Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/12/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert, Cosina/Voigtlander makes very decent film cameras, and if demand for film cameras really returned, the major suppliers could jump back into that market in a matter of weeks. Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.nathanfoto.com PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog YNWA On Dec 28, 2010, at 2:10 AM, Robert Meier wrote: > There is another factor that has intervened to break the pattern you > describe: the digital revolution. Very few Leica film cameras are still > made and no other film cameras, at least, the metal, manual, mechanical > kind. So there is a finite number of film Leicas and their value in the > future will grow as the number of people desiring them grows. It's > impossible to predict future value, but the new circumstances might well > mean that their value will increase more rapidly than it has in the past. > > Robert > > On Dec 27, 2010, at 6:05 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote: > >> Considering the "end of the world" social and or economic collapse >> predicted >> in 2012, just how good is the investment value of Leica cameras. At >> today's >> Leica prices there are only two reasons for buying a new Leica camera >> primarily as an investment, both of them irrational. >> >> First, if you are a camera collector and/or a camera speculator you will >> buy >> the camera and keep it unused in its original box, expecting that its >> price >> will increase at some future date. This is a distinct possibility. A new >> unsold 1954 M3 with its original carton and shipping documents which sold >> for about $250 new in a tax free airport shop would probably sell at a >> collector's auction for the price of a small car, an unused urLeica would >> go >> for the price of a new house. >> >> The price appreciation of most Leicas, however, is a bit less than the >> equivalent amount of money deposited in bank CDs and considerably less >> than >> funds invested in the stock market. That $250 cost of the Leica in 1954, >> invested in CDs at the average rate of return would have grown to about >> $3250, about the price of a late model used Leica kit. If the Leica >> purchase >> funds were invested in the stock market at the average annual rate of >> return >> since 1954, it would have grown to almost $40,000, enough to buy a new >> camera and a BMW to drive it around in. Buying Leicas soley for >> appreciation >> is simply a variation of the "Greater Fool" theory beloved of stock >> speculators. You may be a fool for paying so much but you hope there is >> always a greater fool who will buy it from you for more. >> >> Second, if you are one of those who have a "best quality" addiction you >> will >> buy the camera to fondle and possess, secure in the feeling that no one >> has >> or appreciates quality equipment better than you. For a definition of >> "quality" see Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." >> Take plenty of pictures with the camera. But don't get annoyed by the fact >> that the resulting pictures are almost indistinguishable from those taken >> with lesser cameras like Nikons or Canons. If digital cameras, all will be >> obsolete in a few years anyway and their value will decline precipitously. >> >> So unless you are a camera speculator or a quality addict don't buy a >> Leica >> for appreciation. Buy a Canon or Nikon. You will get state of the art >> engineering and manufacturing, fine lenses, autofocus and autoexposure at >> a >> considerable saving over the cost of an equivalent Leica system. Invest >> the >> money you save to provide a real legacy for your children. Or in a >> collection of fine Scotch potables. Remember that if the Indians who sold >> Niew Amsterdam to the Dutch had invested their $24 properly they could not >> only buy back Manhattan but every bit of developed property from Boston to >> Washington, DC. >> >> Larry Z >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >