Leica Hermes special edition $14K WOW

Proof that money and good taste don't necessarily go together! :D
 
I find it attractive actually - nice color scheme. Perhaps not an everyday camera, but it would be fitting in some tropical beach resort for instance or maybe on a cruise ship.
 
Leica seems to be on a roll with introducing beautiful special edition lens hoods. First the Summicron 28mm hood in chrome that came with the white M8 and now this one for the Summilux 35mm ASPH.

It's a shame about the bodies, but the hoods and quite attractive.
 
The tan color isn't bad, but given a choice of an Hermes co-branded product, I'd rather have a WHY :)
 
I know some folks collect, but when times are tough ... a 14k camera that is really a 3k camera in a silly outfit seems like a sin.

How many people can eat with $11,ooo.oo?

Sorry, I'm feeling poor today.
 
If I had the money I would buy them all.

And smash them all with a 2lb lump so that no one has such an obsenity foisted on their eyes again.

That is just bloody awful. Sorry.

This makes the white M8 look tasteful and inspired. This just, well it doesn't do anything but make me want to scratch my eyes out with a drawing pin.

In a nutshell: I'm not a fan :)

Vicky
 
It's certainly... vivid (I got the press release overnight). I can't imagine actually using it, but de gustibus non disputandum est and if you look at Martin Parr's The Rich, it's not hard to imagine this thing at some of the garden parties and horse races he portrays.

The thing is, if Leica can sell 200 of them, what's the problem? High profits keep Leica in business making cameras for the rest of us. I genuinely don't understand responses like Vicky's. What's obscene about it? I mean, I loathe football, but I don't propose demolishing all football stadia. Let them get on with it.

As for the recession, the reply of anyone who can afford something like this is likely to be, 'Recession? What recession?' The very rich (and even the quite rich) tend to suffer surprisingly little during a recession. Their nominal wealth drops from (let us say) $20 million to (let us say) $10 million (and that's only 'quite rich', nowadays), but they still don't feel much of a pinch in the amount of income they can actually spend. After all, the interest alone on $10,000,000 at just 1% is still $100,000 a year -- assuming you don't have any non-executive directorships, let alone a proper job.

Cheers,

R.
 
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urban_alchemist said:
They seem beautiful.

But I wouldn't pay $14,000 for one.
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I think it's important TO Leica to keep making really expensive special edition cameras with cooperation from other luxury brands such as Hermes. This helps maintain their status as a high end craftsmanship based luxury brand.
 
Vicky's words may have been a little harsh but I find it hard to dissagree with her distaste of these things. Just because Leica can offer them to the well heeled and subsequently put some money in the bank doesn't mean it's right ... to my way of thinking every time they do this they loose a little respect from the serious users!

I don't understand how a company that claims to place importance in it's perceived purpose of producing serious photographic tools can offer such boutique driven trinkets!

I'd rather they went broke frankly!
 
Keith said:
Vicky's words may have been a little harsh but I find it hard to dissagree with her distaste of these things. Just because Leica can offer them to the well heeled and subsequently put some money in the bank doesn't mean it's right ... to my way of thinking every time they do this they loose a little respect from the serious users!

I don't understand how a company that claims to place importance in it's perceived purpose of producing serious photographic tools can offer such boutique driven trinkets!

I'd rather they went broke frankly!
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Dear Keith,

To both statements: why?

Most serious users that I know regard these things are harmless, except the 'ultra-purists' who mostly buy second-hand anyway. It's a bit like Range Rover, who kept the 'Classic' in production to satisfy the 'ultra-purists' -- and sold hardly any, because those who could afford a new Range Rover preferred the new version.

And surely you can't be serious about preferring that they go broke.

Cheers,

R.
 
I tend to agree with both Vicky and Keith.

I sold my last Leica almost a year ago, and won't be buying another.

I certainly wouldn't want to be associated with any "garden party" types.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Keith,

To both statements: why?

Most serious users that I know regard these things are harmless, except the 'ultra-purists' who mostly buy second-hand anyway. It's a bit like Range Rover, who kept the 'Classic' in production to satisfy the 'ultra-purists' -- and sold hardly any, because those who could afford a new Range Rover preferred the new version.

And surely you can't be serious about preferring that they go broke.

Cheers,

R.
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Hi Roger,

I'm definitely no Leica purist ... I guess I just have a personal aversion to this type of marketing.

Perhaps something happened in my childhood that I'm unaware of that has scarred me for life ... a Catholic priest in a Hermes scarf possibly! :p

:)
 
It's really not my thing, but hey, if there's a mrket out there for this kind of product, why not? As Roger stated, it all helps with Leica's bottom line.
 
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