Hi all I finally took the plunge that burnt a hole in my pocket. M6 ttl with 50 1.4 summilux. I have an F4s system already.I'm looking hard for a rational explanation for my expenditure and cannot find any.

A leica enthusiast told me that buying a second hand leica is not really a big expenditure because (if you keep it well) you can always get recover a fair amount of money selling it (heavens forbid). I wonder if this is true? Don't the resale prices vary with introduction of new models? PLease help me justify this expenditure to my wife!

Thanks

Nick

-- nicholas (nickchewwm@yahoo.com.sg), April 23, 2002

Answers

Congratulations!

When you buy a new Leica M6, like I did, you are sure to lose some 'value' if you try to sell it soon after. But if you buy a used one in good condition, say at 30% less new price, the value tends to keep at that level unless the condition gets worse. So in that way, after using it for several years, you should still be able to get back your money. It is comforting to know, even if you never plan to sell your equipment. (And if you buy new, you know that you can always get that 70 % or so back).

Justification? Well, firstly, it is a mechanical, largely hand made camera made in very small quantities in Germany. It is very sure that the cost of production will continuously slowly increase. New models may be introduced that use cheaper materials or manufacturing processes, but that does not detract from the 'value' of the older model. Secondly, it is a rugged, mechanical work-horse that has stood the test of time. It is still easy to get a 30 or 50 year old model repaired today. That cannot really be said of any other camera. In 30 or 50 years time, your F4 will have long since retired, but the M6 will still chug along and take beautiful pictures.

Looking at it this way, it is actually a bargain. At least to me.

-- Ilkka (ikuu65@hotmail.com), April 23, 2002.

And my wife thinks so too!

-- Ilkka (ikuu65@hotmail.com), April 23, 2002.

"I'm looking hard for a rational explanation for my expenditure and cannot find any. "

No, but you will find good irrational explanations as time goes by and you use that Leica. Unfortunately, none of them will make sense to your wife. e.g. "Bokeh", "handleability", "MTFs", "3d effects", weight/performance ratios, satisfaction of having the best etc. etc.

If your wife is like mine, you cannot possibly justify this expense to her-all you can do is get her to overlook or tolerate it ;-) As it is, I'm a profligate spendthrift for owning two Leica bodies-a fact she cheerfully announces to all and sundry for the pleasure of watching me squirm!

Figure it out Nicholas, because this is not the last irrational Leica purchase you are going to have to justify...:-)

Oh, and by the way, you can mention to your wife, that based on the Consumer Price Index, almost every Leica M model has held its value in the resale market.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), April 23, 2002.

I'm a nikon D-1 owner, F-100, and a couple of old F4s. Also have 2 old leicas.. Guess which one I grab when I want one around my neck for a day of spontaneous shooting.. the M6.. Hang in there buddy my wife enjoys the results and is thrilled I gave up my dreams of a Harley!

-- gary brown (drdad1111@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Ah... I see I've managed to evoke the sympathies of many a married man. Thanks for all your support!!!

I guess the best way to convice the Mrs is the quality of the photo. That much she does appreciate. (Mind you the F4s was a challenge to justify as well! but she relented when the say the quality of the 105mm!!)

Thanks Nick

-- nicholas (nickchewwm@yahoo.com.sg), April 24, 2002.

Nick You shouldnt have to justify your M6 to her, its your money afterall. show her who wears the trousers in the house! ;]

-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), April 24, 2002.

Nick

The M6 is not a rational camera; it is an object of desire. If you truly rationalize its purchase then you probably won't own one. It is expensive [though not more so than many other good and frivolous things], servicing is costly and seems to take an inordinatly long time, framing, at least with the 50mm, seem quite inaccurate and, for the most part, the images it produces are no better than what you might expect with any good optic. But all that is beside the point. The Leica M has an understated elegance. It is a thing of Industrial Beauty. It is just loaded with je ne sais quoi. It might be one of the few things where the term "fondling" does not have serious negative social connotations. You don't have to make photographs with it to enjoy owning it. A blind man could love this camera.

-- John Myers (mymacv@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

WEith respect to informing the wife beforehand, I purchased my Leica M system, just as I did my Harley, with the attitude "don't ask, don't tell".

-- Steve Brantley (sbrantley@nccommerce.com), April 24, 2002.

Again, it is easier to ask of forgiveness that permission...

Good photos of children is usually the best (at to my knowledge only) way to please the Mrs.

cheers,

-- pat (modlabs@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

I'm not sure about justifying purchases to one's wife, but in terms of justifying it to myself:

I have found that if you: 1. Buy high quality camera equipment in excellent condition used and 2. You take good care of it then, 3. You can sell it almost anytime for at least what you paid for it. Sometimes I have gotten more than I paid for it. The key phrases here are "high quality" and "used". Leica is definitely high quality and the used market for Leica gear in excellent condition is better than for most cameras. So the way I view it is this, I can keep all of my savings in the bank (or mutual fund) or I can use some of it to buy things I enjoy. If ever we really need the money I can always turn the equipment back into cash. My wife has no problem whatsoever with this approach, though we are fortunately not living paycheck to paycheck.

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Your response is normal; it'll pass as you begin making photos that will be different than anything you've ever produced. It's not easy to describe in technical terms.

The type of photography that CAN be available to you now is something unlike any other camera manufacturer is able to provide. As time goes on you and your wife will see the difference.

As far as investments are concerned; M series do better than any other camera, but they are NOT a bona fide investment instrument. Fortunately, M series are only introduced every decade or two so you don't have the problem like Nikon, Canon, etc. Incidentally, in the time that the M-6 has been on the market, Nikon introduced the 8008, 8008s, F4s, N70, N65, N60, N55, FM-3,, F100, N90, N90s, F5, N80, etc. What do you think these cameras are worth? Good luck.

-- Barbano (joseph.barbano@symmetron.com), April 24, 2002.