RE: [Leica] Long-term value; was Portrait of Marianne = bad mistake

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Yes, Seth, Leica equipment does hold its value well compared to other camera
brands - no question. But $151 invested in 1976 at 5% with annual
compounding would have been $400 in 1987, and today would be $832.91. (I may
well be off a bit as I am a math clutz.) But the point is that your lens did
not gain in value no matter how you look at it...and we're not even talking
about inflation - what you paid for that lens in 2002 dollars, compared to
what you'd get for it today...

As to the quality - I don't think that there is any question that Leica has
always produced incredibly well made equipment. Even with the complaints
about problems with today's Ms and Rs, they are still by far the best made
35 mm cameras on the market. And the build quality of the lenses has always
been,and remains, truly remarkable. At the same time, it is more than a bit
of a myth that Leica has always made top quality 35 mm camera lenses. Yes,
today's M lenses are terrific, as are those of the recent past. But when you
start talking about lenses from the 40s, 50s, and even some from the 60s,
and compare those lenses to the rangefinder lenses compared to Zeiss, Nikon,
and even Canon, they don't look all that terrific.

B. D.
- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of
SthRosner@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 6:24 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Long-term value; was Portrait of Marianne = bad
mistake


edseas2@shore.net writes:

> for the owners of the vast
>  majority of Japanese equipment, the value of their lenses (and
>  bodies)will be but a small fraction of the sum(s) originally spent.
Looked
>  at in this way, it may indeed be cheaper (read "wiser") to invest in
Leica
>  product(s).

e.g. In 1967 I paid $151. for my first (new) DR Summicron. I have just sold
a
wonderful DR without the eyes for $475. With eyes, a good DR today is worth
$550.-$750. depending on condition. In 1967 I paid $131. for a new black
paint 35/2 Summicron. Last year I sold a like-new 35/2 8-glass silver chrome
Summicron in original bubble and box for $1,500. In black paint, it would be
worth $2,500.-3,000.

Granted some of this is collector money talking. Granted inflation plays a
very important role here (a pack of cigarettes in 1967 cost what, $0.20? and
in 1970 I paid $8,000. for the top-of-the-line BMW 2800 that I collected at
Munich).

But the point is that Leitz designed and Leica designs cameras and lenses to
perform at world-class-leading cutting edge levels and to a standard of
strength, reliability and longevity that makes them so desirable 40 years
later as users that knowledgeable people are willing to pay what a new one
costs today.

Remarkable.

Seth          LaK 9
- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html