kin_yu1

<p>Shawn: Glad you sell it at a good price. A similar(also Wetzlar) summicron M is now selling for $980 in e-bay and asking for best offers. There may have been a shortage at the time you sold it. Before 2008, 50 mm lenses were selling at "give away prices " as a standard lens for people's new M cameras.</p> <p> </p>

Gentleman: This is a photography and not a economic forum. Just for clearification cash I mean the American dollar. I understand some of you may not live in the USA. However, just for your information, the dollar index hit 4 year high this Thursday. Gold, silver and other commodity prices are still going down. Tell me again this is inflation. We live in a different times now. Heard of the Japanese style deflation? It was reported that the price a can of a popular Japanese soda stays the same for 20 years. It is no good to fantasize on prices of your Leica lenses and film cameras, just try to sell some, see what you can get.

<p>Gus:<br> Gold: $1900.30 about July 2011; $1222.00 today. A 36% drop.<br> B & H today: M7 TTL $4995.00 new, used 8+ condition $2299.<br> Deflation times, and cash is king.</p>

<p>"Leica R adapters are available for most modern interchangeable lens cameras. Leica R lenses have appreciated considerably since I sold off my Leicas in 2009, particularly fast f1.4 lenses, the APO teles and the super wides (21mm and 19mm). M lenses even more so."<br> Yes, adaptors may be available, but do they work? I know the M240 has a $300 adapter for R lenses, but I wonder why should one pay to put the huge R lenses on a relatively small M body. <br> I have 3 early R lenses 7 M lenses mostly in 9 to 9+ of 10 conditions and with the exception of the 50 mm Summicron M (IV) I don't think I can sell them for significant gains or even not losing money. As a matter of fact, I think their prices are going down. We are living in deflationary times.</p>

Ravi, only if you can sell them for cash easily. Otherwise it is only in your imagination. You are the first person I heard quoting these crazy prices for R lenses which are huge and can only be used in some of the R film cameras. I must profess ignorance and I don't know they can be used in making movies. For selling your M6 and M7, dealers would give you $300 to 500 cash. On eBay you get $1200 to 1495 for your good conditioned M6 and M7 respectively if you are lucky. However, there is hope. Leica is launching the M-A, which may boost the good old M camera prices.

No camera and lenses are 'investments'. None! Especially Leica, which are toys and fashion accessories for rich people it seems.

Congratulations Jamie, but you should get a Leitz 50 mm anyways, which is important to Leica photography. Almost any good condition Leitz 50 mm would do, f.9, f1, f1.4, f2.0, f2.8 and even the f3.5. The most important feature of a Leica system is the lens, not the camera.

<p>Before we all be thankful to Leica's "generosity", please read New York photographer Gil Lavi's blog detailing his experience with the M9 in 2011. Here is the website: <br> http://blog.gillavi.com/leica-m9m9p-malfunction-updates/#comment-1430</p>

<p>Hi Raid, Let me get this right. Your M8.2 also failed? Or it was newly refurbished from Leica by order of your seller?<br> By the way, there is no excuse to get shoddy parts and not QA the parts received. I understand that the M8 and M9 sensors were designed and made by American Kodak while the new M240 sensor by a Belgium manufacturer. Good luck for those who just purchased the new M.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Good to know, thanks Raid. I happen to have a M8.2 and a M7 both still in excellent condition though. For cameras in this price range ( 4 to 6 grands when new ) you would expect there should be no problems. <br> I have 5 Nikon digital DSLRs and numerous P&S digital cameras and the iPhones since 2005, none have yet failed. May be Leica should use Japanese advise/expertise in QC and mfg efficiency to reduce cost and improve quality, especially in electronic parts manufacturing. (By the way, Porsche did exactly that to stay away from bankruptcy years ago.) </p>

<p>Summicron 50 mm Version IV for sure because of its built-in hood. </p>

<p>M3 -for these prices, you can get one from dealers such as b & h which accept returns with no questions asked. They also slightly under rate the conditions.</p> <p> </p>

<p>I am still amazed how good the M8 is and still mentioned again and again by people who now own both the M9 and the M240. Remember how many people had considered M8 a flawed design from the very beginning. I am certainly would continue to hold on to my M8.2 and I love the IR sensitivity of its sensor for B & W photography. <br> I would certainly consider the M240 when it will inevitably on the used market a few year down the road because of its reported jpeg capabilities. </p>

<p>Jamie, why don't you just go borrow a M6 and/or a M6TTL and shoot with it instead of endlessly discussing about it here. Also, the M6 is a better camera because the shutter speed dial is smaller which had always been and should never be changed. The M6 shutter is still a truly mechanical shuttle while the shutters of M6TTL and M7 are not. The M6TTL has a on/off switch which is a pain. The M6 you can pick it up and shoot.<br> The meter of the M6TTL is half a stop more sensitive though. It makes no difference.<br> I still have a M3, M6, M6TTL and a M7.</p>

M6 for sure. What a time to buy one as people are dumping the film Leica for the M240,the boomers are scaling down, and the deflationary economy. I just saw two good conditioned M6s sold for $700 and $900 respectively on eBay recently. None of the M6s priced above $1400 sold. The dealers are still selling them at or above $1500 for good conditioned M6 though.. I am holding onto my M6s and M7 until prices go back up a little. There were no bargains for 35 mm and 50 mm crons on eBay.