Timmyjoe
Mentor
In May of 2000 I bought a brand new Leica M6TTL for $1999 (about $3650 in today's dollars) from a reputable camera shop in Chicago and a brand new Leica 50mm Summilux (the Mandler design) for the same price of $1999 (about $3650 in today's dollars). Looking at the current prices for an MP, it looks like the M6TTL was a bargain.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
ptpdprinter
Mentor
And if you had put the same $3998 in a mutual fund tied to the Dow, you would now have roughly $25,000.
There are lots of 'what ifs', such as what would $4000 of Apple stock in 2000 be worth today?
Millions, assuming reinvested dividends.
On the other hand, Apple stock sucks at taking photos. 😆
Millions, assuming reinvested dividends.
On the other hand, Apple stock sucks at taking photos. 😆
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
My only Leica regret is not getting an M5 when they were in disfavor and prices were low.
I did get two Leicaflex SL’s, which were also relatively low priced at the time, but that is offset by the price of R lenses.
I did get two Leicaflex SL’s, which were also relatively low priced at the time, but that is offset by the price of R lenses.
And if you invested in the wrong instrument you would have $0. Instead he bought a camera that he liked and had a good time using it.
Erik van Straten
Mentor
Dave, if you really want to have a Summar, two aspects are important, 1. the lens must be coated; 2. the front lens must be pristine.
After the war, many Summars were returned to Leitz by their owners to have them coated. So you have to get hold of such a lens. However, there is a second requirement, namely that the front lens is scratch-free. That is difficult, because the glass of the front lens is buttery soft.
Good luck!
gelatin silver print (summar 50mm f2) leica lll
Erik.
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ptpdprinter
Mentor
Which I why I specified a mutual fund tied to the Dow.
I don't understand why Leica owners are so obsessed with touting its used value appreciation over time (unadjusted for inflation). Why not just say you have had a good time using them?
I understood your point, but conversely, there is always a gamble. A mutual fund tied dow is pretty safe though. That does not mean people cannot buy a camera AND invest also.
It is pretty nice to buy a consumer good and have it appreciate instead of depreciate. I would imagine the constant bickering about Leica prices makes people defensive. Fortunately for me, I am in the process of selling my last Leica. I no longer enjoy using a rangefinder like I used to.
I just buy this stuff because I like it. I like using it, I like working on it. I like publishing how-to guides and giving advice on fixing something. Turn back a small part of the entropy of the universe that ultimately states that everything breaks. That includes writing custom software to fix a bad line on my M Monochrome or my friend's M8.
Is Leica too expensive? Compared to what? There are a lot of hobbies that are much more costly, even more than Leicas.
Collecting lenses and cameras- most of the ones I've bought needed some work, or were attained at a good price. Compared to many mutual funds over the last two years- did much better. As my wife tells me, "You'll never sell them" and she is right. Also tells me "If you like it keep it. If you use it, keep it. If you do not like it, and do not use it- sell it". So my investment advisor has the card of a reputable camera dealer that sells on consignment, for when I am gone.
Is Leica too expensive? Compared to what? There are a lot of hobbies that are much more costly, even more than Leicas.
Collecting lenses and cameras- most of the ones I've bought needed some work, or were attained at a good price. Compared to many mutual funds over the last two years- did much better. As my wife tells me, "You'll never sell them" and she is right. Also tells me "If you like it keep it. If you use it, keep it. If you do not like it, and do not use it- sell it". So my investment advisor has the card of a reputable camera dealer that sells on consignment, for when I am gone.
Mackinaw
Think Different
I live in northern Michigan. Being in the Lake Michigan snowbelt, snowmobiling is big up here in the winter. Many folks from SE Michigan come up here to snowmobile. A very expensive hobby. For instance, cost of a new Ford F-150 (or equivalent) to haul your snowmobiles, about $60,000. Cost of four snowmobiles, $10,000 a pop for $40,000. Cost of a trailer, about $5,000. All told, over $100,000 for an activity you can only do when there's snow on the ground.
I don't feel bad at all spending what I have on my three Leica's and lenses. And I can use them year around too.
Jim B.
dave lackey
Mentor
Thanks, Erik,
I really appreciate the wise advice.👍 Apparently finding an excellent Summar would be an adventure and somewhat of a challenge. 🙂
But I can start my piggy bank slush fund…no hurry, and I can continue to learn more.
Dave
I replaced the front element on my Summar, which came on a Leica IIIa for $15. Found a Summar with perfect glass but without aperture blades for $60 at a camera show. The lens flared badly- took out the glass, repainted the sides of the elements, solved that problem.
Rayt
Nonplayer Character
I was told by a Leica repairman the vintage lens elements are not interchangeable between lenses and are matched during assembly. Parts were not standardized until much later not sure when.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
I'd still rather have a camera in had than the cash in the bank. But I'm a silly old soldier like that.
The elements are close enough to allow one to be substituted for another. Sometimes you get outliers. With some lenses- the design was revised throughout the run, so you need to get fairly close in serial number. I've noted on early Rigid Summicrons that I had to bore out the fixture to put in a later front element: but it worked, and focus was accurate. When you look at the "Lens Makers Formula" the focal length of the individual optics would have to be way off to throw a lens completely out of calibration. So- a case of try it, if it works- use it. If not, wait for another one to try. I've replaced elements in the Summar and Summicron. I've replaced many elements in Zeiss lenses, and have made lenses from Zeiss and Jupiter lenses.
wlewisiii
Just another hotel clerk
Beautiful image.
I do want to find a good Summar but I also want it to be a prewar uncoated lens with a nice proper bloom on it. Like the Contax mount Tessar 50/2.8 I once had. Gave a gorgeous rendering in the right light. Honestly, I expect it's the hardest to find on my short list of 6 lenses I'd like to get because of the front glass that they used. That's how it goes.
My Summar with the replaced front element, on the Leica M9.