Effective August 1, 2007
Leica increased the USA price of the 15/18/21 Tri Elmar with viewfinder a modest $1500 to only $5900. The lens is no longer available without the VF.
Stephen
Leica increased the USA price of the 15/18/21 Tri Elmar with viewfinder a modest $1500 to only $5900. The lens is no longer available without the VF.
Stephen
JWW
Established
Ever since earlier this year, with reports of Leica lenses being so backordered, it's pretty predictable that the prices will go up. I decided to bite the bullet and buy all the lenses that I would want before that happened. Didn't buy the WATE though. I wouldn't be surprised if the other lenses go up also.
Jan
Jan
johnastovall
Light Hunter - RIP 2010
What about the rumored US$900 increase on the M8?
summilux
Well-known
price increases is only way to filter out non-believer.
ywenz
Veteran
great! more reason to buy leica stuff..
gb hill
Veteran
They have to recoup their losses somehow don't they? I supose the warrenty problems with people having to send their M8s back to Solms was pretty expensive for the company I would think.
johnastovall
Light Hunter - RIP 2010
gb hill said:
Maybe they should have thought of that before releasing such an un-tested product with so many defects?
greggebhardt
Well-known
I think it is more demand with very little supply. This always cuases price to go up!
gb hill
Veteran
johnastovall said:
I don't think hardly any of the manufactures do the testing of their products anymore. Look at all the recalls that go on in this country. I wonder if the reputation of the Leica name that has been so built up by collectors & users have so gone to their heads that they thought that there couldn't possibly be anything that could go wrong with the M8.
Joop van Heijgen
Established
gb hill said:
M8 digital camera belongs to television technics; absolute different from the manufucturing of mechanical (electronic) cameras!
Leica can better let make her digital cameras (M8, M9?) with the TV manufacturers like Panasonic , Philips or Sony!
The core business of Leica is making optical lenses and mechanical 'film' cameras!
Bertram2
Gone elsewhere
CameraQuest said:
Confirmed in Germany ( Newsletter of the dealer "Leica bei Meister") are € 4800.-, from 1st of October on. No clue what the current Dollar is in Euros, should be something like $ 6000,- now.
bertram
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gdi
Veteran
greggebhardt said:
It rarely results in a manufacturer increasing the prices in this manner (30+ %) - you see, they control the supply and choose the formula for maximizing their profit. Retailers will many times take advantage of market scarcity to wildly increase prices, even if their cost remains the same.
Prices of scarce production items like hot new cars, video games, and also other camera manufacturers products have not been raised by manufacturers for soley that reason, in my experience. Some have said the increase may be in response to a weakening dollar, but this may be a global increase.
Maybe the price of Portuguese labor has taken a huge jump, forcing a reluctant Leica to respond?
HetDraakje
Het Draakje
Bertram2 said:
Actually this source has been the only one so far. Cameraquest did not give a confirmation, so that still leaves the question unanswered: Has this been confirmed yet?
Boen
veraikon
xpanner
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
gb hill said:
Errr... Financial reports suggest rather the opposite with the company moving into the black.....
Joop van Heijgen said:
I must return mine to Solms; CNN reception is lousy!
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Ben Z
Veteran
16-18-21 lens, or any current new Leica lens, isn't on my radar. Not with all the fine used ones out there, plus the Voitlander and Zeiss. As for the M8, supposedly the price went up from $4800 to $5000 on July 1 but some of the US dealers have not upped their price. And I assume (perhaps incorrectly) those dealers would be attracting customers away from those who did raise prices. That was true in my case and at least one other I know of personally. I have no reason to get a second M8 (will use RD1, DLux2 or M6+film as emergency backup) but I wish Leica well if they increase the M8 another $900. Raising prices on digital cameras a year into product life is definitely a novel strategy
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
Hmmm. I had just about rationalized a purchase of the WATE at the old price.
But, cripes, $6000 for any lens is simply ridiculous. It extremely hard for me to imagine anyone buying this lens now.
But, cripes, $6000 for any lens is simply ridiculous. It extremely hard for me to imagine anyone buying this lens now.
bluepenguin
Established
Good job Leica,,,,, I rather buy zm lenses for my wide angle.