money burning a hole in your pocket? here's a solution. M9 + Noctilux

Roger, if I had unlimited funds. I might own that combo. But, I don't, so I won't (at least not soon). On the dilemma of choosing between a free M9/Noct, a Ferrari and a boat, I'm sorry to disappoint anyone, but I've owned a boat (glad to be rid of it), I have Leicas and I have never owned a Ferrari, so I'd opt for the car. After becoming a menace on the public roads, I'd probably sell the car and use the proceeds to buy an MP, some new glass and a round-the-world travel ticket to make pictures in far flung places. $18K is lot of lettuce.
Roger Hicks said:
A fraction of the price of a Ferrari, and half the price of even a modest boat. Why do so many people have so much of a problem with Leicas? Because they're smaller than Ferraris or boats? Offer me a Ferrari, a boat and a Leica, to use not to sell, and it's a dead easy choice for me.

Cheers,

R.
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Roger Hicks said:
Why do so many people have so much of a problem with Leicas?
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Dear Roger,

Probably the same reason why people have such problems with Apple 😀

That said, I guess people have to recognize "brand new" Leica equipment for what it is; luxury. Yes, it performs a function and likely performs it very well. If I want to shoot with a f0.95 lens, well, then I guess there's no other choice BUT Leica. That said, I'm happy to shoot with what I have for my own "work" - For my clients, sure, if I could afford it and I could use it, I'd shoot with Leica - but for $18K, that's my current Nikon D700 kits two times over 😀

But as you've said in the past, if folks can afford it and they want it, then who cares what Leica charges - there's clearly someone (or some people) out there that will buy it.

Just like Apple 🙂

Cheers,
Dave
 
Pablito said:
Oh, maybe because the 1.1 Nokton is a better lens at a small fraction of the price? It's certainly a better lens by my standards. The last thing I want in a lens is "character."
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In what way do you think the Nokton f1.1 is a better lens than the Leica 0.95 asph? Its lighter, thats true, but optically there does not seem to be much of a contest.

From what I have seen (and I will admin this is limited to screen shots and reviews) the Leica looks far superior in every regard with if anything them most 'neutral' bokeh I have seen aside from the 35 summarit 2.5 or 50 lux pre asph. Online tests also show noticeably better resolution on centre wide open. You would expect this for the price difference, however. I do not like the OOF rendition of teh Nokton one bit. I am no lens snob, currently favouring a 35 Pancake II and Summarit for 35mm and mostly non Leica lenses in other FLs, but I think the OOF from the Nokton is often plain ugly. That matters to me, with a fast lens, because most of the image is going to be OOF, its just a questions of subject background separation distance.

Most people acknowledge teh Nokton 1.1 is sharper on centre than the old F1 Noctilux but thats not the lens we are talking about.
 
Michael Da Re said:
Just curious since this camera and lens is listed as used what would it cost brand new for the same setup?

Michael
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If you check B&H, the Noctilux is $10,495 while the M9 is $6,995 which suggests a similar kit would be $17,490 from B&H (Not including shipping and/or taxes)

😀

Dave

ETA: Oh.. and BOTH those items are in stock - you best be ordering now or you may be caught short 😀
 
dcsang said:
If you check B&H, the Noctilux is $10,495 while the M9 is $6,995 which suggests a similar kit would be $17,490 from B&H (Not including shipping and/or taxes)

😀

Dave

ETA: Oh.. and BOTH those items are in stock - you best be ordering now or you may be caught short 😀
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I was just getting ready to drive to B&H to pick them up but then I realized that I'm using my Ferrari to tow the boat. Just my luck!😀
 
It's a luxury good if someone else spends more on it than you would. Mephistos are luxury, but they make my feet happier. A rangefinder usually makes me happier than an SLR and I'll buy a digital one when I can afford it. If I could afford the M-9 and Noct., I would have no trouble carrying it around and using it. But I'd rather have a Contax G2 digital even at the same price and do without f0.95.
 
snausages said:
But, Roger, I don't think it can be reduced to sour grapes. Even if I could afford an M9 + Noctilux, I wouldn't buy it at this price. The thought makes me a bit sick. There are many people who can afford luxury items who do not buy luxury items. And not because they're cheap people.

(That's a solid joke. And my grandparents were all Russians.)
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And that's a solid observation. I'm not fortunate enough to be able to afford something like that right now, but I know a number of people here in LA who could drop that amount without batting an eye. But they wouldn't. Because one of the reasons that they're able to live in Bel Air or Beverly Hills is because everything is viewed in a cost/benefit relationship and has been for most, if not all, of their lives. If a camera is $700 and gets you to 96% of what you'd get with the Leica package, that's good enough, and the rest of the money can go towards a better performing asset.

That said, if someone is more than an amateur or hobbyist, I think the choice is easier because the camera has the potential to pay for itself. It's one thing if you by an $18,000 package that immediately begins to depreciate, but another if you're generating content that offsets the price.

One quick final thought - the Alden 405 "Indy" leather boot. It's $350, but worth every penny. 😉
 
imokruok said:
And that's a solid observation. I'm not fortunate enough to be able to afford something like that right now, but I know a number of people here in LA who could drop that amount without batting an eye. But they wouldn't. Because one of the reasons that they're able to live in Bel Air or Beverly Hills is because everything is viewed in a cost/benefit relationship and has been for most, if not all, of their lives. If a camera is $700 and gets you to 96% of what you'd get with the Leica package, that's good enough, and the rest of the money can go towards a better performing asset.

That said, if someone is more than an amateur or hobbyist, I think the choice is easier because the camera has the potential to pay for itself. It's one thing if you by an $18,000 package that immediately begins to depreciate, but another if you're generating content that offsets the price.

One quick final thought - the Alden 405 "Indy" leather boot. It's $350, but worth every penny. 😉
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First, you're repeating my point: everyone has different priorities, so everyone has a different cost-benefit analysis.

Second, are you serious about '96% of what you'd get with a Leica for $700'? Yeah, sure, there are dozens of other full-frame RF cameras out there, at $700 with lens.

Cheers,

R.
 
I have a Nikon for digital and a Contax for a range finder. Both take wonderful pictures. Now with that said I would love to have that Leica set up just to impress people when I go to the Virgin Islands on vacation. That would be S%&t hot!!
 
Another consideration is 'what can one afford to lose.' I do consider this when I carry equipment in unsafe areas - what would total loss mean to me. Thus far I have not had issues, though on my penultimate foray a five year old girl did slap the nose of my 35 Summarit 😉 Dicey stuff.
 
I guess like others have said, it's all relative. if you can afford it, good for you and you should get what you want. I admit to not liking the posts by the rich newbie with the M9/noct and the pictures look like out of focus crap. What ever floats your boat (or Ferrari). I have a neighbor who went to buy a Ferrari and came back with a Porsche. When I asked him to show me the engine, he had no idea where it was. As a car guy, this really bothered me but if he got the M9/noct .95 to take kiddie birthday pics, I would insist on an intervention...
 
It is an astonishing camera and an astonishing lense.

4198708540_64ebf1e9fd_b.jpg


Please continue 😛
 
I am putting together a group of M9 wanna be owners to rob banks and casinos. We are currently accepting applications.

Seriously, how can you afford it otherwise?
 
robklurfield said:
in the meantime, save some money, however, for tune-ups on the Ferrari as the engine service visits with belt changes can exceed the cost of the Noctilux.😉
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Fortunately for me, Oyster cards require no such belt-changes, just presenting the occasional flashing red light, easily extinguished with a cheeky fiver... 😉
 
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