Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1992/07/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A photographer/writer friend of mine (he writes for Darkroom Techniques Magazine) who has his everyday job in retail told me that with new camera sales to be competetive they only make 5% profit. However, they can keep their business alive with used equipment where the margin is much higher. Dealers generally will allow 1/3 current market value when they acquire used equipment, be it Leica or Polaroid. If you want to _offset_ the cost of owning one of these yourself, you probably could do so. But unless you do extremely well with your initial acquisition I wouldn't expect to make alot from reselling them, at least enough to perhaps pay for owning one of them. The plus is that Leicas have the reputation and quality that sells them on their own, the trick is to find someone selling Leica equipment who is less proud of that reputation than the current market is. I once considered an M4-P with a current 35mm f2 Summicron that was near mint from a third party for $1200. A dealer might ask $400 more. But dealers have to make a living too I suppose. All I can say is keep making pictures. Best Regards, Mark Eastman meastman@adobe.com