A Trip to Germany

[Jefferson]

Hi all,

Just like to check with you guys would buying any Leica body / lens be any more affordable in Germany? As my brother is heading to Frankfurt for a business trip next week.

I would also appreciate if anyone can recommend any shops to visit or websites that is in english which i could browse through the prices.

Thank you all in advance.

Regards,
Jeff

 

[Achim Reh]

I am in Germany at the moment, and from all what I have seen in the past 2 weeks, camera equipment is far more expensive than in Singapore or Hong Kong, with one exception , " Antique non Leica Cameras " .
Also, lots of shops have disappeared in germany, it is not such a big hobby anymore. The only options where you can still find good deals, when you are lucky, is at the " Darmstadt Fotoboerse" , kind of germanys biggest foto flea-market, every year around beginning of december, or end of november.

However, if your are near the city of Cologen , you might check out 2 stores with are famous , " Foto Gregor" near the street " Neumarkt" and Foto Labertin, easy to find directly below the cologne " Dome", the famous church.

 

[articulate]

That can't be right, no offense but I have friends living in Germany that I occasionally ask to buy things for me and ship over and it's far cheaper in Germany than in France for example, way cheaper than in Singapore. If your brother is going as a tourist, he can even claim the VAT refund.

 

[Achim Reh]

I am German, I am living in singapore for the last 13 years , and every time , I am going to germany , I am packed with equipment for my german friends who are professional photographers. One example , a Voigtlander R2M is selling for 880 SG$ in singapore, in Germany , it is selling for 648 Euro ( 1068 SG$) ,second example, 40/1.4 Nokton, Leica M mount , 640 SG$ ( Chiff Photo Singapoe) , in Germany 479 Euro ( 803 SG$) , found in " billiger.de" germany's premium discount / bargain hunting website.

 

[raytoei]

LOL!!!

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I am German, I am living in singapore for the last 13 years , and every time , I am going to germany , I am packed with equipment for my german friends who are professional photographers. One example , a Voigtlander R2M is selling for 880 SG$ in singapore, in Germany , it is selling for 648 Euro ( 1068 SG$) ,second example, 40/1.4 Nokton, Leica M mount , 640 SG$ ( Chiff Photo Singapoe) , in Germany 479 Euro ( 803 SG$) , found in " billiger.de" germany's premium discount / bargain hunting website.

Cosina stuff is cheaper in SIN.

Camera quest & the rest of the EU shops are pricing their units pretty high.

 

[Jefferson]

Thanks everyone for your advise. I see a mixture of response.

How about second hand units ? would there be any difference?

 

[Achim Reh]

The 2 shops I mentioned before have a good second hand selection. Prices are so so . Shops are professionals , they know the value. Selling a bit higher than ebay. Only when you are lucky, you can get some old equipment for bargain prices in small shops ( see my Voigtlander Post in the rangefinder section of the forum). A better place to buy are the so called " Fotoboerse" in Germany. Kind of Foto flea markets, mostly in schools and city halls, several times a year. The biggest one is in Darmstadt, end of the year. There will be another big one during the "Photokina " show in Cologne this year. These are good places to buy second hand equipment, cheaper than then shops and a huge variety. I am not living in Germany anymore, but my friends going there on a regular bases. You can get all kinds of stuff, from Leica to Linnhof, Rollei to Hasselblad, and of course all kinds of Nikons, Canon , and so on.

 

[articulate]

I am German, I am living in singapore for the last 13 years , and every time , I am going to germany , I am packed with equipment for my german friends who are professional photographers. One example , a Voigtlander R2M is selling for 880 SG$ in singapore, in Germany , it is selling for 648 Euro ( 1068 SG$) ,second example, 40/1.4 Nokton, Leica M mount , 640 SG$ ( Chiff Photo Singapoe) , in Germany 479 Euro ( 803 SG$) , found in " billiger.de" germany's premium discount / bargain hunting website.

Yes but that's for Cosina gear, the TS clearly stated Leica gear.

The price of a 50 Summilux ASPH according to Leica, and which is priced exactly the same in several shops I have visited while in Frankfurt, Koeln, Bonn, Duesseldorf and Stuttgart is 2,795 Euro. After conversion even by the worst bank rates, it's about S$4900 with the cheapest being about S$4600. That is at least S$200 cheaper than the local price(i.e. Cathay Photo). And if you can claim taxes at the airport which I have never been bothered to find out if I can, it could possibly be a lot cheaper.

You might very well be German which is all fine and good, but I travel extensively in Europe and have probably been to more countries than you have while in Europe, so I resent the fact that you brought up your nationality despite me already saying no offense. I am not trying to one-up you, but rather to provide another opinion for the TS thank you very much.

Also while I was in Hong Kong in October with Thorsten Overgaard, even he said that for firsthand gear, prices are better in Europe than in Hong Kong. So I don't know where exactly you're coming from here.

 

[adamadam]

Once you are taxed upon importing it, then it's more expensive again.

 

[Achim Reh]

Articulate, I do not stop you from buying your gear wherever you want. Interesting to hear from you that you have been to more countries in europe than I have been ( without even knowing anything about me ) . Next thing you do is, you post a copy of your passport pages and your last miles and more account statement here, I guess.
No wonder , with guys like you around, more and more people hold their knowledge to themselves.

 

[pikapig]

Stay cool guys.

Don get too personal...

I think Achim didnt really mean any offense to anyone in particular with his post...what he said..did make sense thou

Probably in the past it could have been cheap...currently with SGD weaken...everything seems slight expensive

 

[Cactus jACK]

Yes but that's for Cosina gear, the TS clearly stated Leica gear.

The price of a 50 Summilux ASPH according to Leica, and which is priced exactly the same in several shops I have visited while in Frankfurt, Koeln, Bonn, Duesseldorf and Stuttgart is 2,795 Euro. After conversion even by the worst bank rates, it's about S$4900 with the cheapest being about S$4600. That is at least S$200 cheaper than the local price(i.e. Cathay Photo). And if you can claim taxes at the airport which I have never been bothered to find out if I can, it could possibly be a lot cheaper.

You might very well be German which is all fine and good, but I travel extensively in Europe and have probably been to more countries than you have while in Europe, so I resent the fact that you brought up your nationality despite me already saying no offense. I am not trying to one-up you, but rather to provide another opinion for the TS thank you very much.

Also while I was in Hong Kong in October with Thorsten Overgaard, even he said that for firsthand gear, prices are better in Europe than in Hong Kong. So I don't know where exactly you're coming from here.

Articulate, I do not stop you from buying your gear wherever you want. Interesting to hear from you that you have been to more countries in europe than I have been ( without even knowing anything about me ) . Next thing you do is, you post a copy of your passport pages and your last miles and more account statement here, I guess.
No wonder , with guys like you around, more and more people hold their knowledge to themselves.

guys, let's allow cooler heads prevail here... no need to get personal.

it's hard to make general statements relative prices between countries, economist have been having fun with this with CPIs, RPIs, and BigMac index... maybe we should develop have a Leica Index. that should be all fair and well, but that might not be reflective of prices of other photography gear, e.g. Nikon, Canon, Oly, Voigtlander, etc. likewise, Nikon, Canon, Oly, and Voigtlander relative prices may not nec be reflective of Leica prices...

for all that has been said so far, can anyone "recommend any shops to visit or websites that is in english which i could browse through the prices" i Frankfurt for Leica gear?

p.s. pika :thumbsup:

 

[casiraghi]

Articulate, I do not stop you from buying your gear wherever you want. Interesting to hear from you that you have been to more countries in europe than I have been ( without even knowing anything about me ) . Next thing you do is, you post a copy of your passport pages and your last miles and more account statement here, I guess.
No wonder , with guys like you around, more and more people hold their knowledge to themselves.

Troll..

 

[Cactus jACK]

Troll..

this is not helping...

 

[articulate]

guys, let's allow cooler heads prevail here... no need to get personal.

it's hard to make general statements relative prices between countries, economist have been having fun with this with CPIs, RPIs, and BigMac index... maybe we should develop have a Leica Index. that should be all fair and well, but that might not be reflective of prices of other photography gear, e.g. Nikon, Canon, Oly, Voigtlander, etc. likewise, Nikon, Canon, Oly, and Voigtlander relative prices may not nec be reflective of Leica prices...

for all that has been said so far, can anyone "recommend any shops to visit or websites that is in english which i could browse through the prices" i Frankfurt for Leica gear?

p.s. pika :thumbsup:

Just one website;
standart - Rahn AG Foto & Fine Art

I actually stopped by one of their stores the last time I was there, debated on whether to buy the Leica tripod. Also, there are stores in Germany that allow you to buy the Leica WATE WITHOUT Frankenfinder. Most people want the viewfinder, but I didn't, so it was actually a surprise since most shops insist they come as a package.

Also the prices have increased in line with the price hike. But I'm sure prices in Singapore increased accordingly as well.

Once you are taxed upon importing it, then it's more expensive again.

That has never happened to me and I've bought Leica stuff from France and Germany, South Korea and Hong Kong. Even though I still keep the box and papers, they've never asked me to pay additional taxes. I was 'caught' twice but after I said it was for personal use, nothing happened. Told me to go have fun.

 

[adamadam]

That has never happened to me and I've bought Leica stuff from France and Germany, South Korea and Hong Kong. Even though I still keep the box and papers, they've never asked me to pay additional taxes. I was 'caught' twice but after I said it was for personal use, nothing happened. Told me to go have fun.

As long as you declare exceeding of duty free concession (including personal effects), we should be taxed but whether they tax you or tell you go to have fun, can get lucky
Or if you order online, then could get taxed as well (Internet Purchases/Postal Parcels).
Not get taxed (pay GST when exceeding the $400 duty free concession), is better for us

Let's set up a Leica index!

 

[Jefferson]

Just one website;
standart - Rahn AG Foto & Fine Art

I actually stopped by one of their stores the last time I was there, debated on whether to buy the Leica tripod. Also, there are stores in Germany that allow you to buy the Leica WATE WITHOUT Frankenfinder. Most people want the viewfinder, but I didn't, so it was actually a surprise since most shops insist they come as a package.

Also the prices have increased in line with the price hike. But I'm sure prices in Singapore increased accordingly as well.

Thanks a lot for this! i will pass this on to my brother to check it out for me. I am interested in the M7 or MP so i guess we'll see how it goes when his there. I'll probably check out the prices in Singapore too before he travels next week!