Why are M8 prices still so high?

[k__43]

Just my little call for speculations.

I was always interested in having a digital M as a toy. A M8 would be enough for playing around with. I think I will keep my "to show" photos on film cos I just prefer the process.

From what I've seen the M9 prices came down dramatically (stand 19th of Nov. 2015). you can get a used M9 for 2300€ here now easily and with a little patience even cheaper.
M8 is still a slightly above 1000€ very very seldom below that and often at approx. 1200€. M8.2 are even closer to M9s now than to M8s.

Why is that? I understood it when the M9 was still more than 3times the price of an M8 but now?

 

[bonatto]

I think laws of supply and demand apply here 🙂

 

[k__43]

Yeah but isn't the demand sinking for the M8 when the M9 gets more affordable? and isn't also the supply increasing because people might want to upgrade? dunno .. my speculations

 

[bonatto]

Not sure the demand for M8s is sinking - plenty are selling on forums/ebay. I think an 800+ euro spread to an M9 is still significant for someone who's already managed to get together the odd 1k euro for an M8. If you have a 35mm lens but enjoy shooting a 50mm FL, the M8 is a great, "inexpensive" alternative to an M9 and a 50mm lens. The M9 offers little over the m8 in terms of functionality and performance anyways (aside from the ir filters and a bit better high ISO capabilities/full frame). I wish I had a spare 2k euro to treat myself to an M9 (and could justify it).

 

[jchfriis]

I can't speculate on what the supply and demand is, but I've had a M8 since 2007 and it's such a great camera that when I tried a M9 I didn't feel the need to upgrade. It's the one camera I'll probably never sell. If the majority of owners feel the same, maybe the supply is low?

 

[Lss]

Yeah but isn't the demand sinking for the M8 when the M9 gets more affordable? and isn't also the supply increasing because people might want to upgrade?

The demand for M8 is definitely slowly sinking, not only because of M9 prices (although they contribute greatly). On the other hand, I don't think many feel that much pressure to upgrade (especially with the price difference in mind).

While fewer people may be interested in becoming new M8 owners, there is still no sideways or downwards move from the M8 that would make much sense. The R-D1 has been there for the whole existence of the M8, and M8 owners either already tried that camera or never even considered it. I think it is still this lack of alternatives that keeps the prices pretty stable.

 

[B-9]

Im glad to see prices this low, and ide be happy if the M8 prices leveled off at the current trend.

How much cheaper can it get? Grab one!

 

[micromontenegro]

Because the M8 is a terrific camera.

 

[raid]

The M8 is one of my main cameras. It is a very reliable camera that can produce beautiful images. It is also a Leica.

 

[presspass]

Those of us who have and love/hate the M8 can rarely find a reason to upgrade. There are well-documented workarounds for the high ISO problem and the color shift. I use it to supplement my film Ms; if I'm out with a Leica kit and need a color photo for work, the M8 fits the bill.

 

[jsrockit]

Because it is still the cheapest digital M. Based on that it'll never go down past a certain price point.

 

[Pete B]

Some of the most beautiful digital B+W photos I've seen were taken with the M8. I think the lack of IR filtering has something to do with it. I've often toyed with the idea of getting one for B+W.
Pete

 

[Monochrom]

Good question.

For a lapse of time prices were dropping!

For sure it´s a terrific camera, IQ is superb it´s a real M camera.

And i think the promise for large sensors in other brands was only that words and expectations.

So the M8 remains in it´s positionfor more years!

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Some of the most beautiful digital B+W photos I've seen were taken with the M8. I think the lack of IR filtering has something to do with it. I've often toyed with the idea of getting one for B+W.
Pete

I am conducting this very experiment as we speak. USD 1300 for a "junior" monochrom sounded good to me. So far, I'm enjoying it a lot, and the black and white files are indeed pretty terrific.

 

[nikonosguy]

it's a great system

 

[willie_901]

I think laws of supply and demand apply here 🙂

This would be it.

Demand is clearly not dropping. At the the current M8 price point equilibrium may have been reached.

Some people realize they can now afford a back up body. Others can afford to use their M/LTM lenses on a digital body with analog manual focusing. And some first time Leica and, or M/LTM buyers will want to see what the RF experience is all about.

The M9 is about a $1,000 more on average.

 

[uhoh7]

Yeah but isn't the demand sinking for the M8 when the M9 gets more affordable? and isn't also the supply increasing because people might want to upgrade? dunno .. my speculations

M8 is actually one of the best cameras in the world today, if you shoot to it's strengths.

 

[k__43]

but the non-declining demand is weird .. I mean this is no film M that might be repairable in many years to come. If the sensor dies or the screen I doubt it gets replaced at all, or if, not on a reasonable price.

M9 still gets treatments at the mothership AFAIK and the marvelous IQ of the M8 you guys mentioned is also there on the M9 just with even more pixels.
Also RFs are preferred by people with a taste for lenses of 50mm or shorter (I know an overly generalizing and incorrect statement), so crop factor actually sucks hard enough to spend more on the camera.
For instance if you love the Summicron 50 you use on film and you buy the M8 you'd need a 35mm or lens, which is at least half that price gap (Voigtländer or probably Zeiss). Yes I know, the argument is BS since some people own a 35 already and the Cron-C is actually the best bet to get you there.
For me it would mean to get a 28mm which I currently do not own so about 350 for a voigtländer or a rokkor

Faux-hipster .. isn't that redundant?

 

[Austerby]

I bought my M8 second-hand in 2010 for £1700. The shutter failed shortly after purchase so it went back under warranty to Leica and fully repaired. As far as I was concerned it was therefore effectively a brand new camera. If it is now worth, say £800 then I regard it as a) money well-spent and b) too low to be worth selling as it's worth more than £800 to me now. I have a Sony A7ii which fulfils all my needs for state-of-the-art full-frame digital camera capabilities, but don't see that as a replacement of the M8.

I did consider changing to a Monochrom but couldn't see that, for me, the extra cost was not justified by the additional capabilities.

 

[Cirrus1]

Off topic:Would anyone care to talk about best practices for a BW workflow with the M8? I am not in the MM zip code $ wise and shoot 100% black and white. Right now I shoot with an X100 jpegs SOOC and have a "look" I like but I am ready to explore new options. I don't want to go back to film though.