Seriously? Leica for $250K?

ambaker · Dec 21, 2014

The materials to build a home may be cheaper,than the current value, but then you neglect to add in labor, permits, and taxes for the assemblage of raw materials into a finished product.

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Knjy · Dec 22, 2014

I would be surprised if this was real. Too many odd features of the lettering, paint and the wear.

Michael L. · Dec 22, 2014

Another immoderately (?) priced Leica here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOXED-Lei...258687?pt=UK_Film_Cameras&hash=item2a3f28b47f
Happy drooling!
Michael L.

benjiboy · Dec 22, 2014

I don't drool over Leicas although I can easily afford one, I have never owned one in more than sixty years of photography and never desired one. I do have a Zeiss Contax 11 rang finder camera that I keep mainly for sentimental reasons because my father gave it to me when I was thirteen and it was my first camera but I much prefer reflex cameras.

wiltw · Dec 22, 2014

Leica...Ferrari...Leica...Ferrari, that's an easy decision for any male, I think

lensworker · Mar 15, 2015

I have seen original Leica MP cameras - the ones made during the 1950s - priced at $20,000 USD. I have seen them sell at auction for $300,000 USD. The price one of these cameras sells for all depends on the condition of the camera and lens, the documentation behind it and who the camera was owned and used by.

The original Leica MP was made in a VERY limited run, just 402 camera and lens sets. These camera sets were made available only to firmly established professional documentary photographers. This rarity makes the 1956-57 MP camera and lenses extremely sought after by wealthy Leica collectors. Here MP #39, which has seen very hard use - it has almost none of the original black paint left - http://leicaphilia.com/tag/leica-mp/ (scroll down a bit). The minimum bid for this camera at auction was $47,500 USD. Knowing what these cameras sell for, it probably sold for somewhere between 2x and 3x of the minimum bid. Another one: MP #365 on eBay at $74,500 USD - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lei...386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item19fce52e22

If I were in the market for a 1956-57 era MP, I would not buy it from eBay. I would buy from an official Leica dealer or at auction, after making certain that it is the real deal and not a counterfeit.

blockend · Mar 16, 2015

"Lenny Kravitz, was fascinated by cameras. But rather than taking photos, he played with them .."

The definitive Leica owner?

I've never seen any camera accidentally distressed like the Leica MP illustrated. It's virtually impossible to see brassing like that in real world situations. To get that level of cosmetic wear and tear without trashing the camera is remarkable. It looks like it's been put on spin cycle in a gem stone polisher, or someone has made fast and loose with sandpaper.

lensworker · Mar 16, 2015

The Leica M-P, 35mm Summicron ASPH and 50mm Summilux ASPH are killer pieces of kit - nothing wrong with any of the three.

The Lenny Kravitz set is limited to 125 kits. It comes with the black briefcase and the custom 600 grit emery cloth sand job. For those options, the buyer pays a premium of $9860 USD over and above the cost of the plain Jane M-P, 35/2 and 50/1.4. To each his/her own, I guess.

Still, the 600 grit sand job (or is it hand job?) is the stuff that posers with more money than common sense will be drawn to.

film_man · Mar 19, 2015

Listings like that complete are most likely money laundering.

frank · Mar 19, 2015

I find it humorous that people get upset and post their indignation over such expensive items. Guess what? No one is being forced into buying one. There are exotic cars selling for over million dollars, and you don't have to buy one of those either.

blockend · Mar 19, 2015

frank said:
I find it humorous that people get upset and post their indignation over such expensive items. Guess what? No one is being forced into buying one. There are exotic cars selling for over million dollars, and you don't have to buy one of those either.

I'm not sure people are upset so much as bemused. The Leica brand reputation is built on functional efficiency, but the trend is to offer boutique colourways at silly prices. A carpenter could have settings from The Hobbit engraved into the blade of his saw, but it wouldn't make your door fit easier. Kitsch to their own, I suppose.

frank · Mar 19, 2015

Bemused is good.

Knickers in a knot is not.

McFortner · Mar 20, 2015

Some if it amazed I think. The fact that somebody wants that much for a camera, Leica or not, is beyond most people's comprehension. Especially since it will take photos just as well as a Bessa or some other rangefinder. Heck, a properly tuned-up FED or Zorki will take as good of a photo, but this camera will probably sit on a shelf and never get used. It's a shame, really.

frank · Mar 20, 2015

McFortner said:
Some if it amazed I think. The fact that somebody wants that much for a camera, Leica or not, is beyond most people's comprehension. Especially since it will take photos just as well as a Bessa or some other rangefinder. Heck, a properly tuned-up FED or Zorki will take as good of a photo, but this camera will probably sit on a shelf and never get used. It's a shame, really.

Why a shame? It's a collector piece, not meant for daily use. There are plenty of other cameras for that. Same thing with exotic cars priced over $1M.

Too old to care · Mar 20, 2015

I could buy a lot of film for that much money. A lot of film!

benjiboy · Mar 22, 2015

McFortner said:
Some if it amazed I think. The fact that somebody wants that much for a camera, Leica or not, is beyond most people's comprehension. Especially since it will take photos just as well as a Bessa or some other rangefinder. Heck, a properly tuned-up FED or Zorki will take as good of a photo, but this camera will probably sit on a shelf and never get used. It's a shame, really.

You miss the point, they are for anal retentive "collectors" not photographers, they don't want to shoot with them but fawn over them and they are to impress their friends and neighbours with.

Dali · Mar 22, 2015

benjiboy said:
You miss the point, they are for anal retentive "collectors" not photographers, they don't want to shoot with them but fawn over them and they are to impress their friends and neighbours with.

I am impressed by what people do, not what people own.

benjiboy · Mar 22, 2015

Dali said:
I am impressed by what people do, not what people own.

I agree, there's too much these acquisitive days of judging people by what they own, not who they are.

MattKing · Mar 22, 2015

Dali said:
I am impressed by what people do, not what people own.

The only qualification to this I would raise is that I am always impressed with people who support the arts and artists by buying the work of the newer, not yet "discovered" artists.

1920 · Mar 31, 2015

laundering

You might see that auction go through, or end, be re-listed a little lower, for realism, then go through.

Its a common way to scrub cash.

Seriously? Leica for $250K?

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