models such as M2, M3, M4, M5, not so much.

M6 "classic" prices seem to be up about $300 right now, but too soon to know if that's just a short-term blip.

I wonder how much is being driven by environmental concerns: Finding one's hobbies in items which were manufactured decades ago is a form of recycling!

Japan Camera Hunter isn't helping matters either.

 

[Huss]

Feel bad for those who paid $7000 for a Leica M240 when they first came out.
Now worth $2500. How about all those who believed Leica's keep their value?!
Only the film gear and lenses keep their value (eventually - if you buy new it will drop the first few years).
Digi Leicas are the world's most expensive disposable kameras.

 

[Veggies]

Japan Camera Hunter isn't helping matters either.

Dealers who have always sold used gear aren't helping? Weird opinion that one.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

It's quite interesting observing the younger generation of film shooters reactions to different cameras - my M3 and Bessaflex have received a lot of positive comments, but things like my Nikon F90X or Canon Eos650 get not one word. My friendly Plymouth dealer says he can sell every single point and shoot like MJUII or Contax ten times over, ditto SLRs like the Pentax K1000, but outside of that it's medium format, and Instax.

I didn't get on with the meter in my M6 and sold it 18 months ago, which does make me wince a teeny bit, but I understand the appeal - unlike the M2-4 it has one, and I think that's its appeal.

The largest percentage increases I've seen are in lenses though. With adapters the classic lenses have become considerably more desirable. Despite wanting a big clear out (do I really need 20 plus 50mm lenses?) I'm reluctant to part with them just yet.

 

[bayernfan]

a poignant observation I recently heard was that film cameras were actually grossly devalued when digital camera sales were at their peak. what we see perceive to be a large increase in price is nothing more than market self-correction. the exception to this is the posh point & shoot. people will eventually realize they are overpriced, limited life-span toys, and once again, the market will correct itself.

 

[bayernfan]

Feel bad for those who paid $7000 for a Leica M240 when they first came out.
Now worth $2500.

I learned my lesson pretty quickly with digital cameras and smartphones. If you believe being on the cutting edge of technology will make you a better photographer... sorry to say it, you're an idiot.

A last-gen device, whether it be a camera, a laptop, a phone, etc will ALWAYS be good enough. If you're upgrading on the yearly cycle (ahem, Sony), you're making corporations and their investors very, very happy.

And for the record, I'm enjoying my $2500 M240, for which I paid $2500.

 

[Huss]

I learned my lesson pretty quickly with digital cameras and smartphones. If you believe being on the cutting edge of technology will make you a better photographer... sorry to say it, you're an idiot.

A last-gen device, whether it be a camera, a laptop, a phone, etc will ALWAYS be good enough. If you're upgrading on the yearly cycle (ahem, Sony), you're making corporations and their investors very, very happy.

And for the record, I'm enjoying my $2500 M240, for which I paid $2500.

I am still very very happy with my M240, and have no urge to change it for the M10 or whatever else they eventually come out with. If it already takes superb images, what would the point be? I just want a rangefinder with a digital back and this is it.
The one huge thing I prefer over my old M9/E is the LiveView because I have used that numerous times to calibrate lenses.

Anyway, decent lenses and film bodies go up in price. Other stuff not.

 

[Gregm61]

The M262 I purchased new 3 1/2 years ago, the only M body I've ever purchased new, is the perfect digital camera for me. Excellent image quality, lighter than an M240 with the aluminum top plate, 24 MP full frame, no video or EVF connection, etc, etc. A digital stills image-only M7 that can be as simple as an M6 if you want to use it that way.

As far as prices going up on M bodies, it's a little of this and that. Both film becoming more popular than it's been in rcent years and.....Japan.

Anyone old enough to remember the 1980's and the days of Shutterbug ads remembers ads of those looking only to buy the best quality classic cameras, especially Leica M's, then take them to Japan and sell them at crazy prices to Japanese collectors with more money than sense back in the days of the booming economy in Japan. I even remember the buyers at the local swap meets, paying out the cash, then locking the bodies away in their trunks because everything they were buying was going to one place.

Scan down eBay these days, look for a specific body like a Leica M4 or any other classic and see how far down the list you get before everything being sold is in Japan or somewhere else in the Far East. Those cameras were all purchased 20-30 years ago by people who paid top dollar (above top dollar often) and now are trying to get top dollar for them. Most likely way off the amount they originally paid for them, mind you. I can recall the days of not being able to find an M4 in almost any condition for under $2,000.

 

[Bike Tourist]

Shutterbug in the 80s: Del Hegland, Don Chatterton, George Ury, and others I can't recall. I won't mention the few still in business. Those were the days!

 

[john_s]

No kidding. I bought and sold a 7 w/ 80mm for $850CDN a few years a go. Was happy not lose a penny for a couple years of use. I would never pay the asking prices these days.

I obsessively check the prices of my most favorite camera system, Rolleiflex SL66 (SLR). I don't really need to complete my lens collection, but I can't help looking. I'm pleased to say I haven't bought anything for several years.



The asking prices are generally high. But the same items stay on sale for a really long time, years sometimes. I suppose they're waiting for the "perfect purchaser," someone who doesn't really know what it's worth, or who is in a hurry. I guess that's a normal marketing decision.

 

[Huss]

I obsessively check the prices of my most favorite camera system, Rolleiflex SL66 (SLR). I don't really need to complete my lens collection, but I can't help looking. I'm pleased to say I haven't bought anything for several years.

The asking prices are generally high. But the same items stay on sale for a really long time, years sometimes. I suppose they're waiting for the "perfect purchaser," someone who doesn't really know what it's worth, or who is in a hurry. I guess that's a normal marketing decision.

I get that. I have a Rollei 40mm 2.8 HFT chrome ltm lens for sale locally on Craigslist. Been there for months but I don't care as I don't need to sell it. So if someone steps up to my asking price then cool.