Discontinued - M9 and M9P

[dabick42]

@ RH...

... Don't raise stupid kids...

That raised a smile, Roger !

Unfortunately, it's a dictum that's several generations too late to be heeded in many cases, I think...

 

[Clint Troy]

The famous Leica manufacturing integrity of old, which endowed their cameras with such longevity as to enable them to be used and enjoyed by later generations of one's family tree is long gone, alas.

In today's world, manufacturers can only survive if their products are routinely replaced on an ever-shortening timescale by the purchaser, hence ''repairability'' and ''longevity'' considerations have been consigned to history.

Today's wunderkamera is tomorrow's paperweight/recyclable junk.

Really, Leica wasn't magical as you suppose it was. In the 50s and 60s and even the 70s, Nikon, Canon and all the Toasters, the food Blenders and anything that was made of somekind of metal was built to last. Doors, simple household doors were better tnen today's mashed paper that's so-called "wood" and from which they now make "luxurious" doors.

Leica wasn't a magical standard and I'm really getting an itch when I come across that insinuation.

And don't forget, they almost went Kaput twice. After the M5 and just before the M8.

 

[Al Patterson]

No, but the smart ones do. Last week-end Frances and I visited an expensive kitchen shop with our 'adopted daughter' Aditi. As Aditi said, "Why do people buy this rubbish? You can buy much better made stuff at a fraction of the price at a vide-grenier." A vide-grenier is a sort of annual, village-wide car boot sale/yard sale/flea market.

Don't raise stupid kids...

Cheers,

R.

Easier to do in some parts of the world than others I'm afraid...

 

[dave lackey]

Easier to do in some parts of the world than others I'm afraid...

Heh, yeah...it seems around the age of 13, they develop a mind and will of their own. If we did our jobs right, they come around...eventually...most of the time. Years/decades later.

There ain't no guarantees that's for sure.

 

[varchs]

this is one reason that I am not interested in digital cameras...
...as for me photography is a hobby, I am not willing to start running after the MPs and MHz...
;-)
...This has nothing to do with the quality or the technology or the value of this excellent cameras...

 

[hlockwood]

I think this is true. Furthermore, it is a burden. A wonderful fellow on photo.net, now dead, faced the dilemma of what to do with all his Leica gear. His poor wife had enough to contend with and he wanted to get rid of it all while he was able. I will do the same if I get some forewarning.

I want a Leica to last just for my own use. I love that my M2 is perfect and fully functional, just as on the day it was made, and when I got it 36 years ago, and when I finish with it too I'll bet, hopefully in another 36 years. I prefer for my family's sake that it would all look like junk when I drop dead, to save them the bother of wondering what to do with it all.

But in case I am the one offloading it all, I've kept all the boxes.....

Very true, Richard. But the kicker in your comment is "...if I get some forewarning." We often don't, and when we do, we tend to ignore the grim reaper's call.

I too have many thousands of dollars in excellent (read: Leica) photo equipment that would probably be poorly distributed upon my demise. And since I'm rapidly approaching "shelf life" this is not an academic concern. My newly acquired estate planner recommends making a detailed list and identifying a photography-related, non-profit organization as the beneficiary, one that will use the equipment to train aspiring photographers. Interesting thought.

Harry

 

[Mcary]

Pity those with the Fuji X100 who now are contemplating its replacement.

Why?
You can't actually tell me that in this day in age that anyone that bought an X100 was actually naive enough to think that a new/replacement model wouldn't be released by Fuji.

When I get a digital camera I think of it as a lease or rental rather then a purchase, example if I use my X100 for 3 years then sell it for say $400 I figure it cost me about $22 a month. Sounds like a pretty good deal for a great little camera.

 

[maitani]

M9 M9P discontinuation was semi-official since photokina, good it is official now.

the guys on the booth said, the M-E is the same tech and sensor, and it will take over the M9/M9P legacy, they keep the M9 and P in the catalogue as long stock lasts.

somehow, the M9 lives on in the new 'M-E' dress although with some functions less, no big deal.

the M9 is far from obsolete, imo a modern classic. unlike many plastic fantastic releases from those days, it has been going strong since 2009, and the output, is still somewhat unmatched at lower isos, if that CCD gets enough light, it's pure magic.

 

[jsrockit]

When I get a digital camera I think of it as a lease or rental rather then a purchase, example if I use my X100 for 3 years then sell it for say $400 I figure it cost me about $22 a month. Sounds like a pretty good deal for a great little camera.

$22 will pay for one roll of film with processing and crappy scanning in a NYC lab. Yes, a very good deal indeed.