Leica can't keep up with demand for 35mm bodies

FWIW:

 

 

https://kosmofoto.com/2020/08/leica-cannot-keep-up-with-demand-for-film-cameras/

The demand is for five a day and they can only make three a day.

This is a good thing to happen for Leica.

;))

 

All well and good but those film Leica cameras are tripling in value as I speak. And those Sony cameras will be pocket change in a few years.

 

Lets be honest they are a fondlers version of paradise. Hey, who needs to go to heaven when you can buy Leica film camera....you can also be one of the special ones; I'm one of three, so there, Eat your heart out with envy.

 

It could be a special threesome, with the wife/mistress, and your one of three Leica's.. Cool or what;)

 

Shiver your timbers, with exciting thoughts, you green eyed envious lot.

In about 2007 traded an M6 with 50mm Summicron and some cash for a Nikon D300 with an 18-200mm. I needed the Nikon but we know the relative values today...I took a beating.

In about 2007 traded an M6 with 50mm Summicron and some cash for a Nikon D300 with an 18-200mm. I needed the Nikon but we know the relative values today...I took a beating.

Ouch. I should never have sold any of my Leicas. It's going to be a while until I can replace even one. I feel like Homer Simpson buying pumpkin futures and selling them after Halloween.

I think I paid $800 or so for each of my two M2s decades ago. Leicas do seem to keep their value.

All my film cameras were starting to become worthless as the digital age took hold. I thought my Leica would suffer the same fate and I should get rid of it while it still had some value.

I needed cash in 2013 and sold the M4 I bought new in 1967, thinking I'd be satisfied with digital only going forward. Bad decision. Since then I've acquired an M2, iif, a Canon P, Leotax, and Nicca, the last 3 based on earlier screwmount Leicas. It's a disease for which there is no cure.

Why didn't Leica use the later angled rewind system? For someone who quickly shoots a whole roll, it is a great feature. Is the body Rapidwinder/Leicavit compatible or are you stuck with the top plate advance lever? Or is it "Hey look, that guy has an old Leica". "Does it really use film?"

 

This is in the same category as the companies like Shelby and Aston Martin that make "continuation" cars. Come on Mercedes, its again time to make continuation 300 SL Gullwing coupes. For $2,000,000 a pop.

... Andreas Kauffman, the chairman of Leica’s advisory board, said interest in Leica’s film bodies is so high that the company is unable to produce enough to meet current demand. ...

How completely ridiculous! Last I knew Leica produced ~50 film bodies per year - at this level there was inventory to be had - until recently. So now there's a backlog? The fact is that Leica doesn't want to increase production because they would rather not risk having excess inventory - which has been a problem for them in the past. So instead, what Dr. Kauffman has done is spin the fact that Leica's ~50-units per year is not keeping up with [current] demand.

 

And at >$5k in the US for a new Leica film body (and waiting for the privilege) the prices of used M cameras are skyrocketing - and still a bargain relative to buying new, BTW.

;))

 

All well and good but those film Leica cameras are tripling in value as I speak. And those Sony cameras will be pocket change in a few years.

 

Lets be honest they are a fondlers version of paradise. Hey, who needs to go to heaven when you can buy Leica film camera....you can also be one of the special ones; I'm one of three, so there, Eat your heart out with envy.

 

It could be a special threesome, with the wife/mistress, and your one of three Leica's.. Cool or what;)

 

Shiver your timbers, with exciting thoughts, you green eyed envious lot.

The last time I had a threesome, Allen Herbert, was in my university days. Decades ago. Actually some decades ago. While memorable, it was a bit messy. Cleaning up was an issue. Let alone shiver my timbers. But I am heartened to hear of the M's increased value. I have a number, M2,3, 6, and a number of IIIf's. Keep safe.

LOL

Do we have any idea on the actual production number of Leica film cameras?

Arthur, where have you been? On one of those Aussie walk about things discovering your self?

 

Miss your character photos, and your subtle wit.

This is a good thing for Film cameras in general. I always wanted a Leica, but I can't swallow the price of their Digital cameras...

Never could justify a new M mount Leica and the used ones are usually more than I want to pay. Even the CL is going up now. Might go for a CL with a non functional meter since they are inexpensive compared to the others.

This is a good thing for Film cameras in general. I always wanted a Leica, but I can't swallow the price of their Digital cameras...

... but you can swallow the price of their film cameras?

Wonder if they still have the tooling for the IIIg.

As for the CL, Sherry Krauter restored mine and calibrated the meter. She related to me that during production Leica made a number of internal upgrades resulting in a "Leicaized Minolta CL". Her restoration of mine included the upgrades and it is now over 10 years on and I use the CL more than I thought I would. The CL is a nice walk around camera especially if you shoot 35 and 50 lenses. The 40 Summicron-M f2 that was standard for the CL is a winner of a lens. Nice to hear the prices are holding up as the CL and M4-2 should no longer be regarded as Leica step-children.

Arthur, where have you been? On one of those Aussie walk about things discovering your self?

 

Miss your character photos, and your subtle wit.

Thanks, Allen Herbert. I think I once said it would be good to meet you in the flesh. I doubt that will ever happen now. I've been holed up in 'isolation'/ 'social distancing'/'working from home', and dealing with this covid thing. Very little photography. My spouse's daughter now resides with us. Both my spouse and her daughter have lost their jobs. Her daughter also has some issues (self harm), so that in one way, it is good that we are home with her.

 

I have never been able to fathom self harm

 

This is a shot of her daughter:

 

 

So. I've been reduced to garden shots. I do not go out. My mother used to call these 'funeral lillies':

 

 

We have received some 'special funding' to employ an intake worker for 12 months due to covid 19. She has been a godsend. It allows me and my staff to work from home. She lives about two minutes drive from the office (our coverage is regional, so we are widely separate)

 

 

And my spouse and her daughter. She had a birthday with us a couple of weeks ago. To be honest, a pretty maudlin affair. She was not very well that day.

 

 

 

Keep safe Allen Herbert. Regards, and best wishes, Arthur

A number of years ago Brad Cloven let me "hold" his M-3 combo,,,, it was.....well, SUPER. A quick check of my extended retirement funding show me that there was not a Leica of any sort in my near future. So I went the route of FSU rangefinders and vintage folders . I now have a nice pile of them to wade thru when some stray hormone or two wonders thru my 77 yo body. Almost like a three sum !! Aloha, Bill

"So. I've been reduced to garden shots" Arthur.

 

Garden shot. Nothing wrong with garden shots.

 

Keep a smile on your face my friend.

Nice to see you back Arthur! Love these! (except maybe the 3rd photo is a little off?) :)

;))

 

All well and good but those film Leica cameras are tripling in value as I speak. And those Sony cameras will be pocket change in a few years.

 

Lets be honest they are a fondlers version of paradise. Hey, who needs to go to heaven when you can buy Leica film camera....you can also be one of the special ones; I'm one of three, so there, Eat your heart out with envy.

 

It could be a special threesome, with the wife/mistress, and your one of three Leica's.. Cool or what;)

 

Shiver your timbers, with exciting thoughts, you green eyed envious lot.

I bought my 1955 LEICA M-3 with a 50mm 2.8 collapsible ELMAR in 1968 for$145.00 had it overhauled by LEITZ, N.J. a few years later including converting to single stroke and many other things such as shutter curtains, cams, etc as I recall, (a bit foggy memory at 80) that cost was $250.00. My how things have changed!.