Depreciation on a M9 or M8

<p>What is the likely depreciation on an M9 or M8? Are Leica Digital bodies destined to join the rest of digital photography flotsam after a few years? Exclude special collectors editions etc.</p>

<p>I don't expect they'll sink all that fast. I wouldn't mind if they did though, I might look forward to getting a nice cheap one.</p>

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<p>What is the likely depreciation on an M9 or M8... ...after a few years?</p>

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<p>Probably not that much in that time frame. Beyond that depends on the availability/cost of film/processing in the future which is speculation at this point.</p>

<p>Well, Leica M8's have fallen from around $4500 new to around $2200 to $2500 now.<br>

The depreciation will fall off a cliff whenever Leica discontinues hardware support. Sooner or later they will start running out of spare parts. The chips will go unavailable. Most electronic components are only available for 3-5 years now, at which time the "last buy" notice goes out. After that they become impossible to buy, since they are not only discontinued, but the chip production line has been scrapped for a new production line using a different process.</p>

 

 

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<p >What is the likely depreciation on an M9 or M8? Are Leica Digital bodies destined to join the rest of digital photography flotsam after a few years? Exclude special collectors editions etc.</p>

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<p>You've got to be kidding, right? As already seen with the M8, the greatest [M9] depreciation will be felt when the next generation M camera comes out (ala M10). I seriously doubt these latest electronic/digital Leica incarnations will stand the test of time with their mechanical M brethren preceding them.<br>

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Like it or not, planned obsolescence is built into any digital camera.</p>

 

 

<p>Longevity may be the controlling factor, after the normal depreciation has occured with model change. At some point it will be the key, because we will no longer need significant performance improvement (like the era of approximately similar performance from the year of introduction of the M3 and the withdrawal of the M4-P, nearly 30 years) and the important thing will then be how long the image satisfactory camera (say, the M9, for most purposes) will continue to work and servicing will be made available.</p>

<p>I'd assume the long-term depreciation is pretty dismal for any digital camera – at some point the electronics will give up and it's not user-serviceable. At that point the camera has parts value. Of course, the long-term depreciation of film cameras is very dependent on the availability of film – I tend to assume that B/W 35mm film will continue to be available fairly easily but may be that's wrong.</p>

<p>Based on the smallest possible sample size, M8s are now worth less than the Epson R-D1S (the sample size of the M8 is reasonably OK, the Epson is the silly one). That's at least surprising.</p>

<p>Most Professional digital cameras are upgradeable.<br>

Until Leica follows this plan, an M8 or an M9 will drop siginifactnly in value when the next model is introduced that is not purely cosmetic such as the M9P.<br>

The CAD/CAM process significantly shortens product life cycles, and to expect an M9 to be anything different is wishful thinking.<br>

Leica needs to acknowledge that fact, other wise sales will at some point go flat as the amateur well heeled market is saturated. -Dick</p>

<p>Yeah, I agree it's going to be the long term ability to repair these cameras that diminishes their value. The technology and image quality is sufficiently advanced that, unless you need silly high ISO's in a DRF (which is Leica's likely next move), there will likely be no compelling reason for an M9 owner to buy an M10. Few people need image quality better than even mid-priced DSLR's provide these days. The fact that you can't make custom chips in a machine shop is the true limited factor in future depreciation of these cameras.</p>

<p>Like it is with automobiles, if you do not enjoy to suffer severe depreciation, let the first owner suffer it for you.</p>

<p>I do not have a definitive answer but here are a few observations:<br>

<strong>Nikon D2X: </strong>Released in 2006 at MSRP of $4700. One is currently available on eBay for $630. Depreciation: $814 / year.<br>

<strong>Canon 5d MK II: </strong>Released in 2008. MSRP $2700. Selling used for $1800. Depreciation: $300 / year<br>

<strong>Leica DMR: </strong>Released in 2005 for ~$6000. One is selling on GetDPI for ~$4000. Depreciation: $333 / year.<br>

<strong>Leica M8: </strong>Released in 2006 for $4500. Used price today is about $2200. Depreciation: $460 / year.<br>

<strong>Leica M9: </strong>Released in 2009. MSRP $7000. Used in good condition: $5600. Depreciation: $700 / year.<br>

They are all high-end cameras for the time, representing the best (or near best) that each company had to offer. Of course, depreciation is a dminishing process: the curve will eventually flatten out. Look at the M9 vs. M8 figure. If you buy the M8 today, it won't get down to $1000 in two years, when the M10 is available. When considering depreciation, you should consider the cost of the alternative. Film is about $20 a roll in Toronto, ON ($6 film + $14 processing). At the depreciation rate of the M8, it equals to 20 rolls / year, or 720 shots. A very small number indeed.</p>