$26,500!!!! Leica M9 Titanium

[btgc]

Titanium models are built to last, right? Carrying RF over shoulder, it tends to swing and have bumps. That's where extra sturdiness helps. And seems that only small amount of people on planet don't care about their cameras so they will get durable T-model. Nothing wrong if they are charged little more for being careless.

 

[adavis47]

There is some wisdom in having "stuff" rather than money, assuming you have lots of money. If I had closets of money I could see getting an M9T. It certainly has more integrity.

 

[jsrockit]

If I had closets of money I could see getting an M9T. It certainly has more integrity.

In my experience, anyone who keeps their cash under their matress or in the closet is genrally too cheap to buy this camera. 😉 I'm glad I'm too cheap to buy it.

 

[Keith]

Maybe the go ahead well to do photog needs a Mercedes built in white gold to carry that titanium M9 around ... no? 😀

http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/03/white-gold-mercedes/

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

One has to remember that the owner of Leica circulates in social and economical demographics that many of us will never join. Dr. Kaufman may have seen an opportunity to make $13,250,000USD by producing the M9T.

The M9T appears to be a hit with an audience that does not frequent this forum. In fact, I have it on good word that an M9T was bought and paid-in-full by an Australian on the day it was introduced to the world.

Not my camera nor does it appear to be the camera of choice of many readers here. But it appears to have been a wise business move by Leica to quickly raise some cash.

 

[Keith]

As much as the 'T' is not my cup of 'T' the fact these have reputedly all sold instantly is good for Leica and if they want to do this occasionally I don't have an issue with it ... and if I did would they give a damn? I still worry about that mentality though ... "We build it, it costs this much, criticise us if you choose because we will sob all the way to the bank!"

It's interesting that VW were involved with this camera because their Bugatti Veyron has pretty much the same effect on me.

 

[raid]

I see an OM-4T with 50/1.4 sell for $250. Now this is a "T" that is worth its price.

 

[Cyrus]

Are included in the box some stock options?
Then I will jump in
I see them selling like hotcakes the design is awesome, the IQ also...

 

[Ezzie]

Maybe a good business decision, and good on Leica if it is. I'm not at all jealous of anyone having the means for a camera like this. I dream of owning a limited edition Ferrari somewhere, sometime (alternate universe), and commend them for building them. I think it has to do with Ferrari (and others) making something good even better. However the M9T doesn't fill me with the same level of desire, I evidently just don't get it.

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Rumor has it that the whole run of 500 pieces sold out in the first day...😱😱 That is 11 million Euros in the bag that can be used towards the development of the M10.

11 million, MINUS the cost of developing and producing THIS camera. What does that leave?

And, why does everyone think of this as some sort of charitable benefit? A 'fundraiser' to help the working man? They do it because they can.

Good point, Ezzie, with the Ferrari example. I agree — i also LOVE Ferraris. But, i don't have adequate words at the moment to explain how this is different. It just IS.

 

[Ezzie]

11 million, MINUS the cost of developing and producing THIS camera. What does that leave?

And, why does everyone think of this as some sort of charitable benefit? A 'fundraiser' to help the working man? They do it because they can.

I think you nailed it there.

 

[sahe69]

Ahhahhah! 26k? Tasteless.

 

[JayGannon]

11 million, MINUS the cost of developing and producing THIS camera. What does that leave?

And, why does everyone think of this as some sort of charitable benefit? A 'fundraiser' to help the working man? They do it because they can.

Good point, Ezzie, with the Ferrari example. I agree — i also LOVE Ferraris. But, i don't have adequate words at the moment to explain how this is different. It just IS.

Hehe nope its not. Fiat produce Ferrari's (Or did at least) and I reckon somewhere in the 10 million profit range. You want wantit to be different but its not! They produce special edition to raise funds thats just business.

 

[semilog]

I've seen a lot of trashing and slanging of both Leica and this camera, for reasons I'm sure of. Sour grapes? Class warfare?

Did it occur to you that there might be other reasons?

It's simple: we hope and expect that Leica will have good taste, as they usually (but not always) do.

The M9Ti is an ugly camera to look at, and - worse - it's designed to live in a display case, not to take photographs. The absence of strap lugs alone demonstrates that.

The thing that has traditionally defined Leica is that their cameras are (with rare screwups) great for taking pictures. This is jewelry. It mocks the idea of camera-as-tool, rather than celebrating it.

In these ways, it is the antithesis of the S2, a camera that is truly admirable, if equally unaffordable.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

While I admit that I won't be shelling out for the M9T, the hand wringing is curious...the camera was not designed for folks like me, and I'm ok with that. There are plenty of toys left in the sandbox...

Since I became a 'watch guy' recently, I've realised that there are people out there with gobs of cash to spend on things like this camera...there's no sense in getting bitter over it. So Leica has aimed this camera at a demographic I'm not in; I don't take it personally, there's all sorts of products like that out there. I'll never own an A Lange and Sohne watch, or a Leica M9T...however much I admire them (and I'm not mad at Lange for not giving me an option in my price point). I do, however own some great Leica film rfs and a really nice Doxa watch.

 

[hendriphile]

It seems that Leica has been doing this sort of thing for over 70 years (isn't there a gold Barnack Leica around somewhere?). Sure, most of these will be purchased by people, but if that keeps the firm healthy enough to continue producing film cameras...

 

[semilog]

So Leica has aimed this camera at a demographic I'm not in; I don't take it personally, there's all sorts of products like that out there.

That's the question, isn't it. We know that there is a potential market out there for almost anything.

This is the sort of thing that over time is corrosive to Leica's brand. If this is that people associate with the brand (and to an extent, it already is), rather than genuine achievements like the S2 or the 35 Lux ASPH, over the long run, Leica loses.

 

[JayGannon]

No offense but they've been doing it for 70 years and their still here. Seems to be working fine.

 

[semilog]

No offense but they've been doing it for 70 years and their still here. Seems to be working fine.

They're also serially on the edge of insolvency.

Whether the special editions have helped or hurt over time is an open question. But they certainly do not help the brand. Instead they associate the brand with who have more money than taste.

This would not matter if the only thing associated with the Leica brand was luxury. But the brand is also associated with much of the very best and most important photography (and photographers) of the 20th century. That heritage is a direct consequence of the utility of Leica cameras. Cameras not designed to be functional (an M9 without strap lugs!) trivialize the company's heritage.

 

[JayGannon]

They're also serially on the edge of insolvency.

Whether the special editions have helped or hurt over time is an open question. But they certainly do not help the brand. Instead they associate the brand with who have more money than taste.

Erm no, Leica is actually in profit. Not near insolvency.
http://www.corporate.leica-camera.com/investor_relations/financial_reports/2010/index.html

They have had issues in the past yes but have always been quite a strong business as shown by the fact they have been bought out, most of Leica's problems came from the over diversification of companies that bought them and left them with bad management and asset allocation within a larger more diverse brand group. Nothing particularly to do with the cameras to be honest.

And I'm sorry it still just stinks to me of silly "I hate people who have money" motives. Live and let live. Some people would say that anyone paying more than 100 dollars for a camera have more money than brains.... it goes every way...