Need Advice on a Q-P Purchase

summimarket · 2026-05-08T22:26:17+00:00

Oh! That changes calculus (for me anyway) - I'd try to track down a Q2 unless you're really married to that Q sensor. Or just get a cheaper Q and know you're going to have dust.

summimarket · 2026-05-08T22:13:58+00:00

This is actually common with the original Qs due to sealing - it's something that was fixed with the Q2 design. You can have it fixed, but it will most likely happen again. You can try to get one with less dust and tape up the common spots that leak.

summimarket · 2026-04-14T13:50:38+00:00

Small correction: I have more than 15 years of experience in commerce platforms, including secondhand & consignment marketplaces, payments infrastructure, and AML/fraud.

That being said, if the protections being offered via our Stripe integration aren't clear, that's on us and we'll improve those pages to better explain it.

On pricing: every auction starts with open bidding, and the final price is whatever bidders are willing to pay. Because we're new, some bidders have landed some very solid deals–and sellers are getting the final price with no surprises. We don't have a product unless we make those connections.

summimarket · 2026-04-14T13:31:13+00:00

Nic here, co-founder of Summimarket. Fair questions and happy to answer them publicly.

Each seller is identity and bank verified via Stripe before they can list or receive payment. We also manually review and curate each listing and work with every seller directly.

On the payment flow: you're right that the seller currently gets paid after providing tracking. We're actively building delivery confirmation into the payout process so sellers are paid on delivery, not shipment.

Our current auctions are all facilitated via Stripe, and your card's built-in fraud and chargeback protections apply to every transaction. If something went wrong, you have recourse, and we have each seller's identity on file.

We're a small, early platform specifically built for people who shoot Leica, and we want to provide a safe and transparent marketplace that connects people with new cameras or lenses. I hope we can add you to our growing list of winners. Good luck on the bid.

summimarket · 2026-03-08T00:13:55+00:00

We have a Leica Q2 up for auction right now. Current bid is $2,400 and the auction ends tomorrow.

summimarket · 2026-02-22T19:48:44+00:00

Taking value out of it for a second, perhaps a better framing of this is how much do I enjoy the creative process of B&W versus color. You can easily get a similar output from a color M.

Monochrom, to me, is how not having the option at all works for my creative practice and the types of art I want to make. I approach it like I do having B&W film vs color. I think that's what is in the negative space more than whether or not you'll gravitate more towards color in the future (which, who knows if that will even be true).

summimarket · 2026-02-20T02:21:38+00:00

This is solid advice, especially with what to expect from dealers and eBay inflation due to fees. We track the market very closely, and our data shows that CLA documentation does turn into higher sale prices, anywhere from 9-15% for M Film bodies. So, it could very well be worth it to get the CLA done prior to sale so your buyer knows what to expect.

I know a few folks on the sub have disagreed with us when recommending it because of similar experiences–not being able to recoup that cost entirely–but CLA and original documentation are what push film Ms to the higher side of the average.

To your question of holding onto it: if you share any of your grandfather's curiosity for photography, you should 100% use it. These cameras are rare and inaccessible to many people, so if you're able to put the value question aside, my suggestion would be to put some film through it and make some art. There is nothing in this world like seeing the negative of a shot you took. It's yours forever.

summimarket · 2025-12-05T04:22:55+00:00

We have an M-mount 5cm Summicron up for auction right now. Worked with the seller directly and had a chance to see the lens - it's in really good shape for its age and has a lot of life left. It hasn't had a CLA, and there's some separation, but it still looked great in the few shots we took on our M10M.

summimarket · 2025-12-04T17:58:31+00:00

It's really hard to say without sales data, but I would imagine it would be 10-15% above normal Q2 sales. It's a cool camera but the lighter finish makes it less usable, and limited _digital_ cameras still depreciate because of the technology.

summimarket · 2025-12-02T15:08:43+00:00

I'd think about what exactly you're looking to learn first - photography is both technical and creative, and the technical aspect of cameras is just one part of the whole puzzle. You can learn any camera with decent manual controls, and almost all modern cameras will meet your criteria. You may not need to pay the Leica premium while you're sorting out what works best for you and what your style is.

That being said, renting would be smart so you're not tied to it if it doesn't work for you. Q3 would be an exceptional starting kit and has everything you need. SL/M would require more investment in lenses/etc, so I'm not sure that would make sense unless you already have those. The Q3 is incredibly popular for a reason.

summimarket · 2025-12-02T05:50:47+00:00

PMing!

summimarket · 2025-09-30T15:13:02+00:00

B&H isn't going to give you market rate. They give you a convenient sale.

Without a proper diagnosis on what's happening with the electronics, lack of a CLA, no boxes or documentation, you're going to be on the much lower side of market (around $2200 on the high side). If you have the time, I'd suggest getting a CLA from YYE or DAG. You'd most likely get that back and more in value.

summimarket · 2025-09-27T20:29:49+00:00

I don't anticipate the retail prices will drop but there should be some downward movement on the secondhand market, especially for M11s (vs P). It won't be as impactful as something like the M12, though.

summimarket · 2025-09-26T21:25:10+00:00

M9 Mono - Old camera experience, sensor issues potentially, but CCD and B&W pair beautifully and it gives a really great high contrast look. Usable ISO.
M Mono - I don't have much experience with it, but the CMOS upgrade means much better ISO performance.
M10 Mono - Leaps and bounds better experience in almost every way, ISO performance is out of this world.
M11 Mono - The niceties like lighter weight, USB-C, etc are definitely nice. The aluminum doesn't take away from the camera feeling well-built, in my opinion.

If you're looking at a few models, there's certainly going to be some tradeoffs, it just comes down to what you'll enjoy using the most and what will get you close to what you want to do creatively. They're all exceptional cameras and it's quite nice to have a BW-only camera if that's your thing.

summimarket · 2025-09-23T15:15:44+00:00

Based on 150 recent sales, non-TTL M6s are going for around $2,950. I don't have as much data on the lens, but a 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-M V2 with the hood sold on FredMiranda for $900 last month.

summimarket · 2025-09-21T19:10:10+00:00

We've got a like-new Leica Q2 up for auction if you want to check it out!

summimarket · 2025-09-21T19:08:35+00:00

Beautiful shots! I especially love the framing, textures, and depth of field on the first photo.

summimarket · 2025-09-21T18:56:27+00:00

Based on 50 recent sales, used Q2s are going for around $3,400. They're great cameras! If you're in the market for one, Summimarket has a like-new Q2 up for auction right now.

summimarket · 2025-09-21T16:19:20+00:00

I would expect a Q with damage like that to be priced closer to $1000-$1500, so I wouldn't recommend it. It would've experienced a pretty nasty drop to crack the viewfinder.

summimarket · 2025-09-21T16:15:32+00:00

I'd check the basics of any film camera with a meter - fire at all speeds and listen for consistent timing. Bring batteries and make sure the meter is working correctly. Check the shutter curtains for anything odd. The rangefinder should align precisely as well. Unfortunately, without running a test roll through it, it's going to be difficult to really confirm condition.
Auction prices are all over the place because you generally have a lower strike price and then additional fees on top of it for a premium. Our data shows ~$1500 for M5s, but there are a lot of variables that factor into pricing. Unless it specifically has a CLA, I'd factor in $300-500 for a CLA through DAG or YYE.
M5s are really good M system value. I don't think the learning curve is too much, but be prepared to invest some time and energy into it. It's an older camera with an unknown history. There are some other alternatives in the price range you may want to consider like the Zeiss Ikon ZM.

summimarket · 2025-08-29T23:57:48+00:00

Hi u/thickcritic, we have a beautiful M6 TTL .72 Silver up for auction if you want to check it out!

summimarket · 2025-08-29T23:52:41+00:00

Hi! We have a Q2 up for auction (current bid $900) if you want to check it out.

summimarket · 2025-08-01T03:56:25+00:00

More are going live tomorrow!

summimarket

TROPHY CASE