Leica M9... Legendary vs Nothing

Leica M9... Legendary vs Nothing

  • The M9 is a real revolutionary legendary leica M feeling camera

    Votes: 156 32.6%

  • The M9 just have the M, but it isn't a legendary M

    Votes: 109 22.8%

  • I just prefer to wait for another digital rangefinder camera M-Mount option without the red dot

    Votes: 96 20.1%

  • The M9 is the best digital M to date and I want it.

    Votes: 117 24.5%
  • Total voters
    478
legendary species

legendary species

Manufacturers today resemble living organisms on our planet which are in danger of extinction because of outstanding "human progress". The natural tendency is to mutate so you don't perish. Definitely the last of the Ms was the M7 and I remember myself living quite happy with an M6 for 15 uninterrupted years. Then there was the digital storm and the arrival of the mutants. All you evolutionists out there work it out, how long will it take Leica to make an M10 if it took 2 years to go from the 8 to the 9? Before the M6 I had an M3 for another 12 uninterrupted Black&White years! :bang:
 
If I could be guaranteed that an M9 would have a minimum 20 year service life with full factory support for upgrades, I would probably find a way to make the jump. However, I can't afford to eat the depreciation on an M9 that would only have a five year service life.

And for those that scoff at the idea of a digital camera lasting 20 years - why not? They're to the point where the results are indistinguishable from film for all practical purposes.
 
Last edited:
Ken Ford said:
And for those that scoff at the idea of a digital camera lasting 20 years - why not? They're to the point where the results are indistinguishable from film for all practical purposes.
Click to expand...

Dear Ken,

Hardening of the categories. So many people are conditioned to regard ALL electronic products as cheap, disposable consumer items that they are unable to get ther heads around the idea of a well-made camera with a long design life.

There are always the nay-sayers who say, "Duh, Leica's gonna go bust anyway, so they an't gonna support nothing," but I'll worry about that if it happens (which I don't think it will).

Like you, I find it hard to see why an M9 shouldn't remain in use for a very long time indeed.

Cheers,

R.
 
I think the problem will be batteries. They have to be replaced periodically. Will a battery for a 20 year old digital camera still be available? You really can't let them sit on a shelf unused for that long and expect very good performance from them.
 
Pickett Wilson said:
I think the problem will be batteries. They have to be replaced periodically. Will a battery for a 20 year old digital camera still be available? You really can't let them sit on a shelf unused for that long and expect very good performance from them.
Click to expand...

No, but you can make new ones. Probably better ones, too, given the progress of battery technology. I would take 'support' for the camera to include this.

Cheers,

R.
 
Ken Ford said:
If I could be guaranteed that an M9 would have a minimum 20 year service life with full factory support for upgrades, I would probably find a way to make the jump.
Click to expand...
Actually, those twenty years are exacly what Leica has pledged.
 
jaapv said:
Actually, those twenty years are exacly what Leica has pledged.
Click to expand...

That's good news, let's see how they treat M8 owners in the meantime.

I figure I'm at least 36 months away from affording an M9 even if I sell a few excess body parts.

I can only assume the M8 and M9 are mechanically built for the long haul.
 
So Leica will make new batteries for a 20 year old camera. Impressive.

So far, I can still buy new batteries for my Nikon D1x, but I doubt I'll be able to in another 10 years.
 
Right now there are firms that will open up any existing battery, irrespective of age and replace the innards. Not extremely expensive even. This will be the least of the problems.
 
Time is fake.
Nothing is better because it can last for long time.
All that counts is present, which is the only real.
Tradition, is a concept that is based on the wrong preconcept that what do not change is better than new.
If that (false) rule could be verified in humankind history we would live in caverns and would be eating mamooths.
Change, is ever resisted, because we feel a false feeling of security, if nothing changes, but at the same time, the seek for new stuff is in the Human dna, and that is what makes the world go round.
(some people thinks it is only money that makes the world go round)
Innovation grows at geometrical acceleration, therefore the meaning of the term "long time" is continually redefined.
Today a new camera model every 2 years seems too fast, but in the short future it will be seen as AGES!
In the past, investing 40 years building a cathedral, was really FAST, today it would mean a total mess.
As someone else said: Everything is Relative!

Reliability is a great value, but we can find it in new stuff as well as in old stuff.

In my opinion: The best we can do is, to relax, and enjoy modernity!

Ernesto
 
Last edited:
jaapv said:
Right now there are firms that will open up any existing battery, irrespective of age and replace the innards. Not extremely expensive even. This will be the least of the problems.
Click to expand...
Jaap's correct and that's a good reason why you should keep your old defunct batteries and not dispose of them.


Bob.
 
jaapv said:
Actually, those twenty years are exacly what Leica has pledged.
Click to expand...

[FONT=&quot]‘Pledged’ is a word that’s not often found in an engineering spec. The engineering spec will state the ‘service life’ of the product. My guess is that the engineering spec states 5 years. Anyone have a copy of the engineering spec? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]‘Pledged’ is used for marketing purposes. i.e. Leica pledges that the M8 is upgradeable, a camera for a lifetime etc.[/FONT]
 
DougFord said:
[FONT=&quot]‘Pledged’ is a word that’s not often found in an engineering spec. The engineering spec will state the ‘service life’ of the product. My guess is that the engineering spec states 5 years. Anyone have a copy of the engineering spec? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]‘Pledged’ is used for marketing purposes. i.e. Leica pledges that the M8 is upgradeable, a camera for a lifetime etc.[/FONT]
Click to expand...
Dear Doug,

No, you're missing the point.

They are saying they will support (i.e. service, repair and maintain parts for) these cameras for 20 years.

This is not the same as MTBF or expected service life.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Doug,

No, you're missing the point.

They are saying they will support (i.e. service, repair and maintain parts for) these cameras for 20 years.

This is not the same as MTBF or expected service life.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

MTBF has nothing to do with the 'service life' specification. You're confused as to the meanings of these engineering specifications.
 
[FONT=&quot]Typically, the engineering spec will state something akin to - Service life; 5 years parts and service support starting from the EOL date. So when Leica announces an official EOL (end of life) date for the M8, the clock starts clicking on its 5 year ‘service life’, per the engineering spec for the product, not a marketing wish/pledge to support the product for 20 years. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Perhaps the ‘service life’ as stated in the M9 spec is, in fact, 20 years. I dunno, but its highly improbable.
[/FONT]
 
DougFord said:
[FONT=&quot]Typically, the engineering spec will state something akin to - Service life; 5 years parts and service support starting from the EOL date. So when Leica announces an official EOL (end of life) date for the M8, the clock starts clicking on its 5 year ‘service life’, per the engineering spec for the product, not a marketing wish/pledge to support the product for 20 years. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Perhaps the ‘service life’ as stated in the M9 spec is, in fact, 20 years. I dunno, but its highly improbable.
[/FONT]
Click to expand...

Dear Doug,

Why? One of the reasons Leicas cost so much is the service and 'hand holding' offered to Leica buyers.

As I have said in other threads, we are NOT dealing with disposable consumer electronics here.

'Engineering spec' is meaningless ihn this context, if a company pledges and intends to support a product for 20 years. Are you calling them liars?

Cheers,

R.
 
Part of what will make any camera maker successful in these days is getting their product/s in the hands of as many consumers as possible; and not in making a statement that only a few have the means and good taste to own and operate an M camera.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom