Wow, a bit surprised at how M body prices have fallen

[Vickko]

I was tempted to buy and fix an M4, for $600, until I saw how much M4 working bodies were selling for, ie. not much over that price.

I'm surprised how much in value they've fallen.

AFAIK, lens prices haven't fallen so much. Is that due to the success of the M digital cameras, and/or adapters for M lenses to digital cameras? I suppose so.

 

[Spicy]

They haven't fallen all that much. It seems in the past few months in the classifieds, M4 prices (asking, don't know about final sales) have actually been going up.

 

[Clint Troy]

Working M4 for 600$? Where??

 

[Vickko]

Gone, and it wasn't working

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M4-ca...stPe98mND9PWpekuks8m8%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Leica prices were so insane about 2 years, everything has fallen by comparison. A nice working M4 was $1200, used Summilux 50 ASPH were going for $5500, even old not great lenses like the Canon 50 f/1.2 were selling for $1800.

The introduction of the M8 and M9 brought so many new users into a pretty small market. The Leica factory wasn't prepared, so there were waiting lists for every lens and unscrupulous sellers preferred to sell the lens for a quick profit on ebay to actually using it. The new to Leica users fell in love with the brand and started buying film cameras and old lenses.

It was a mess if you wanted anything quickly and at a reasonable price, but things have changed. Every new to leica user has already bought or tried film cameras, leica Lens production has really picked up, and people are saving their money for the new M

 

[seakayaker1]

M7's appear to have fallen in value faster than the rest of the film M bodies that appear to be holding their own. I picked up a Mint condition M6TTL Chrome about 18 months ago and was in the same shop today and the asking price was $200.00 higher. I think you can find deals but the prices do not appear to be dropping through the floor just yet.

 

[splitimageview]

No, prices aren't dropping. There are always examples that sell above the norm for various reasons (including that they might be exceptional condition) and those that sell below the norm because people don't know what they have, and sell them too cheap on ebay.

I saw that M4, most likely Youxin bought it.

 

[Brian Legge]

Looks like it was already relisted? Maybe the buyer bailed?

 

[splitimageview]

Talking about this one? 111017423456

I don't see he's relisted it but everything else he's sold, he's sold more than once 🙂

 

[colyn]

Something strange about this auction. I clicked on the relist and it shows up as being relisted but when I click show other items nothing shows up..

 

[ChrisN]

The re-listed item: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M4-camera-body-with-light-meter-/111017775880?

So - it's a $600 camera that needs $630 repairs. Sound like a good $1200 camera.

(For his other items, check under completed listings.)

 

[NicoM]

I've noticed that the prices for Ms have fallen as well. I think it is because, though there still is some demand for film Ms, it isn't as high as it was just a few years ago. There are more Ms now that don't sell right away and I think that many sellers are lowering prices just to get them sold.

Though the prices are falling a bit, they are never going to dramatically fall. There is a finite number of used classic Ms that will always circulate the market, nothing more. No more are being created so Ms will always have that collectors/classic price attached to it.

 

[seakayaker1]

No more are being created so Ms will always have that collectors/classic price attached to it.

Still producing the M7 and MP.

 

[NicoM]

Still producing the M7 and MP.

In the previous scentence, I said classic M. I was referring to older, out of production models. That being said, the price of a used M7 is often less than 50% of the brand new price. You can find them for less than $2500 even at dealers like KEH.

 

[cosmonaut]

I bought an M4 here a few weeks ago I have wanted one for years. It does appear the M4 prices are down from a couple of years ago. At one point you couldn't touch a nice one under $1200.00.
Prices do seem to be going back up. I think it has a lot to do with what digital things are coming out. The more and better the new cameras are the lower the M price as people are ditching them to feed their digital habits. The fury of all the new bodies, D800, D600 a99, Fuji, and various digital M's seem to be over.
Prices should fall this spring. If a full frame NEX comes out.

 

[John Lawrence]

Prices in the UK don't seem to have changed much, with the exception of the Leica M5 which has risen in price.

A few years ago you could pick one up for around £400-500, now they seem to be going for £700+.

John

 

[thegman]

I noticed in the UK, a dip in prices last year, and they've gone up just a touch now. As the market is entirely fashion based, then it'll fluctuate as fashion ebbs and flows.

If the popular blogs increase demand by declaring "Leicas have soul" or whatever, then prices will go up. If another blog makes people think that such-and-such a camera is a great alternative to Leica, then demand may fall, and prices along with it.

Prices going up and down is just a feature of a fashion driven market.

 

[maitani]

lately prices on 'standard' leicas M2/M3/M4/M6/M7 is stable to slightly decreasing,prices on M5 have been creeping up lately too, some people fall in love with the best leica ever (better late, than never...) ;-) the top collectors pieces (real mint stuff, small badge serials, exotic serials, black paint, rares exotics, in boxes, sealed or so...) though, demand more than ever before... try to find some original black paint M2 at a price one could call reasonable..

prices have become exorbitant.. fortunately there's the classifieds here, where you can find almost any model you desire, at 'normal' prices, usually weigh below market value, the reason might also be that many are going for the new M or used m9, so they're cutting down their analogue body lineup, to free up some cash.

 

[Sparrow]

... some could possibly be photographers? I find the idea that they're all consumers hard to swallow ...

 

[splitimageview]

Up, down, static...really need some research and actual sales data of equivalent condition models before making conclusions. Even a cursory look at completed sales on eBay is of no use since condition can't be directly compared.