LEICA: still sought after?

David Lyga · Aug 9, 2017

Maybe this question is naive or presumptuous (within the confines of analog photography) but I wonder if LEICA products are still economically viable. At USD 5,000 for only the MP body and another USD 2,500 for a normal lens, people who buy these products (especially in the light of the magnificent quality which comes out of Japan) have to be buying something other than a sharp image.

Those who traditionally refute such banter usually counter by speaking of an ethereal quality (or, with similar parlance) to declaim such hesitation on my part and refuse to believe that there is anything which should hinder the sane accumulation of such costly, but 'well worth it' merchandise; thus, their necessity for positing other qualities which serve to justify the, really, unbelievable cost to acquire such a well-made, but decidedly rather mundane and, technically by now, with all the R&D recouped, piece of capture ability. Do I err here? - David Lyga

bdial · Aug 9, 2017

I haven't noticed all that much decline in their appeal.
They've always been expensive, and if you account for inflation, I don't think the difference between a Leica and the various other choices for new, top-end gear is any bigger than it's ever been.

Where they land on the cost vs value scale, IDK, there are great pictures made with Leicas and great pictures made with Holgas, and everything in-between, the important part is self-animate camera stand.

AgX · Aug 9, 2017

Leica Camera is still alive (though ownership has been changing), in contrast of Rollei Camera, who are only a shadow of themselves, though both are serving the same market*. Difference is that Leica Camera had gone digital and were doing a lot of marketing.

*Rollei Camera also had (and still have) their hybrid Hy6 on offer, a camera for commercial use.

Wallendo · Aug 9, 2017

Successful branding can get you a long way.
Their target audience for current digital sales are for people who want to be seen with a Leica with the pretty red dot. There are a lot of people world-wide who wouldn't hesitate to spend $7500 for that privilege.
Ferrari stills sells cars even though a Fiat will get you to the same destination.

Paul Howell · Aug 9, 2017

Leica make a range of digital cameras, rangefinder and SLRs, don't know how well they sell.

Marcelo Paniagua · Aug 9, 2017

AFAIK, Leica makes the only digital full frame true rangefinder camera, so I think yeah, it has it appeal for some niche market, as it always been the case for Leica.

I'm not rich, nor do I enjoy the stares and attention from other people but having a digital rangefinder body for the Leica lens I've collected over the years does has it appeal and probably will get one on the future.

Regards

Marcelo

RattyMouse · Aug 9, 2017

David Lyga said:
Maybe this question is naive or presumptuous (within the confines of analog photography) but I wonder if LEICA products are still economically viable. At USD 5,000 for only the MP body and another USD 2,500 for a normal lens, people who buy these products (especially in the light of the magnificent quality which comes out of Japan) have to be buying something other than a sharp image.

Those who traditionally refute such banter usually counter by speaking of an ethereal quality (or, with similar parlance) to declaim such hesitation on my part and refuse to believe that there is anything which should hinder the sane accumulation of such costly, but 'well worth it' merchandise; thus, their necessity for positing other qualities which serve to justify the, really, unbelievable cost to acquire such a well-made, but decidedly rather mundane and, technically by now, with all the R&D recouped, piece of capture ability. Do I err here? - David Lyga

Leica stores are located all over Asia, with 3-4 in Shanghai alone. I saw many people walking around with Leicas when I was living in Asia. A lot.

Marcelo Paniagua · Aug 9, 2017

RattyMouse said:
Leica stores are located all over Asia, with 3-4 in Shanghai alone. I saw many people walking around with Leicas when I was living in Asia. A lot.

I often sell Leica equipment that don't get much use on ebay. I would say that all of it has been sold to Asian customers, including Leica R Lenses, Leica barnack's and Leica M and LTM lenses. Asian customer often beat local (USA) customers.

I would say Leica still goes strong on Asia.

Regards

Marcelo

narsuitus · Aug 9, 2017

I once owned a Leica M1 that I used on a microscope. Ever since, I had suppressed a long-standing irrational desire to own a Leica rangefinder. That desire was irrational because I owned and used Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, Minolta, Canon, and Contax 35mm film cameras that also produced excellent images like the Leica.

I finally succumbed and purchased a Leica M6. I now ask myself if the high cost of the Leica made economic sense. I still do not have a good answer but that has not stopped me from enjoying the Leica.

Leica M6 Rangefinder Kit by Narsuitus, on Flickr

faberryman · Aug 9, 2017

There are two markets for Leicas: an exceedingly small one for serious photographers who prefer focusing with a rangefinder, and a much broader one for persons (including photographers) buying Veblen goods. The former is rational; the latter is irrational. The next time you see someone carrying a Leica, don't ask to see his camera; ask to see his photographs.

BrianShaw · Aug 9, 2017

I walked past a Leica store in Las Vegas, several times over a 5-day period of time... it was a ghost town every time I walked by.

chip j · Aug 9, 2017

narsuitus said:
I once owned a Leica M1 that I used on a microscope. Ever since, I had suppressed a long-standing irrational desire to own a Leica rangefinder. That desire was irrational because I owned and used Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, Minolta, Canon, and Contax 35mm film cameras that also produced excellent images like the Leica.

I finally succumbed and purchased a Leica M6. I now ask myself if the high cost of the Leica made economic sense. I still do not have a good answer but that has not stopped me from enjoying the Leica.

Leica M6 Rangefinder Kit by Narsuitus, on Flickr

What's that CONTAX G viewfinder doing amongst the holy Leica relics?

RattyMouse · Aug 9, 2017

Marcelo Paniagua said:
I often sell Leica equipment that don't get much use on ebay. I would say that all of it has been sold to Asian customers, including Leica R Lenses, Leica barnack's and Leica M and LTM lenses. Asian customer often beat local (USA) customers.

I would say Leica still goes strong on Asia.

Regards

Marcelo

I didnt even mention the used stores. In Shanghai, there was a store in the large camera mall that had an entire wall of Leica lenses. Easily 150 or more lenses (M and R), probably many dozens of cameras to go along with that. I can't imagine what the value of all that gear on the wall was.

Marcelo Paniagua · Aug 9, 2017

narsuitus said:
I once owned a Leica M1 that I used on a microscope. Ever since, I had suppressed a long-standing irrational desire to own a Leica rangefinder. That desire was irrational because I owned and used Nikon, Fuji, Pentax, Minolta, Canon, and Contax 35mm film cameras that also produced excellent images like the Leica.

I finally succumbed and purchased a Leica M6. I now ask myself if the high cost of the Leica made economic sense. I still do not have a good answer but that has not stopped me from enjoying the Leica.

Leica M6 Rangefinder Kit by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Good looking kit!!

And good economical sense has nothing to do with enjoyment

Regards

Marcelo

Alan9940 · Aug 9, 2017

There are plenty of serviceable used Leica film bodies that are significantly cheaper than $5K USD. One doesn't have to run out and buy a brand new Leica M-A (do they still make this?) and brand new lenses to enjoy this equipment. Sharpness? To be honest, I have directly compared an old Kodak Retina IIa to my Summicron 50mm and in normal print sizes you'd be hard pressed to see any difference in sharpness! We're talking a camera I paid $50 USD for vs my Leica stuff costing thousands. But, I doubt that I'll ever sell my Leica cameras and lenses; there is just something about holding my Leica M6 in my hands and peering through the rangefinder that just makes me want to go out and photograph!!

Chan Tran · Aug 9, 2017

David Lyga said:
Maybe this question is naive or presumptuous (within the confines of analog photography) but I wonder if LEICA products are still economically viable. At USD 5,000 for only the MP body and another USD 2,500 for a normal lens, people who buy these products (especially in the light of the magnificent quality which comes out of Japan) have to be buying something other than a sharp image.

Those who traditionally refute such banter usually counter by speaking of an ethereal quality (or, with similar parlance) to declaim such hesitation on my part and refuse to believe that there is anything which should hinder the sane accumulation of such costly, but 'well worth it' merchandise; thus, their necessity for positing other qualities which serve to justify the, really, unbelievable cost to acquire such a well-made, but decidedly rather mundane and, technically by now, with all the R&D recouped, piece of capture ability. Do I err here? - David Lyga

I think they are still sought after. Their price used are high on ebay. I never own, nor used a Leica. I have examined them many times in the stores. I think they're worth the money for their build quality. I don't know about the image quality though. I have never seen a very sharp photo taken by the Leica including those taken by famous photographers.

blockend · Aug 9, 2017

A Leica M10 is £5850. A Fuji X-Pro2 is £1300. The Fuji will sell a box full for every Leica sold.

4season · Aug 9, 2017

I enjoyed using Leica products for many years, and to me, it was worth the rather high cost of admission. Not for any specific qualities, but because I liked them. And I think the M cameras in particular taught me a lot about the value of simply shooting often with minimal gear that you already own, say an M body with just one or two lenses. True, I could have done the same with any decent fixed-lens rcamera, but Leica makes the minimal approach feel luxurious And even if the hardware limitations didn't impose a certain order, the sheer cost would have.

George Mann · Aug 9, 2017

The last real Leica was either the IIIG, or the M4 or M5 depending on who you ask.

chip j · Aug 9, 2017

The 111g was the best Leica ever, the M4 the last true Leica.

warden · Aug 9, 2017

narsuitus said:
I finally succumbed and purchased a Leica M6. I now ask myself if the high cost of the Leica made economic sense. I still do not have a good answer but that has not stopped me from enjoying the Leica.

I used to have that Contax viewfinder too.

But I think you made a good choice to try a Leica. You only go around once and the equipment one uses (a new Leica, Grandpa's Brownie, a digital camera) does tend to have an impact on the images we make, even if the technical quality might be similar. We should use what we like and have fun too.

Eric Rose · Aug 9, 2017

I own an M5 and M4. Gave away an M3. There is nothing special about them. They are tools that do nothing better than any other camera I have owned. The only thing going for them is that they are RF and if your into that, then it's the camera. It seems their digital offerings are at least a generation behind everyone else for IQ.

Theo Sulphate · Aug 9, 2017

There are plenty of (~$800) M3's and M4's that will do everything a new ($4000+) M-A will do, plus having a bigger viewfinder, maybe DOF notches, and a self timer. The only advantage of an M-A is that it is a new camera with a warranty. However, for the ~$3000 disparity, you can get an expert CLA job plus a nice lens.

That said, if the M-A is indeed hand-built, its price probably reflects labor costs.

I got my Leica gear when it was relatively inexpensive. They're fun to use, but not magical.

chip j · Aug 9, 2017

You can get fine-art insurance on Leicas.

Richard Man · Aug 9, 2017

Buy used. All these talk about which ones are the true Leicas etc. are gear talk. If you do certain type of photography and can get used to rangefinder photography, then there is nothing like a Leica. It's a niche market. Too many people are hung up on gear rather than photography. The M7 should be your first Leica, get a 50/2 or 35/2 and don't look back. Ignore the Bokeh king, the "special glow", the hand-assembled by Himalayan virgins under a blue moon lens. A used body and a used lens set you back $2500-$3000. If you can't make good photos with it, sell them for the same price and you are no worse off. Or you may be just hooked for life.

LEICA: still sought after?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency