If an M10 comes out...

[dave lackey]

The M9 is surely a very nice camera, but it's not a great camera from things I've read and real people I've talked to who own one (I've never actually handled one on my own). For a camera body that costs THAT much, it has to be perfect. For that reason, even if I had the money I wouldn't get one. The Leica fetishization is just crazy.

It's a shame that the RD-1 was Epson's last entry into the digital rangefinder market; that camera is getting on in years now and although it's stil functional, a few updates would really be nice at this point.

I'm hoping that the Fuji X-Pro1 (or X-Pro2 or X-Pro3) is good enough to challenge in this market. I think if the X-Pro1 is a hit, maybe Fuji will take a gamble on the full frame model and drive the Leica prices down. With no competition, and people drooling over their products, Leica can charge whatever they like.

In my dreams, I shoot with an M9; in my dreams, I also live in the Playboy mansion, drive Sean Connery's 1964 Aston Martin, and own a private jet.

In the real world, I shoot my M3 (with the same glass I'd have on my M9), tut around town in my Toyota, and fly in steerage...er, economy class.

Ciao.

Leica M9 bashing?😡

 

[jsrockit]

The M9 is surely a very nice camera, but it's not a great camera from things I've read and real people I've talked to who own one (I've never actually handled one on my own). For a camera body that costs THAT much, it has to be perfect. For that reason, even if I had the money I wouldn't get one. The Leica fetishization is just crazy.

There is no perfect camera... not even for $100,000.

 

[Roger Hicks]

There is no perfect camera... not even for $100,000.

True. But there are many who live in a perfect fantasy world.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Lss]

I think if the X-Pro1 is a hit, maybe Fuji will take a gamble on the full frame model and drive the Leica prices down.

Can their new X lens system handle full frame?

 

[35mmdelux]

$7k was a stretch for the M9. If the M10 is released at $10k I'm done with Leicas. I love them. But I can adjust to autofocus real fast at that price.

And before they even think about an M10 they need to get those lenses out the door and be more than just unicorns you read about in Steve Huff's blog.

well said!

 

[mfunnell]

For a camera body that costs THAT much, it has to be perfect.

No it doesn't. It just has to do what no other camera can do, which is use M-mount (and adapted LTM) lenses exactly as they were designed and intended to be used - on a digital body. No other camera (including the M8 or the RD-1{s}) can do that. Oh, and have enough customers who want what it can do, and can afford and are willing to pay for it. So far, they seem to be doing OK.

In the real world, I shoot my M3 (with the same glass I'd have on my M9), tut around town in my Toyota, and fly in steerage...er, economy class.

In my real world, I do the same (including the M3 and a 25-year-old Toyota).

But if I wanted to, badly enough, I could afford an M9. I have gear I could sell, and gear I shouldn't have bought (if I really wanted an M9 that badly) that would add up to enough to do so. I just haven't crossed my "I want it, I'll do it" threshold. I may never do so - it is a big chunk of change (for me) and I don't know if I want to give up the other things I'd have to forego to afford it.

...Mike

 

[horosu]

I had the M9 and loved it. My only two wishes for improvement for the next M: higher dynamic range and 1-2 stop higher ISO capability. Resolution-wise, the 18 MP were enough.

For me, the limited dynamic range of the M9 was the most important shortcoming.

Check this for dynamic range (shot by user AALEK on LFI Analog Mastershots):

or this shot (by myself):

On this last shot there was a 5-6 stop difference between the tent surface/outside shot and the inside one. Film (TMax 400 TMY2) handled it just fine

Horea

 

[Roger Hicks]

But if I wanted to, badly enough, I could afford an M9. I have gear I could sell, and gear I shouldn't have bought (if I really wanted an M9 that badly) that would add up to enough to do so. I just haven't crossed my "I want it, I'll do it" threshold. I may never do so - it is a big chunk of change (for me) and I don't know if I want to give up the other things I'd have to forego to afford it.

Dear Mike,

Exactly. I did cross that threshold, because I did want it that badly. There are however plenty of odd value judgements in the world about what other people 'should' spend their money on, and plenty of even odder value judgements about what things 'should' cost.

I buy things that (a) I want and (b) I can afford, for a given value of 'afford'. The trick, as you implicitly suggest, lies in figuring out what "given value of 'afford'" really means.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mfunnell]

Dear Mike,

Exactly. I did cross that threshold, because I did want it that badly. There are however plenty of odd value judgements in the world about what other people 'should' spend their money on, and plenty of even odder value judgements about what things 'should' cost.

I buy things that (a) I want and (b) I can afford, for a given value of 'afford'. The trick, as you implicitly suggest, lies in figuring out what "given value of 'afford'" really means.

Cheers,

R.

Thanks Roger, for understanding my point.

...Mike

 

[Paul Luscher]

Depends on the price of an M10 and whether it has any new features which might justify paying for it. If the price starts creeping up to $10K or over, I'd have to think real hard about my commitment to Leica...

Pretty happy with the M9, and it looks like a camera that could last for years. Anyway, if push comes to shove, I could always jump ship and go for the Fuji XPro1, which looks like a promising "rangefinder-style" camera, at a relatively reasonable price. (Yeah, I know, auto-focus, but hey, things change....)

Wouldn't want to be accused of chasing the latest technology, although I have done so in the past. GAS can be a terrible thing (and real hard on the wallet...).

 

[jsrockit]

Right on, Paul, Right on... my exact feelings.

 

[Teuthida]

Leica items tend to command a premium, no matter how old. I'd expect they'll plummet, but not too low.

I see the m8 around $1000, m8.2 $2k and the m9 around 3-4500 in about 2-4 years. Keep your M-lenses. They'll go up in value as more and more people jump on the M-wagon.

M8 wont be that low in that time frame. As long as they're working, I doubt you'll ever see one below $1500.