Is the Leica an "Investment?"

[AgX]

We've already lost Kodachrome, infra red and high speed colour negative films, and are reliant on a single manufacturer for transparency material.

800 ISO CN film is still manufactured and available rebranded in types 135 and 127. (I know there once was even much faster film...)

E-6 films are still made by two manufacturers. All available to consumers.

 

[StoneNYC]

800 ISO CN film is still manufactured and available rebranded in types 135 and 127. (I know there once was even much faster film...)

E-6 films are still made by two manufacturers. All available to consumers.

Question 1, who sells the 127

Question 2, who sells E-6 besides Fuji?

Links to shops with good pricing would be ideal if you don't mind sharing.


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tebbiebear]

Question 1, who sells the 127

Question 2, who sells E-6 besides Fuji?

Links to shops with good pricing would be ideal if you don't mind sharing.


~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

Rollei Nightbird 800iso CN film is available in 127.

Rollei also has Crossbird and Digibase E-6 film.

All available from Freestyle Photo.

 

[AgX]

That Nightbird in both formats has of course to be twisted and re-spooled for normal use. But still bettter than no such film at all.

 

[blockend]

That Nightbird in both formats has of course to be twisted and re-spooled for normal use. But still bettter than no such film at all.

Not exactly over the counter consumer product then? The point I'm making, and this is no shrill doom-mongering as I'm an enthusiastic film user, is product lines are diminishing year on year and there is no commercial technological film research currently. I'm sure there were Leica users who used, say, Kodachrome exclusively and are no longer able to do so. What if Tri-X disappeared, what if Leica users were reliant on 200 ISO colour negative stock, or far-eastern 100 ISO monochrome? Would Leica investment values hold up at that point? It's hard to say, as even an ancient Leica 1 can theoretically shoot film currently but if they became purely museum objects..?

Some hitherto mainstream film lines are becoming quirky, cult purchases provided by monopolies to maintain or drop at will. That's the reality against which historic camera investment takes place.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

If film production dissappears and Leicas exists , Leica company would find a way to be able to use these Leica I II III and others with digital sensors. I wish this would not happen in next 15 years and new technology would be able to deliver better pictures cheaper, not now. May be they would be able to print circuit on thin film , once installed , no need to remove it until next model. I did not hear a film thickness HR CCD technology yet but may be exist today.

 

[AgX]

There had been digital sensors on the market that could substitute a type 135 cartridge in some camera models. Long gone...

 

[cliveh]

There had been digital sensors on the market that could substitute a type 135 cartridge in some camera models. Long gone...

Now, this is worthy of its own thread. Marketing people would never tolerate a sensor that didn't make all film cameras obsolete. If only this had of happened, even I may use one.

 

[georg16nik]

Leica is moving back to Wetzlar right on time for the 100th anniversary of the brand.
By November 2013, The 'Optical City' of Wetzlar will host the production, administration and customer care divisions of Leica Camera AG.
The new site, built in accordance with the latest energy-efficiency standards will be a new home to around 600 Leica employees, the projected ground-plan area is around 27.000 m², construction cost is 55 million euros.

As a reverence to Oskar Barnack In 2007 Dr. Kaufmann, Christian Skrein, Otto Nemenz, Alfred Schopf and Iain Neil initialized the first Leica Cine Summilux-C T1,4 lenses.. 8 primes average 17 elements, with at least two aspheric element surfaces and greater than full frame cine coverage.

Since 2011., RED offer lens adapter so M or LTM lenses can be used. There is increase of feature films and high end ads shot with Noctilux, Summilux, Summicron etc. etc.

Demand and prices for new or second hand Leica M or LTM glass is up.

 

[AgX]

Leica is moving back to Wetzlar right on time for the 100th anniversary of the brand.

Leica states that this is due to limited space at their current premises for the production of their digital cameras.
But what does this mean with the theme of this thread in mind? A good or a bad sign?

 

[georg16nik]

..
But what does this mean with the theme of this thread in mind? A good or a bad sign?

It means that Leica is a film dinosaur not a luxury item.

 

[AgX]

Then at least they'll have paleontologists as clients...

And Apuggers...

 

[Sirius Glass]

If film production dissappears and Leicas exists , Leica company would find a way to be able to use these Leica I II III and others with digital sensors. I wish this would not happen in next 15 years and new technology would be able to deliver better pictures cheaper, not now. May be they would be able to print circuit on thin film , once installed , no need to remove it until next model. I did not hear a film thickness HR CCD technology yet but may be exist today.

Why would they do that when they can sell digital cameras without the retrofit problems? The business model that you are suggesting will not work.

 

[Yashinoff]

Leica has basically stated that they only make film cameras for the nostalgic now. They see digital as the future, and probably couldn't care less if film disappeared off the face of the planet. But let's be serious here, as long as somebody can make money off of film, film is going to be around. Which means it's very unlikely we'll see the demise of film within our lifetimes. A Leica just may not become a valuable family heirloom is all.

 

[georg16nik]

Then at least they'll have paleontologists as clients...

And Apuggers...

Don't forget baby dinosaurs and apugers kids and grandkids

Leica has basically stated that they only make film cameras for the nostalgic now...

Just like Zeiss, Leica uses film, GeckoCam lens test projector and other analog means to test their lenses, even if those lenses are targeted for digi cams.

..They see digital as the future, and probably couldn't care less if film disappeared off the face of the planet...

Leica care for film the most., compared to other 35mm film camera makers.

 

[Yashinoff]

First of all, we’re still producing M7 and MP cameras. We’re producing them because there is a demand for it — small, but quite stable. As long as this demand exists we will also be making these cameras. Technically speaking, from a quality point of view, there is no real reason to stick with film. Especially if you take an M Monochrom which is producing beautiful black-and-white pictures, one of the last domains of film, black-and-white film. There is not really a technical reason to shoot film.

Read more: http://the.me/interview-with-stefan...nt-next-target-non-leica-users/#ixzz2HYLU4dVX

I think that says it all.

 

[georg16nik]

Read more: http://the.me/interview-with-stefan...nt-next-target-non-leica-users/#ixzz2HYLU4dVX

I think that says it all.

Sure, every manufacturer is headed there.
Stefan Daniel represent the new generation in Leica and he is not a film fan in his heart.
The current owner of Leica Camera AG is not a film fan either but they understand that stop producing film cameras while there is still demand for them will seriously affect the brand.

 

[cameosis]

Then I got zorki 4 and some other soviet cameras - they were terrible.

I wish I got Leica in the first place, it would be much cheaper and less stressful. Now when I have M6 and M3 I know that there is no need for another rangefinder camera in my life.

can't really support that claim -- the zorki 4k and the fed-2 i own are among the best cameras i have used (with fsu lenses, mind you) -- and that's coming from a leica owner, who digs his equipment and has more of it than a sensible individual would need. (note: i'm talking ernst leitz gmbh era here, not the leica camera ag stuff)

pozdrav iz splita.

 

[Arthurwg]

Find the one you can prove was used by hitler's personal photographer.

That might be difficult as Hitler's personal photographer used a Rolleiflex.

 

[jonasfj]

I would not buy a Leica even if I was a millionaire. I like SLR:s. Even though a nice camera can give a certain satisfaction, it is still all about the image. I want to see what I get!

 

[cliveh]

I would not buy a Leica even if I was a millionaire. I like SLR:s. Even though a nice camera can give a certain satisfaction, it is still all about the image. I want to see what I get!

But with an SLR you don't see what you get, as you lose sight of it the moment you press the shutter.

 

[removed account4]

But with an SLR you don't see what you get, as you lose sight of it the moment you press the shutter.

yeah i agree but a split second i do not know if
it would really matter much to me my reflexes are slower than my camera's ...
i think your post

A cameras value is only in the pictures it creates.

was SPOT ON

thanks !

john

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

NO camera is an investment, unless you're a professional photographer. In that case, the investment pays off when you make money using the camera to take pictures for your clients or when you sell prints if you're a fine art photographer. The investment isn't about the camera's resale value, as all cameras drop in value after you open the box, even Leicas.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

DON'T OPEN THE BOX!!!

Nah.

On eBay I've seen never-used cameras in their original packaging, factory-tape plastic covered camera body, accessories, etc. So, a sold-but-never-used item.

It's painful to see, because seals and lubricants still dry out. The camera wants to he used!

 

[jonasfj]

But with an SLR you don't see what you get, as you lose sight of it the moment you press the shutter.

Theoretically yes, but in practice you see what you shoot...