What is your Leica worth to you?

[nagroth]

I was curious to what everyone has to say about what Leica cameras are worth to them in terms of trade value. For example, would you trade your M7 for a top of the line Canon Mark II digital SLR? Any thought on the subject are welcome.

I don't think I'd trade my Leicas for any SLR - I'm too happy with the rangefinder method of photography.

[Steve Cook]

I wouldn't swap my M8 for anything, except maybe 2 M8's. I've got bags full of DSLRs that I use for work but I'd happily swap them all for another M8 and work exclusively with them.

[Doug]

Trading is tough to work out, I think, without setting a $ value on both items to create the groundwork. And it requires each person to want the other's gear more than his own.

I have a nice M2 that might be swappable with a Pentax K10D, say, but I just got a K100D so I'm not really swap-motivated right now! Down the road 5 years, though, I bet that M2 would be worth much more than the dSLR at that point...

[rcoder]

I'm currently shooting with a Nikon DSLR kit and a couple of Olympus film cameras (OM-1 and SP), and would gladly swap the lot for a Leica M body and a couple of lenses. (I'm also waiting to hear back on a possible deal for an M4-P and some Russian glass, which is pretty much the only pathway into the Leica world I think I can manage right now.)

It's not exactly what you asked, but perhaps reinforces the statements of others made above: Lecia gear is far more appealing than most modern digital setups, if for no other reason than the fact that it holds some reasonable amount of value after a few years.

[pmu]

Originally Posted by rcoder

I'm currently shooting with a Nikon DSLR kit and a couple of Olympus film cameras (OM-1 and SP), and would gladly swap the lot for a Leica M body and a couple of lenses.

I did exactly that. Sold my D200 kit and with that exact amount of money that that I recieved from that I bough M6 with 2 fast lenses and a Nikon scanner. Needless to say that I found some killer deals here and there... Been now shooting with these for the past month or so and couldn't be happier. The life without digital capture has been just fantastic. Trade my m-setup for digital gear? No thanks...absolutely no way.

I also sold my other Nikon stuff (film cameras) and I'm going to buy a second M-body for backup. The original idea was to buy some small digital PS or some older dslr body (or similiar) for backup, but after shooting with M6...the idea of putting money to digital seems just ridiculous to me...so, ain't gonna happen.

[joebt]

I would not trade my M3 or M6 for any digital camera. I have a few Digital SLRs (E-1, D-70, D200) and eventhough they are fun to play with, the images from all of them basically look the same--digital!

In fact, I no longer see anything special about one digital camera over another digital camera anymore--even the M8. The images from the M8 look just like any other digital cameras end product. Not to say that it's not capable of producing good images, but not images that are head and shoulders better than any other Digital camera. When comparing M8 images to the D-200, the difference is in the glass.

Trade my 50 year old M3 for a new battery operated digital camera? I think not! I'm not even that interested in using the ones I have now. I'm thinking about trading in my digital cameras, though.

[KM-25]

I shoot a lot of digital for work, have a pair of 5D's. But my film kit is growing...and growing...

This time last year, I had zero Leicas. Now, I have two M6TTL's and one bitchen M3.

I started shooting digital for work in 1995. It has gotten a lot better since then, but it ain't no Leica film camera...

[nrb]

I'd trade my M2 for a RD1, but would keep my R2 and glass. I never use the M2 for fear it might be damaged, lost or stolen anyway...

[PHOTOEIL]

I could not (never) miss my M5 set. I am working a lot with the K10 right now because I have to. But what do I hate digital! I hanker after the work in the dark room! Film is something I can 'feel' and the Leica is the perfect tool for it. I could, perhaps, stand the loss of all the rest of my camera's but not the Leica's (I think so...).

[colyn]

In a couple of years my Olympus E-500 kit won't be worth half of what I paid for it. However my Leicas will in all probability be worth more.

The same goes for other digital gear so it seems a bit foolish to trade high end Leica gear for something that will nosedive in value..

So the answer for me is no I would not trade my M's for digital..

[Krosya]

Originally Posted by nrb

I'd trade my M2 for a RD1, but would keep my R2 and glass. I never use the M2 for fear it might be damaged, lost or stolen anyway...

I think its a poor excuse - I'd say - use your M2 and don't worry. Or did you buy it to just sit on shelf? Leicas are made to be used. Plus I don't really see logic here - RD1 costs more than M2 - wouldn't you be even more worried to damage, lose get stolen when it comes to RD1?
My cameras Leicas and others - all have marks on them. Would I trade them? Sure for the newer same cameras, so I know they will function longer. However, I relly think cameras I have now will last a long while. WHy would I trade them? The whole point was to buy cameras I like - TO KEEP THEM. You only trade if you don't like/use them. I use all cameras I have. Some more, some less, but all get their share. And If I want something new - I buy it. If I like it - I keep it. If not - it'll sell. At this point - all the cameras I have - are the ones I like. So, no need to trade, unless some kind of unforseen emergency came about and I HAD to sell them. But just cause I lust after some new toy - NO, no trades for me.

[charjohncarter]

My Leica (IIIf) is worth more than I paid for it, but I would get less than it's worth to me. So if someone wants to try (trade) me, I'll take a M8 for it.

[FrankS]

I've done some trading recently.

Leica CL with 40 and Luigi case for a Bronica RF645 with 65.

Bessa R2, Rollei 35S, J3, J12 for a Bronica RF645 wih 65.

[Ben Z]

Originally Posted by nagroth

would you trade your M7 for a top of the line Canon Mark II digital SLR?

In a New York minute. I don't have an M7 but a used one is about $1800-2000 and if someone would trade me straight across for a $7000 1DS-II or even a $5500 used one I'd jump at it. The original Mark I 1DS is still selling for more than a used M7. Likewise if someone offered to swap me my M6 (that cost just under $900) for a 5D I'd jump at that too.

[trittium]

I will never trade or sell my M2, it's my first Leica and I intend to have it the rest of my life. I won't part with my 35/1.5 canon or 90 cron either. Everything else I will trade or sell if it's a fair deal.

[FrankS]

I recently offered to trade a small Hasselblad kit for a Leica M5 but had no takers.

[cjm]

My Leica III was not worth enough to me to keep over getting a camera with a bigger and brighter viewfinder, a Bessa R2a. Now the only Leica part I have is a 50mm Summicron (type 2), which I'm also willing to part with if the right deal comes up. I guess once I acquire an M2 one day, that will be the camera that I will never part with.

-Chris

[ywenz]

Isn't this question kind of pointless? The trade value of any item is its market value in $s. Am I on to something here? Would people trade their own equipment for something of lesser value if they really like that particular item? Unless, it's a one-off, I doubt it!

[AusDLK]

I effectively traded an M7 for three (3), count them 3, Hexar RFs. What sweet, sweet cameras...

I still have the M7 but it collects dust now and will likely be sold off one day.

Other than my Tri-Elmar, my Leica brand loyalty has pretty much evaporated.

Long time readers of this forum will know why...

[FrankS]

Originally Posted by ywenz

Isn't this question kind of pointless? The trade value of any item is its market value in $s. Am I on to something here? Would people trade their own equipment for something of lesser value if they really like that particular item? Unless, it's a one-off, I doubt it!

I think there is an additional layer above this logic, ywenz. There is a personal value as well. For example, I would not trade any of my M leicas for a dslr even though its current market value is greater. (This is not only because I'm not into digital photography, it is also because I know that in 10 years, the Leicas will then have a market value greater than today's dslr.)

[sepiareverb]

I wouldn't trade the Leicas for any digital body. I sit here in front of this screen enough for work, and enough for fun that I can't imagine sitting in front of it instead of bopping around in the darkroom. No thanks, I'll stay wet.

[GeneW]

I could be tempted to trade my M2 for a K10D or R-D1. The M2 will undoubtedly be worth more than either in 10 years, but I may no longer be around at that point

(ask Joe -- nothing like a cardiac incident to sober you up...)

Gene

[migtex]

I will trade my leica copy (Sears 35) for anything..but never for a Canon DSLR!

[Nando]

I purchased my MP shortly before my grandmother passed away. I originally purchased the camera as a reward for myself after I received a promotion at work. Every time I use it now, I think of her. She was single mother to six children and she made tremendous sacrifices to give her children and grandchildren a better life. I don't think I would ever want to part with this particular camera for this reason.