Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>>>Marc, lets take a 50mm Summicron M for example. In 1985 this lens was selling NEW for 320.00. That same lens is currently nearly 600.00 in mint condition<<< Uh, correct my arithmetic (please), but does't $320 x 4% inflation for 14 years compounded annually equal almost exactly $600? All that means is that it hasn't lost any value, not that the price has gone nuts. One of the advantages of many top-quality products is that they tend to retain resale value or even appreciate in value. My grandmather, who lived to age 91 (1902-1993), was probably highly unusual in that in his whole life he never bought an automobile that didn't appreciate in value. He bought the best and then kept each car for 20 years or more, and sure enough by the time he got rid of each, they were always worth more than he'd paid for them. He died with a 1955 Lincoln Continental and a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 6.9 in his garage, and both fetched more than he'd paid for them--the Mercedes barely, the Lincoln by quite some. Not adjusted for inflation, but still. And what did a Nikon or Canon or Pentax medium-speed (f/2, f/1.8, f/1.7) 50mm lens go for in 1985? I'm betting it was a good deal less than $320. Also, I doubt anybody who would claim to be a "collector" would be buying a 1985 50mm Summicron-M. That's still user territory, for sure. Heck, it's the current design. - --Mike