Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/23

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica prices
From: "Bill Larsen" <ohlen@sierratel.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 11:52:50 -0700

I don't know your price sources for 1971.  I do have a price list from January
1968 which shows quite different results.

In 1968, the recommended price for the M4 was US$216 (DM855) which shows a
1999 price of $1048.  The Summilux  1:1.4 for the M4 and M2 was $154 (DM616)
which would show a 1999 price of  $747.  The only lenses on this list  in the
21-135 range that cost more than the camera body was the Noctilux 1:1.2 at
$456 (DM1815) and the 135 a:2.8 Elmarit at $225 (DM 907).

You all can draw your own conclusions as to the efficiency and pricing of
Leica equipment as well as the actual cost of Leica equipment bought in 1968
and used to the present time.  Note that the exchange rate between US$ and DM
at the time was 1:4.

Bill (I buy Voigtländer now) Larsen
(Oh and the price list is #110-73 110-74)

Takeshi Hashimoto writes:


|Using the inflation calculator:
|http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
|
|If an M4 cost $500 in 1971
|
|An equivalent amount of $500 in 1971 dollars would be $2085.55 in 1999
dollars.
|
|So an M6 (a better-featured camera than the M4) at $1699 or so is quite a
bargain, no?
|
|The 50mm Summilux-R, which was $441 in 1971, would be:
|
|An equivalent amount of $441 in 1971 dollars would be $1839.46 in 1999
dollars.
|
|
|The new, quite improved 50mm Summilux-R, today sells for $1945 (from Tamarkin
web page) so again, we are just about the same price allowing for inflation,
but for an improved product.
|
|
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