M7 more $$$$ than M8. Inventory reduction for M9?

E

eleskin

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I just received my catalogue from Freestyle Photographic Supply and M8 prices are as follows:

M8:
$3,995.99 regular price

$2,996.25 School/Student/Educator price

M7:
$4,395.99 regular price.

$3,296.25 School/Student/Educator price.

It seems this is a trend breaking out everywhere before 09/09/2009.

Something is in the air!!!!

Inventory reduction before M9 or new price structure for M8 as an entry level digital rangefinder and the M9 being the super pro model.

This is a good idea for Leica. They can continue and refine the M8 (better sensors, better high ISO) for those who cannot afford the M9.

This is what Nikon and Canon do as well, although they have many more models to choose from. Offer pro models as well as lower priced pro and entry level models.

I could see in a year when the M9 hysteria blows over prices level off and come down a little. Lets say $5,900 for an M9 and $2,700 for an M8.3. They would make money with this!!!!
 
I'm a little stunned at the price of a new M7, I obviously haven't being paying attention ... :eek:
 
Up until recently, I haven't seriously considered buying a M8 but prices across the board seem to be falling with rumours of the M9 rampant. If they go below A$4000 I'll probably hit the button and pick one up. I did exactly the same thing when I bought a new M6ttl 3 years after it had been superceeded by the M7. A M9 for A$10,000 bucks is going to be hard to justify to my long sufferring wife.
 
mabelsound said:
In the end, this should reduce the used price of an M8 down to non-rich hobbyist levels, and bring more new shooters into the M system.
Click to expand...

yep

non-rich hobbyist = bottom feeder = me (owner of "obsolete" M8)

now there's a pleasing equation

and no, the M9 (or M8.2 or even M8) did not make me a better photographer. which fact is not a leica design or manufacturing fault.
 
Poking around Freestyle's website I can't even find the M8 listed. Makes me wonder whether I have the right Freestyle -- mailing address is in Hollywood, Cal., right?
 
The M8 has been discontinued for some time; dealers just cleaning out stock. The price of the M7 likely reflects supply/demand...not many being sold, I suspect.

Jeff
 
Yes, I saw that in my catalog too. It's pretty surprising that the top of the line Leica 35mm camera is selling for more than the top of the line digital. Probably because the M7 is a better camera for what it does. Years of slow but steady improvements compared to a new, for Leica, technology in a Leica digital RF camera. The prices on both are just nuts though. I'm just going to wait until a used M7 drops to between $1000 to $1400 before even thinking of getting one. In the meantime I shoot their R cameras because dollar for dollar they're a bargain. Not often you can say that about any Leica product.

I love getting the Freestyle catalog in the mail. It connects me to what I consider real photography (film of all sorts, chemicals, darkroom equipment and the like) and frees me from looking at all manner of overpriced plastic electronic gizmos that have nothing to do w/ why I take photographs. B&H used to send me a catalog and after about 3 minutes of leafing through it I threw them in the trash.
 
Maybe the entry-level M8.3 could have a built-in IR filter on an 8MP sensor with very good hi-ISO noise performance. Eight MP is plenty good enough up to 11 x 14 or so, while the slightly lower resolution would position it a niche lower than the M9, so as not to compete excessively with the M9. They should make sure the framelines are sized less conservatively than they have been in recent years--in other words, make them bigger--more like the M4.

What with the superior reliability of the Leica range/viewfinder, that ought to kill off interest in the R-D1. Though I'm not sure enough of those are sold to make a real difference in sales of new Leicas.
 
jreid said:
Poking around Freestyle's website I can't even find the M8 listed. Makes me wonder whether I have the right Freestyle -- mailing address is in Hollywood, Cal., right?
Click to expand...

I walked into Freestyle Hollywood the other day and was surprised by a whole collection of Leica M gears in custom walnut show boxes. I had never seen much in their catalogue.
 
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