Mackinaw
Think Different
Who says $4,000.00 is cheap?
Jim B.
Jim B.
Lax Jought
Well-known
The Chinese market for Leica gear has 'vanished' says a long-time dealer friend of mine in China. Their economy is in shambles.
Demand is less, so the prices are sliding. Chinese demand is what built the bubble; it has now burst.
Digital depreciates anyway but used Leica gear has taken a huge drop in the past few months, going back to when China devalued the yuan.
Demand is less, so the prices are sliding. Chinese demand is what built the bubble; it has now burst.
Digital depreciates anyway but used Leica gear has taken a huge drop in the past few months, going back to when China devalued the yuan.
Emile de Leon
Well-known
The economy aint so great in the US either..
ferider
Veteran
No; not sure why you would make fun of somebody who might be in financial trouble.
Anyways, my answer to the question: I just bought a new Voigtlander lens from a reputed British dealer - including more expensive shipping and custom fees for ~35% cheaper than what I would have paid in California, Stephen. The dollar is very strong, currently, which is not reflected in many US new prices yet. However, due to European and Asian competition, it must be reflected in online private used prices. That's one. 2) M9s are even cheaper and the sensor issue has been solved, and 3) it's a 2 year old camera. Finally, 4) all used camera prices are down, I personally believe it's going to be a cold winter. If you have cash, early next year might be a good time to buy a new house or dealer-refurbished used car ...
Roland.
rscheffler
Well-known
+1000
The considerable price differences in the US vs. many other major markets.... I noticed this some time ago for Zeiss products. Leica too. And sorry to say, but also Voigtlander.
Being in Canada and often traveling in the US, the strength of the USD and considerable drop in the CAD has made this somewhat painful and quite revelatory how prices in the US on many types of goods have remained pretty much flat (in terms of USD) despite the much stronger dollar. One would think there might be some price reductions on some imported goods, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe it's a situation of many US consumers being ignorant of global pricing and corporations taking advantage of this? Then again, it's business and the objective is maximum profitability, which I can appreciate. But as a consumer looking for the best bang for my depreciated CAD, it's no longer often found in the US market. Quite the reversal from ~10 years ago when it seemed that the US was the place for the best prices...
Samouraï
Well-known
It might have something to do with that CMOS sensor (which doesn't have the same feel as the old CCD in the M9). The M9 is the modern classic, imo, not the M240 (which is bloated with features).
mfogiel
Veteran
I think that digital cameras without warranty are essentially worth nothing, so you might ask yourself, how come people still pay so much for these.
Lss
Well-known
Where is this? Consider yourself anyway lucky, if you buy used cars.Why is a Saab only 10% of its price after one year
Lss
Well-known
Yes, 10 years ago basically everything seemed considerably cheaper in US than in Euroland. Now, only majority of goods and services.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Yes, a few years ago the US dollar price was the same as the UK pound price, meaning we paid 50% or more for the privilege. And they didn't do anything to the software for the extra; I'd expect English spelling with the English price.
But it's worse elsewhere on the European mainland I've noticed buttons and switches on electronic stuff is labelled in English regardless of where it's sold.
Back to the M240, no one has mentioned the shutter usage yet. I reckon that affects the prices most for second-hand stuff. So we could be looking at the mint,two thousand shots camera and comparing it with the one hundred and two shots version.
Regards, David
But it's worse elsewhere on the European mainland I've noticed buttons and switches on electronic stuff is labelled in English regardless of where it's sold.
Back to the M240, no one has mentioned the shutter usage yet. I reckon that affects the prices most for second-hand stuff. So we could be looking at the mint,two thousand shots camera and comparing it with the one hundred and two shots version.
Regards, David
robert blu
quiet photographer
It seems me almost logical that prices for a used camera, not new on the market, maybe without warranty, which will be probably substituted by a new model next year and with a stronger competition by other FF small cameras are dropping, more or less depending on circumstances like the general economy status...
robert
robert
KM-25
Well-known
Well considering that I and two of my colleagues who all had an M9 at one point find the M240 blows the doors off the M9 all bought nice used M240's this year....I would say with confidence what you have written above is not it.
Nah, this is not the sensor rot M9 we are talking about, the 240 has had very little trouble compared to other Leica M digital bodies. Also, repairs are not that bad on it, before I bought it used I inquired with a Leica rep in NJ on things like a new shutter, body shell if damage occured, etc and it was actually cheaper than Nikon.
I think the main reason that all things Leica have dropped in price in the used market is the global economy, currency and competition from other cameras. Lenses have dropped a lot in price in the used market too, all these reasons are why I built up a nice little Leica kit again. The M240 and a couple lenses paid for it self within 3 months of buying it.
Agreed, not really in the Christmas Spirit....at all.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
I would agree. However switching from the M9 to M240 will require a bit of work like getting the profiles right to get one's colour workflow up and running and that has probably put one or two users off the M240. Blowing doors off is a bit of a hyperbole though IMO; I have no qualms using the M9 next to the M240.
KM-25
Well-known
It's all a matter of perspective, right? Between the high ISO improvement, quieter shutter and amazing battery life, the trio of us find that the 240 easily buried the M9 in actual use.
I shot with the 240 unprotected in a blizzard for three hours at around 0-5F this week and got 300+ shots off and the battery still read 90% full. Both the M8 and M9 would have simply died because they often did.
The M240 is one model removed from the newest 240 type right? The latest model is the M-P (type 240) is the current model ($7000) and sells for about $4800 used. The M240 origin version sells for $6380 at B&H. Used digital cameras generally sell for 65-75% of new... and this goes down as camera models are replaced. Since the M240 isn't the latest version, I think we are seeing normal used prices.
Lss
Well-known
No such issues with the M8 here. The battery life on it, of course, is not fantastic. It's surprisingly easy to carry an extra battery or two, though.
uhoh7
Veteran
Let's grab some dentists and examine the gift horse?
It's fantastic the 240 can be had commonly for 3800.
Many of the best lenses are much cheaper too: 28 cron 50Lux 75/2 SEM 18/21/24 etc.
This thread does crack me up, because usually all the crying is "who can afford one?"
Now it's "Why oh why are they so cheap?"
It's fantastic the 240 can be had commonly for 3800.
Many of the best lenses are much cheaper too: 28 cron 50Lux 75/2 SEM 18/21/24 etc.
This thread does crack me up, because usually all the crying is "who can afford one?"
Now it's "Why oh why are they so cheap?"
willie_901
Veteran
This could be the most entertaining RFF thread in some time.
Aa a bonus, every so often someone shares rational, fact-based information.
Aa a bonus, every so often someone shares rational, fact-based information.