[Leica] Is it worth buying a pre-loved R4 or R3 if only Leica canfix it?

[douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp)]

They are among the few cameras that maintain their value (and price) and 
are , therefore worth repairing when they go wrong - which isn't often.

I was just comparing camera prices earlier on, a Leica R5 still goes for 
prices between 299 and 499 euros - equivalent cameras go over the 
counter for a pittance compared with the original price.

The only lower priced Leica-R models are the R3, R3Mot and some models 
of the R4, but these also begin at 4 times the price of a used Nikon, 
Pentax or Canon body - I expect to see Minolta cameras being given away 
soon :-) , nobody seems to want them.

I recently bought a good condition Canon A1 with a motor drive, 1 Canon 
lens, 1 Vivitar lens and 2 Tokina zooms for 150 euros and an almost mint 
Pentax MX for 25 euros complete with a 50/1.7. Camera shops here in 
Germany are selling everything but Leica often for less than online 
auction prices.

Hang on to the Leica stuff. As Doug wrote, it does have an emotional 
component too, but it is also nice to know that here are still plenty of 
good homes willing to pay premium s/h prices for Leica cameras if you 
should decide to part with them.

Cheers
Douglas

On 03.02.2010 22:53, wildlightphoto at earthlink.net wrote:
> Paul Winkfield wrote:
>
>    
>>>>          
> I have some R accessories hanging around, left by my cousins who took my R4
> some years back...I never replaced it but now I've seen prices under $200
> Back when Tamarkin was doing articles in Shutterbug put this question out
> there but I never remember if he answered it; opinions please, thanks in
> advance!
> I have motor drive, Tamron adapters, a lens and other stuff looking lonely
> without a body...and I'm not  interested in selling, too many good memories
> attached!
> <<<
>
> I can't tell you if it's worth it.  This is an emotional decision so I'm
> poorly-equipped to tell you what's best for you.  You might find that the
> last few years have not been kind to your eyes and you might need a
> viewfinder diopter correction lens even if you didn't before.  The later R
> bodies have built-in viewfinder diopter adjustment, and the bodies through
> R7 will accept your motor drive.
>
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sacramento
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
>
>
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