Regarding Usa vs Grey, I definetely feel that Leica Camera Bodies should be purchased w/ usa Warranty but considering the savings and the consistency of the lenses ( providing we don't drop them )it is worth the gamble if the savings is an issue. I just purchased a 90mm asph 2.0 summicron, grey, for 600. less than usa. Since I just graduated to Leica after years of Contax and Nikon's, did I make a wise choice ??? After All, what goes wrong with a sumicron with careful usage. Thanks for the appreciated feedback...

-- Alex Tamborrino (tambo6@aol.com), October 13, 2001

Answers

I agree with what you say, especially when it comes to R cameras. There are a lot of complicated electronic and mechanical components that can go wrong and it's difficult to test them all, so the warranty makes good sense. Lenses, on the other hand, seem less of a risk to me and all mine were bought used at far lower prices than new.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), October 14, 2001.

What is equally interesting is that, from the ads, it appears that "grey market" items (which I take to be new, but w/o a Leica warranty) are often the same price as used items at other stores. It seems to me that if the price is the same one would be better served in buying the "grey market" item over the used. Right?

-- Stephen York (S.G.York@worldnet.att.net), October 14, 2001.

I've noticed that there seems to be a greater disparity between USA/gray prices on lenses than bodies, making it even more sensible to buy the bodies with the USA passport. Second, a service on a lens is usually less than on a body, though many lenses cost much more than a body, so there's less risk. IMO the USA-body/gray-lens strategy is not without merit.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), October 14, 2001.

If you have a body still under passport warranty and you want to buy a used or grey lens, make sure you have a generous return privilege. If the lens does not focus correctly with the body, you are in a bit of a bind. You cannot send the body/lens combination to Leica for calibration and you cannot have anyone but Leica work on the body without possibly voiding your passport warranty. This is a big concern with large aperture telephoto lenses. If you are wiling to pay Leica for the work then there is no problem.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), October 14, 2001.

Leica, if you're listening...

Other than the passport protection, what would a 3 year leica warranty be worth in terms of additional cost over a grey market lens or body? I think a 10% price premium or a $200 extra, whichever is less would be an acceptable amount to get a 3 year warranty. $600 on a lens like mentioned above is silly. I would buy the USA products if they were priced with more reason.

-- mark (mramra@qwest.net), October 14, 2001.

One thing you should check out is "leica days" these are days in which stores often sell all their leica stuff for 10% off, on top of that you can get the $200 rebate from leica before the end of this year. I just bought an M6 TTL for 1540 (after rebates) with a USA warranty, from Samy's - not too shabby if you ask me. Most lenses seem to be about the same price with these discounts either USA or Gray, thus obviously one should buy the USA one. The only two lenses from Samy's that were still more expensive were the noctilux and 35/1.4 ASPH. For a list of leica day events around the use go to this page, and then a call up the stores to see if they offer 10% off on those days:

http://w ww.leica- camera.com/unternehmen/international/usa/events/index_e.html

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), October 14, 2001.

let me try that again - it didn' t work because the link is too long and went in to two lines, if this doesn't work, please copy and paste the first and second parts of this link.

http://www.leica- camera.com/unternehmen/international/usa/events/index_e.html

-- Matthew Geddert (geddert@yahoo.com), October 14, 2001.

A new Leica lens without USA warranty can be repaired by someone like DAG or Sherry Krauter or John van Stelten (Focal Point) at a fairly reasonable cost. If the price difference is $600, then I would buy the grey market lens. I have had lenses repaired or CLA'd by them for about $100.

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), October 15, 2001.

You can also buy an extended warranty with your grey market items for not too much more, and this is for three years. Leica's warranty is not too much good unless you are unlucky- how much breaks after a year?

-- Silas Larsen (slarsen@mail.colgate.edu), November 01, 2001.

I have saved so much $$ over the years by buying grey market that I could toss a brand new M6TTL in the dumpster and still come out ahead. This is good because I experience zero risk now when buying grey market. Although, I have never had a warranty issue arise. I think that what you are paying for is US marketing when you buy a USA warranted product. But, it is an international community and market now, and the "USA" product concept seems downright provincial to me. I suggest that it is the distribution chain that needs to adapt, not the consumer.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), November 02, 2001.

I agree with Dan. Besides, Delta International includes a free three year Mack warranty with their lenses.

-- Bob (robljones@home.com), November 02, 2001.