- Joined
- Aug 20, 2013
- Messages
- 88
- Format
- 35mm
I think I'd have to be earning at least a million a year not to think that was insane just for a different paint job. Especially as chrome looks better...
I think I'd have to be earning at least a million a year not to think that was insane just for a different paint job. Especially as chrome looks better...You will maybe find it hard to believe but the Leica game is not for the very rich... 10-20K is not what any Middle-class person would call “insane”.
I think I'd have to be earning at least a million a year not to think that was insane just for a different paint job. Especially as chrome looks better...
And what about you having a broader vision. Like let’s say you buy one today and you sell it with a profit in two years. Sounds too crazy?
The funny thing I have noticed over the years is that, to the above, a poor guy will answer “Yeah right, I’m not stupid enough to do that LOL” while a guy with more sensibility would answer “not a bad idea at all. Play a little, sell with a profit. My hobby financed itself out”.
Which one are you?
I'd be curious to know what the Leica factory would charge. Unfortunately, I don't think they'll give you an estimate until they have the camera in hand.
That's not a broader vision, that's just speculation for profit. It doesn't make paying 20k for a camera just because it has a scruffy brassed paint job any less insane. Of course, buying insane things sometimes makes a profit, as any early holder of Bitcoin can tell you.And what about you having a broader vision. Like let’s say you buy one today and you sell it with a profit in two years. Sounds too crazy?
They wouldn't be replicas, they'd be Leicas. Leica isn't responsible if some people are prepared to pay silly prices just because the factory applied the paint 60 years ago rather than last Tuesday. Perhaps if this became commonplace the bottom would indeed drop out of the market and the speculators would get what they deserve.It could be questionable that Leica join in creating replicas of their own cameras with mismatched serial numbers.
Perhaps if this became commonplace the bottom would indeed drop out of the market and the speculators would get what they deserve.
I’d love to see how that M7 looks these days. Maybe my biggest regret letting that one go.
You will maybe find it hard to believe but the Leica game is not for the very rich... 10-20K is not what any Middle-class person would call “insane”. And the Very rich don’t lose their time with Leicas. What for, there’s a Helicopter on the roof of their Yacht waiting for them. Leicas are for the passionate.
I have a 1934 black Leica II with a 50mm 3.5 Elmar and both camera and lens have recently been cleaned and serviced. I even treated the case with Neatsfoot compound to soften and restore the leather. I think this is the most tactile and well designed camera (for it's time) in the history of photography.
Beautiful. How’s the lens?
That depends on your definition of "middle class." US $10-20K is a lot for a hobby item (vs a necessity or a professional tool). That's into the territory of a smaller car, boat, or year of in-state university tuition. You may get your money back out of a Leica in a way that wouldn't be true of a car or boat, but I think you have an unusual idea of casual purchasing. (For comparison, median US household income is about $68K/year.)
Whaaaaaaaa?
From a mechanical standpoint the lens is shockingly well made. If you were handling it with your eyes closed, you'd think it was a real Leica 35 8 elements. The build is that good. I picked the brass option as it was unique and made it less of a replica as Leica did not offer that finish.
Optically it is nice - not super sharp, but smooth rendering with nice contrast. I think it is better on B&W than colour.
What really was remarkable was the original price point - about $500 - to the first round buyers. That is a lot less than a 35mm Voigtlander f2, but built much nicer. Even the all brass lens hood was super cheap.
Now of course, the price has gone up at least 100%.
I'll post pics taken with it when I can, for some reason flickr is not working for me at the moment.
p.s the super shiny finish has nicely dulled as the brass was not sealed.
Whaaaaaaaa?
I sold mine too around 2013... the camera I swore to never sell. Especially since I shot my son’s birth with it. But I ended up finding the camera too kitchy: taller top plate, red dot... but the paint is really soft on that M6 millenium. I brassed it like crazy within 2 years. Took me 10 years to brass my MP equally to the Millenium model...
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