Let's say I want to sell my M6TTL. Would I get more for it after the M7 is out for a while or would I get more for it by selling right now?

-- Tristan (tt@tristan.net), February 25, 2002

Answers

i think it depends on the decision whether the m6 line will survive or be scratched. i presume a temporary drop for a few months, then back to actual values.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), February 25, 2002.

Less now if the M7 is perceived as a huge success, less later if it is indeed actually a huge success... I think you're sunk either way, unless it turns out to be a huge flop.

:-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 25, 2002.

As soon as you break the seal on the box it loses most of its value, so why worry?

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), February 25, 2002.

All,

What is the likelihood that at Leica market and electronic and manual version of the M series, much in keeping with the marketing strategy of Hasselblad's 200, 500 and 900 series. And assuming that scenario, would the value of the M6 remain fairly constant?

Regards,

--mark

-- Mark A. Waidelich (mark_waidelich@hotmail.com), February 25, 2002.

Sell it now if your concern is to have the "latest" (interesting word in this context, isn't it?) Leica technology and get the best price for your M6. But my suggestion - keep the M6 and buy an M7 whenever.

Here's a situation that my suggestion will help you avoid...

A friend of mine sold me his M2 in superb condition a bit over 2 months ago; Said he didn't use it much and it was dumb for him to keep it. Yesterday he bought an M2 in similar condition, paying $300 more than what I paid him!

-- MikeP (mike996@optonline.net), February 25, 2002.

Mark,

Unless the M7 fails in the market place, I suspect the last M6, TTL or otherwise, was built awhile back as Leica geared up to produce inventories of the 7 for sale. (Remember they've been beat up of late for announcing products they couldn't deliver to meet initial demand e.g. R motor drive, 35-70 Vario Elmar ASPH, M finder magnifier.)

On another board (LUG) a member who was at the PMA show asked a Solms employee about the future for the M6. He pretty much confirmed that the M6 was history with no production recently, nor would there be unless the M7 failed in the marketplace. Unless there are severe and lasting quality issues with the electronic shutter I don't see that happening.

Those who pine for the parallel production of both seem to be missing the point that the M7 appears to operate in the same fashion as the M6 if you just turn off the AE feature. The "battery dependent" arguement is a little mysterious to me. M6s need bateries to function fully and have for 18 years. Who regularly shoots an M6 without them? I'm sure most of us learned long ago to carry a spare set. And how many of us have had a meter failure caused by other than depleted batteries? If one can afford a body that new or used cost them between $2,000 to $1,100, I'm sure carrying spare bateries is not a problem.

I suspect they will try to hold the selling price of the M6 TTL at its current levels till inventories dwindle to little or nothing. At the very last of M6 supplies the price for new may be lowered, but that will be a short period and then they'll be gone.

Used prices for M6s may take an intial small hit during the purge of the new M6s as an abnormal amount of them are marketed or traded in by new M7 owners, but then will rise to their current levels after that initial spike. In the future when used M7s hit the market (and that may be awhile, as it was when M6s were new), I expect the difference between a used M6/7 to be approximately the same percentage as the new prices for them were.

In summary, if you're looking for either version of the M6, the next few months are now you're time, but it won't last long.

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), February 25, 2002.

anyone want to buy my lovingly cared for nearly perfect m6 ttl with passport warranty?

-- Tristan (tt@tristan.net), February 25, 2002.

Tristan, What version is it? How much is it? Where are You? Steve.

-- steve (s.s2@uk.dreamcast.com), February 25, 2002.

Ho hum, maybe in a few years I'll replace my IIIf & IIIa with an M3.

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), February 25, 2002.

It's a .72 black chrome please inquire to me via email, thanks.

-- Tristan (tt@tristan.net), February 25, 2002.

I think the biggest impact on M6 resale value will come from the Bessa R2. I spotted a used M6 yesterday in great condition offered at the same price I got mine. I did not buy it, because I want to see and touch the Bessa R2 first. The Bessa R2 wil be sold for half the price of that used M6. The only forseeable drwbacks of the R2 are the shorter rangefinder base and the louder shutter. If they have managed to reduce the shutter noise somewhat, the pressure on used M6's value will be terrible. For me anyway, since I mostly use 28mm. 50mm is almost a tele for me, I have an Elmarit 90 that I use sometimes, but the Bessa rangefinder base length is enough even for that.

-- Stéphane Bosman (stephane.bosman@2ci.net), February 27, 2002.

The M6 Classic is just that, a classic. In the long run, it will hold its value, just as the M3s etc have.

Why? Collectors will place a premium on this, the last of the high precision mechanical shutter 35mm cameras in production, just as they do on Patek Philippe mechanical watches etc.

Nobody in this forum has yet mentioned it, but an era has just quietly ended after 70+ years...

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 27, 2002.

Mani,

If indeed "an era has ended" I would expect to see some objective data that supports that conclusion.

When used M7s hit the market in a few years, their prices should be less than the M6s, M5s, M4s etc. if thats the case. Also the number of Leica sites and the traffic therein should be reduced as after all, the M7 is "just another electronic 35".

I don't think you'll see that.

Best.

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

Objective data?

Jerome, the M7 isn't in stores yet! I thought it would be obvious that my humble two bits was pure speculation, voiced with the tone of absolute certainty that is the hallmark of all such pronouncements in this forum ;-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 27, 2002.

Mani,

My Leica dealer has one, although it wasn't in the display case. It appears to have some nice and useful features.

He indicated that he was only showing it to serious customers or those who had purchased much equipment from him in the past. He was taking orders although his distributor had told him not to expect them to be started to be filled till "sometime in April" and then not as fast as he would want them as he has 9 deposits already.

No I didn't order one.

My comment on your "end of an era" was to indicate that it wasn't an end at all. Rather just another in a succession of evolutionary steps Leica has taken for almost 80 years in the 35mm realm. When and if the "end" comes, it will be when they stop production for good.

That will truly be the "end of an era".

Best,

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), February 27, 2002.

Jerry,

Indeed you are right. The era will end when Leica stops making 35mm cameras.

I meant that the era of high-precision clockwork shutters on 35mm cameras is drawing to an end. The wonder of Leica (and Contax, Nikon etc.) was the fine slow-shutter-speed gear train mechanism, clockwork that was exquisitely precise, yet built to last 50 years and more.

Rightly regarded as a sort of peak of precision mechanical engineering and manufacturing techniques, it is unlikely we will see the like again. ( I know, I am sounding like Mr. Puts!).

It is simply easier and less expensive to get to the same place with electronic controls. AE shutters are a dime a dozen these days, and so its shutter does not mark the M7 as being special amongst cameras, unlike the M6, even if the rangefinder ergonomics of the M body still leave the M7 otherwise unmatched among 35mm cameras.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 27, 2002.