Why all the nice Leica gear for sale?

G

George S.

How many is enough?
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It seems to me there's been a lot of top notch Leica bodies and lenses being sold here. I'd thought it was a temporary spike, but it's seemingly been all summer long.

There's always been a few M8s available, such is the way with digitals, but there certainly is a lot of M6 and M7, and MPs along with some top notch glass appearing. Do you think the selling off of film gear is accelerating, or does the economy have something to do with it also? Or am I mistaken about all this gear? Is it a somewhat normal amount?

My suspicion is that people are selling film gear, but the temptingly low prices also point to people in need of cash in this economy.
 
Times are tough, and unused cameras that are worth a few bucks make a good source of temporary funding.
 
The worldwide economic downturn would certainly be reason #1.

That goes for me as well. In addition, I have just recently bought a D700 (saved up for it) and am completely amazed (already had a bagful of Nikon lenses). WIth the D700, I no longer saw a need for my R-d1s and sold that. Then I started selling off lenses that I predominantly used with the R-D1s.

I still have my ZI (strictly for B&W), and continue to cull lenses I don't seem to use with any frequency with that body.
 
Keith

I agree with you that the economic situation is the #1 cause. Like you I got a D700 and am so pleased with it that I have virtually no desire for more RF film gear so I can't take advantage of some of the really nice gear for sale lately. Retirement also puts a crimp in things. I'll be keeping my film gear as there is no sense selling into this kind of market if you can help it.

Bob
 
Hi Bob - that D700 is something else, isn't it?

I still like shooting B&W film and the darkroom process, and for street photography I prefer using an RF. I'm probably just being nostalgic, but I enjoy it.
 
The digital appeal is certainly there and I hear the sirens' call, too, but for me, in comparing a clacking bulky DSLR to a clicking compact Leica, the mechanical jewel wins everytime. I have a Leica that was made in 1959. Fifty years. In the next 50 years, will the D700 be around getting the same admiration as it gets today? Will it even still be functional? Well, to each his own. I have to admit I do own a Canon S3 that I use a bit. (Whenever I'm not "serious.") ;)
 
januaryman said:
The digital appeal is certainly there and I hear the sirens' call, too, but for me, in comparing a clacking bulky DSLR to a clicking compact Leica, the mechanical jewel wins everytime. I have a Leica that was made in 1959. Fifty years. In the next 50 years, will the D700 be around getting the same admiration as it gets today? Will it even still be functional? Well, to each his own. I have to admit I do own a Canon S3 that I use a bit. (Whenever I'm not "serious.") ;)
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On the other hand, I wonder if there will be anyone around to service these old Leicas, as Sherry and DAG will probably not be around anymore? Are there new/young techs out there that know Leicas enough to work on them? To deliver same/similar quality work?
 
Economy might be one reason but my guess is that the two new wide-angle lenses from Leica (21/1.4 ASPH and 24/1.4 ASPH) with a high price-tag are tempting and so is the new Noctilux 50/0.95 ASPH with an even higher price tag. I know at least two persons who sold a lot of Leica high-end gear to get one (or two) of these lenses.
 
Good point. There are a lot of 21 and 24/25mm lenses on sale here, PN and the LUF. I agree with Gabor that at least these items might be going to fund a new Summilux. I have two 24/2.8's (don't ask!) and one of them will go to help with my purchase of a 24/1.4, but I will wait until there's a bit of an uptick in the market to sell it.
 
The Infidel dog

The Infidel dog

You Got it Brian, just when a few bucks could load up a buch of goodies, we gotta be broke. But I too believe what we are seeing is the economy. I don't think film will drop off the planet, just with my buiying and selling, I can assure you a LOT of folks all across the country are cleaning out Attics and garages that have long been family heirlooms and taking what they can get for them.
 
The Infidel Dog

The Infidel Dog

:bang:NOW you're trying to confuse me with Facts ! But you are right, its ruff right now and I don't know that we are out of the woods yet. May get worse before it gets better.
 
There are lot of people out there who have benn effected by the economic climate & there jobs. I have sold lots of my gear over the last year as the income Im making is less that 1/3 of what I was 3 years ago. When you have a few nice Leica cameras sitting around that you are not using, you can make a house payment with one Leica body & lens. My situation is getting better now. I have spent 15ys in the auto industry, as you know has taken a big hit worldwide. I have kept one of my best M3's and a few lens. Sold one of my best M4's and some lens. The prices are low on gear as the demand is lower. If you have extra cash now is the time to buy. As you may have heard, Goldman Saks on wall street made almost 3 billion last quarter, yes 3 billion & the avearage employee there will make $900k this year there. The business that put us in this mess are up to the same old ways will all the money we bailed them out with. Someone is taking all are money again. My money & gear are shrinking.
 
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mfunnell said:
There are probably people working for Leica who might like to work for themselves at some point, even if it's in (semi-)retirement.

...Mike
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I took a IIIc with me to Leica in Germany, they kept the retired guys in touch and offered to send it to them.

I had a few watches from the 50's rebuilt, they were cheaper than the quartz to repair.

Still, people with mechanical skills will figure things out, now to find someone to rebuild the fuel pump on my 70 MGB. ;-)

Regards, John
 
Haven't you heard... Film is dead...

Haven't you heard... Film is dead...

The economy is in the toilet. And, for the first time in a long time, wealthy people are actually losing money (ie, leica buyers).

Madoff's Leica's have been seized by the courts.

It's dismal out there.
 
Rebuild pump....

Rebuild pump....

JohnTF said:
now to find someone to rebuild the fuel pump on my 70 MGB. ;-) Regards, John
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Hmmm. Moss Motors in Goleta Ca. Faspec in Portland Oregon. eBay (lots of MGB parts there).

Just restored a 71 B for a lady and it's already been backed into at an intersection (paint less than a month old)
 
Had an MG Midget once. Loved the little car, but it went through six starter solenoids in as many months and the MG repair guy couldn't figure it out. Finally traded it for some camera gear. Too bad.
 
I'm not worried about repairs. Hell, it's just a mechanical camera. With the right tools and some spare parts, I could keep the thing going. What worries me most nowadays isn't the continued availability of film, it's the availability of good processing results at an affordable price. I think that'll be film's achilles heel.
 
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