Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/06/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jayanand, put aside the collectors who basically are interested in mint examples. The retention of value of Leitz/Leica glass (and cameras of course) reflects the fact that their optical performance and build quality assure their usefulness for decades. One doesn't have to buy and re-buy every several years. My everyday user M-lenses currently are (when I don't need speed which is most often) a 35/2,8 Summaron and 50/2 rigid Summicron (both1967 production) and a 90/2,8 Elmarit (1970 production). The cameras are my first M4 (1967) and M6 (1985). The cameras have been CLA'd once each; the lenses have not needed anything, though Ernst Hartmann at Leica New Jersey said the 50 Summicron was a bit dry and could use a bit of lube on the helicoids. Best, Seth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jayanand Govindaraj" <jayanand@gmail.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:16 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 and the WAR > Geoff, > Exactly what I mean - retention of value is only of interest to a > collector > - users prefer bang for the buck!! Dont tell me that a 50mm Summicron is > so > far ahead of a 50mm f1.8 Nikkor (or Canon) that the price differentials > are > justified. I can buy the 50mm Nikkor and give it away if I so feel after a > few years - I lose only 100 bucks. The loss on the Summicron would be much > greater, however well it retained its value. This "retention of value" is > a > chimera - a lot depends on the purchase price, and percentages have no > meaning, only absolute numbers. > > After shooting digital with the crop factor (D70, D40X, D300), I have > realised that even halfway decent full frame lenses produce great results, > because you only use the center portion of the image. It should be > different > for full frame digital, though of which I have no experience! > Cheers > Jayanand > > On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Geoff Hopkinson > <hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> > wrote: > >> Hi Jayanand, I thought we might hear from you when I mentioned Nikon vs. >> Leica ;-) The key word in my comments was RETENTION of value, being new >> price vs. current price. Once you've paid for those M lenses they can >> work >> for you and remain valuable for a very long time. Yes, you can buy a lot >> of >> used Nikon manual gear cheaply now for a rugged film outfit. >> Actually it is an interesting thread with a number of different issues >> being >> talked about, especially the performance of all digital cameras mentioned >> compared to the more rugged designs of pro film cameras. >> This week a story was related to me regarding a war photographer who is >> living here now. I got to see a proof run of prints of photographs by him >> during the Vietnam conflict. Evidently he survived an exploding grenade >> when >> shrapnel struck his Leica camera while he was holding it to his face. >> >> Cheers >> Geoff >> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/e >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ >> >> -----Original Message----- >> Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 and the WAR >> >> Geoff, >> Also guess which is the better value now - the F3 is built like a rock, >> and >> is a very flexible system, thanks to various accessories that are >> available >> (viewfinders, focus screens,etc,etc)...some of those AIS lenses are no >> slouches either. Depends on whether you are a collector or user. >> Cheers >> Jayanand >> >> On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 4:59 AM, Geoff Hopkinson >> <hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> >> wrote: >> ......On mechanical solid film kit second hand prices, all six of my >> remaining manual focus well built Nikon primes are currently for sale, >> for >> a >> total of about one half... the value of a single modern used Leica M >> lens, >> .... Guess which kit has better value retention ;-) >> > Cheers Geoff >> > -----Original Message----- >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >