Leica made in Germany vs. in Canada - value

[ic-racer]

Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential.

I cannot confirm that, most of my Leica lenses were hundreds, not thousand of EUR.

 

[GregY]

I cannot confirm that, most of my Leica lenses were hundreds, not thousand of EUR.

RL, the internet is your friend. Used we consider them more 'reasonable'...... new ?..... how about that 50mm lens for 4600 € ? ......

 

[RezaLoghme]

Leica M6 body: EUR 5.800
Leica MP body: EUR 5.900
Leica Summicron-M 2/50: EUR 2.650
Leica Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH: EUR 3.490

From Leica's own website

 

[GregY]

Leica M6 body: EUR 5.800
Leica MP body: EUR 5.900
Leica Summicron-M 2/50: EUR 2.650
Leica Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH: EUR 3.490

From Leica's own website

the 50mm asph versions are very close to 10k €.....

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1268473-REG/leica_11142_apo_summicron_m_50mm_f_2_asph.html

 

[RezaLoghme]

the 50mm asph versions are very close to 10k €.....

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1268473-REG/leica_11142_apo_summicron_m_50mm_f_2_asph.html

Sure.
Here its EUR 8.300

Leica M6 body: EUR 5.800
Leica MP body: EUR 5.900

No need to spend 8.300 though, the regular 50 (EUR 2.650, about 50% of the body) will probably deliver good results.

Or why did you mention one of their most expensive lenses, while most of them are much cheaper?

So: "Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential" - no. Even the APO is just 30% more than the body, surely not "inconsequential."

 

[GregY]

Sure.
Here its EUR 8.300

Leica M6 body: EUR 5.800
Leica MP body: EUR 5.900

No need to spend 8.300 though, the regular 50 (EUR 2.650, about 50% of the body) will probably deliver good results.

Or why did you mention one of their most expensive lenses, while most of them are much cheaper?

So: "Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential" - no. Even the APO is just 30% more than the body, surely not "inconsequential."

Just supporting what ic-racer said. Even 2650 € for a 'normal' lens puts Leica into the luxury purchase category.
And is it really worth it when most people aren't even printing their photos....?

 

[RezaLoghme]

Just supporting what ic-racer said. Even 2650 € for a 'normal' lens puts Leica into the luxury purchase category.
And is it really worth it when most people aren't even printing their photos....?

"Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential."

That is what he said. So to me, a non-native speaker, it somehow reads as if he is putting lens and body prices in proportion.

 

[Radost]

Leica M6 body: EUR 5.800
Leica MP body: EUR 5.900
Leica Summicron-M 2/50: EUR 2.650
Leica Summicron-M 1:2/35 ASPH: EUR 3.490

From Leica's own website

Used prices:
m6 from $1900-3000
MP $4000

 

[Don_ih]

Used prices:
m6 from $1900-3000
MP $4000

Not meaningful. The oldest M6 ~ 40 years. The oldest MP ~ 20 years. That's not insignificant,

 

[RezaLoghme]

Used prices:
m6 from $1900-3000
MP $4000

Summicron 50/2 V3: 800-1500 EUR
CL + 40mm Elmar-C kit: 1500 EUR

Elmar-C 90/4: 150 EUR.

R4 body: 150 EUR
Elmarit-R 135/2.8 (designed by the legendary Madler): 180 EUR
-> go shooting with a 35mm film Leica and a Madler iconic portrait lens for 330 EUR.

What? That destroy's the "Leica is expensive" narrative? So I/it must be wrong.

BUT

Maybe for 2026, we could move on, instead of bringing up the "Leica is overpriced" trope again and again every few weeks? Deal?

 

[Radost]

Summicron 50/2 V3: 800-1500 EUR
CL + 40mm Elmar-C kit: 1500 EUR

Elmar-C 90/4: 150 EUR.

R4 body: 150 EUR
Elmarit-R 135/2.8 (designed by the legendary Madler): 180 EUR
-> go shooting with a 35mm film Leica and a Madler iconic portrait lens for 330 EUR.

What? That destroy's the "Leica is expensive" narrative? So I/it must be wrong.

BUT

Maybe for 2026, we could move on, instead of bringing up the "Leica is overpriced" trope again and again every few weeks? Deal?

Dont buy any R4-R7. Most of them have to be repaired. Also under 70mm manual SLR are thought to quickly focus for me.

 

[GregY]

Summicron 50/2 V3: 800-1500 EUR
CL + 40mm Elmar-C kit: 1500 EUR

Elmar-C 90/4: 150 EUR.

R4 body: 150 EUR
Elmarit-R 135/2.8 (designed by the legendary Madler): 180 EUR
-> go shooting with a 35mm film Leica and a Madler iconic portrait lens for 330 EUR.

What? That destroy's the "Leica is expensive" narrative? So I/it must be wrong.

BUT

Maybe for 2026, we could move on, instead of bringing up the "Leica is overpriced" trope again and again every few weeks? Deal?

Walter MaNdler.....
You pick the low hanging fruit. Especially on the R cameras which never equalled the status or reliability of M cameras.
Yet the original post was about the relative value of Canadian-made vs German-made Leicas....
2026.... How about less gear talk and more photos?

 

[chuckroast]

Walter MaNdler.....
You pick the low hanging fruit. Especially on the R cameras which never equalled the status or reliability of M cameras.
Yet the original post was about the relative value of Canadian-made vs German-made Leicas....
2026.... How about less gear talk and more photos?

+100000

 

[RezaLoghme]

So, to summarize,, as a reaction to @ic-racer s post "Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential" which was not specifically aimed at current M lenses (but maybe it was):

Yes, Leica, Canon, Sony, and Nikon all currently offer some lenses which command top dollar (up to 10k). But these are exceptions, and most of their products are cheaper. And such expensive lenses are certainly not needed to make good snaps.

When it comes to Leica, it might surprise some that in order to achieve the iconic Madler look, a 35,mm SLR film camera kit can be acquired for just a few 100 $ (R4+Elmarit 135/2.8).

And if it has to be an M kit, even then some products (1970s Summicron 50, M4 body) can be had for much less money than the often-quoted top end products of today. A CL kit is probably the cheapest option, and it even has an exposure meter.

Personally, I own several R and M bodies; expensive and cheap ones, and I own many lenses for both systems, again both cheap and expensive. With a clever buying strategy, anything is possible.

Back to Canada vs. Germany: To me, if feels as if this is something largely being kept alive on internet forums by collectors. I own Leica products made in Wetzlar, Solms, Portugal and Canadia. I cannot see a difference between them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Leica lenses are so expensive, I think the price of the body is inconsequential.

And so is the film, but that is true for many cameras.