Full circle and sellers remorse!

[nobbylon]

I joined here in Nov 2006 and I remember asking which RF to buy. I started with a bessa R2 and rapidly moved onto an M6 in may 2007. Since then I've tried, bought and sold a lot of different M's and other makes. I drifted away from Leica in may 2009 when I bought my D700 and started to accumulate the Nikkors I was after. I kept one M2 and a 50 and 90 elmar. The 35 asph went a few weeks ago and I've had sellers remorse ever since, even though I didn't use it much. I met the buyer in a cafe and spent the next 2 hours just chatting cameras and lenses. He had an M8 which I had a play with and loved however I'm still not willing to invest in the M8 or M9. It did however rekindle my interest in actually shooting with M's and I've gone full circle and bought an M6 again, this time in chrome. I've teamed it with a 35 lux I aquired and also a version 5 Summicron 50 and some film will go through this week on my travels.
Point to this story? I've sold 2 lenses and 3 cameras I wish I hadn't!
The SUM 35 ASPH, a 50 pre ASPH LUX, my original M6ttl, a mint M6 and an MP. Yes they are all replaceable but if someone had just told me that I would regret it then I would have saved myself some time and effort.
I'm going to hang onto the lenses I have now, use them with my new M6 and the old M2 and probably the digital M I will get at some point.
Think carefully before parting with Leica, especially lenses as I'm sure that once the digital M format becomes more and more popular then as sure as eggs, prices for the classic M glass will rocket.
regards j

[Pickett Wilson]

Prices haven't rocketed enough? Buying and selling stuff is part of the fun for a lot of people. You've got the right idea, but temptation will tug at your coattails before long.

[semilog]

Selling the Summilux 35 ASPH... been there. That one really smarts.

[mabelsound]

It's true, buying and selling stuff can be kind of stimulating...but eventually I think you find your keepers, slow down, and stop.

Or maybe not...

[coelacanth]

I think many of us have gone through this "circle" including myself.

I have a couple if lenses I wish I didn't sell, and a couple of bodies as well.

Lens: Summicron-C 40/2, "Thin" Tele-Elmarit 90/2.8
Body: M3, M6 HM

It seems Elmar 50s are giving me most sellers remorse. I sold LTM 50/3.5, M 50/2.8 and Elmar-M 50/2.8. Got Elmar-M again after regretting the sale to death. Same is happening right now with 50/3.5 which is in the mail coming to me as we speak.

For this reason, I'm NOT selling Cron 35 although I'm not using it that much now. I'm sure I'll hit myself real hard when I get back to 35mm focal length in very near future if I've sold it.

[kully]

Did you sell me an M2 or an M3? ;-P

[ferider]

Originally Posted by nobbylon

Think carefully before parting with Leica, especially lenses as I'm sure that once the digital M format becomes more and more popular then as sure as eggs, prices for the classic M glass will rocket.
regards j

My (similar) conclusion is: unless you have to, don't sell lenses that you really like. They are often much harder to replace than it appears, also because of sample variation. Including Leica lenses.

Roland.

[sepiareverb]

Well if it helps, the MP gets a LOT of use.

[nobbylon]

Kully, I may have as I've sold a few M2's as I do like them and can't resist when I get offered them. Must have been an M2 as I've never had an M3. I have timed a few 3's though.
Robert that's good to hear as you probably use more than I ever would have!

[buzzardkid]

I sold Hexanons 28, 35, 50 and 90 last month. Had to, since paying for an education.

Still own the Hex 35/2.0 LTM and the Hex 50/1.2, as well as four Komuras. These won't go.

A 1943 Carl Zeiss 50/1.5 is awaiting customs inspection. Just could not let that one pass

[Andy Kibber]

I mildly regret selling my M6 and Hexanon 50 last year. Doesn't keep me up at night though.

[sepiareverb]

I put several rolls through it a week, if I'm heading out the door to do anything and feel like carrying a 28 I most often bring that body. I put a .58 VF in it, and love it.

[helenhill]

have sold quite a bit over the past two years
REGRETS: 21 super angulon

recently sold a nokton 1.5 , regretted it (McToumey you are so Lucky)
bought another and it did NOT have the same magic...so I don't miss that one

I am in TOTAL agreement with Roland
DON'T unless you have to / I learned the Hard Way...
each lens has its Own Magic Variable
You may replace it but it may not be the same

My Keepers: 1966 35 lux. 1966 50 lux, 1959 summaron 2.8

New LUST but I remind myself I do NOT need: 50 planar

Cheers- H

[digitalintrigue]

I joined the Sold/Regret club but will NOT do so with my CZO 50/1.5 Sonnar.

[mabelsound]

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

I joined the Sold/Regret club but will NOT do so with my CZO 50/1.5 Sonnar.

I am with you there!

[kdemas]

I have sold quite a few cameras/lenses over the past couple years. The ones I keep missing are the Contax N Digitals. There was a certain "something" with them and the 85/1.4 and the 100mm Macro.

That said, I still have wayyyyyyyy more than I need so it's good they're gone

[Keith]

A while ago I sold a few cherished cameras for financial reasons ... no work and a need to survive forced the issue.

No real regrets though I must admit because I had no real choice in the matter ... you have to do what you have to do to get by sometimes and they were only cameras ... not body parts!

[coelacanth]

I'm now telling myself that buying and keeping lenses is my emergency Saving Account so I can sell them if I really really have to for financial reasons. If I had extra cash that's not absolutely needed at the moment, I might buy stupid things. If I had same amount of money in the form of lens(es), I can use them and take nice pictures.

So, no more selling lenses that I like, thinking that I can replace in the future.

As Helen said (sorry to hear about Nokton case), there is no guarantee that the second copy you get has the same magic as the first one that you fell in love with.

[naruto]

Regrets: M2

I might actually make up for that, as someone on this forum has a M3 with my name on it.

I have kept all the lenses that I would use on a regular basis.

[dacookieman]

Originally Posted by naruto

Regrets: M2

I might actually make up for that, as someone on this forum has a M3 with my name on it.

I have kept all the lenses that I would use on a regular basis.

Congrats Ash, I just got a M2 off the classifieds and am having a ball of a time with it. It's an amazing piece of camera, hope you get yours asap

[kevin m]

It's just stuff. Stuff is replaceable.

[dof]

I've sold a couple of lenses that I've wound up buying again: the pre-ASPH 50mm Summilux e46 and the ASPH 35mm Summicron.

It may be due to luck or to better tolerances with the more recent Leica lenses, but I've been fortunate with the consistency between the copies I've replaced. No magic lost or gained.

The real sticking point for me with regard to camera bodies is the personal identification with the wear I put on them. Functionally they're within a range of being exactly alike, but there's something about knowing that the brassing or even zincing is mine that irreplaceable. Who says it has to be rational?

[Livesteamer]

It seems to me that bodies are more easily replaced. Good glass is a wonderful tool and a good investment. I sometimes think of selling my Noctilux but I know I would miss it and I wonder about it's future value. Joe

[maddoc]

I have sold a couple of M bodies and bought replacements, M3 three times, M6 classic two times, M4-P two times ... but I try to avoid selling lenses ... 21 Super-Angulon-M, 35mm Summilux-M, Noctilux will stay except if for financial reasons I am forced to do so ...

On average, prices for Leica seem to go up when I want to buy something and go down when I want to sell something ....

[alan davus]

Must admit I buy but virtually never sell. Only time over the years I have sold, regrets soon followed. I do though, tend to carefully consider my purchases. It never ceases to amaze me how so many on RFF are continually in the process of buying and then selling shortly after. Thought at one stage it was just a North American thing but looking at these posts, it's right across the board. But we're all different. Keep selling guys, it means more bargains for us buyers.