[Leica] Digital vs film cost

[scleroplex at gmail.com (scleroplex)]

brilliant!
thank you very much for this.
there is also cost of ownership for the camera body, just like a car.
when the LCD cracks or pixels break, batteries develop memory effect etc.
:-)
bharani



Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:03:45 -0400
From: Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin at gmail.com>
Subject: [Leica] Digital vs film cost
To: Leica LUG <lug at leica-users.org>
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Fortunately the cost of film vs. digital for Leica users can be settled with
a sharp pencil and a pocket calculator. Everyone is right. It pays for the
pros to switch, it is marginal for the advanced amateur, and a poor bargain
for everyone else.


Film cost of each frame including developing (approximate, based on
Freestyle catalog):

Category 1: B&W, bulk loaded, self processed = $.05

Category 2: B&W, 36 exp. purchased rolls, commercially processed = $.20

Category 3: Color, 36 exp. rolls, commercially processed = $.30


Professional photographer:

Has first class film equipment and lenses. Buys new digital body. Shoots 200
frames a day, 40,000 frames per working year. Cost of new Leica or Canon
body $7000.

Category 1 - Digital break even point in 700 working days (10 years).

Category 2 - Break even point in 175 days (about 6 months).

Category 3 - Break even point in 117 days (about 4 months).


Advanced amateur photographer (Typical LUG member)

Has Leica M camera, several lenses. Buys M9 body. Shoots 30 frames a day,
9000 per year.

Category 1: Break even point, 15.5 years.

Category 2: Break even point, 3.9 years.

Category 3: Break even point, 2.6 years.


Casual Leica shooter, M body, some lenses, shoots 10 frames a day, 3000 per
year.

Category 1: Break even point, 47 years.

Category 2: Break even point, 12 years.

Category 3: Break even point, 7.8 years.


Typical weekend photographer, uses camera on vacations, birthdays and
holidays, shoots 300 pictures a year.

FUGGEDABOUDIT - you won't live long enough to break even on a digital Leica.
Stick to film.


If you are not a pro or a compulsive shooter and you MUST have a digital
Leica, buy a used M8 or wait to buy your used M9 until after the M10 is
introduced. Incidentally the cost of a $7000 loan to buy a new camera is
$420/year at a bank, $1120/year if charged to your credit card.


Larry Z