Leica these days (a little rant)

[Dunn]

I just need to share my feelings that I'm sure plenty of you may have had.

I'm an aspiring professional photographer and while I LOVE using my Leica M6 the future is digital. So, of course I think any of the full frame digital Leica M's would be my perfect camera, but why do they have to be so expensive? I've tried an X100 which is pretty good and I have the new Ricoh GR which I like a lot, but they are no M.
I don't know for sure that a digital M would satisfy me like the M6 does, but they are just too freakin expensive to even try one out!
And then I check out the Leica blog every now and then and everyone seems to have a new M or Monochrom and I envy them.
Maybe it's good that I can't try one out because if I love it then I wouldn't be able to afford to keep it. Even if I could, ideally I would have two bodies and that's pretty much impossible with Leica prices.
Uggghhhhhhh
Anyone want to donate me a digital M? Haha
Thanks for listening

 

[Ansel]

I think the future is digital also. But the future is film too. Don't sweat it. Think about the images not the gear. Put all your efforts, financial and emotional into improving your photography - you already own a camera that is better than what most of the greats (Cartier Bresson, etc.) had available to them. And if you must have a digital M, wait a few years and they will come down in price SH substantially. In fact your M6 will likely be worth more than the latest M before not too long.

 

[burancap]

you already own a camera that is better than what most of the greats (Cartier Bresson, etc.) had available to them.

Brilliant! My new siggy!

 

[Dunn]

I think the future is digital also. But the future is film too. Don't sweat it. Think about the images not the gear. Put all your efforts, financial and emotional into improving your photography - you already own a camera that is better than what most of the greats (Cartier Bresson, etc.) had available to them. And if you must have a digital M, wait a few years and they will come down in price SH substantially. In fact your M6 will likely be worth more than the latest M before not too long.

I totally agree with you. I love using the M6 and I would be content only using it forever, but it's getting less and less practical these days. And film is getting more and more expensive too.
Yeah, MAYBE I'll be able to afford one in 3-5 years. We'll see.
It's just frustrating. I wish Leica would put their prices a little closer to the competition. I'm willing to pay a little more, but not 3 or 4 times more.

 

[btgc]

Probably Leica were most viable choice back then but things have changed a bit since then. Now Leica isn't only game in the town. Sure, it's great to use but there are alternatives.

 

[mfogiel]

Maybe you are into the wrong profession. If you can't reasonably make enough money with photography, to pay for appropriate tools, then the market is sending you a signal. Maybe it would make more sense to become a smart plumber or programmer, and if you like your M6, you can use it in your spare time, and hope to become the next HCB.

 

[sig]

Maybe you are into the wrong profession. If you can't reasonably make enough money with photography, to pay for appropriate tools, then the market is sending you a signal. Maybe it would make more sense to become a smart plumber or programmer, and if you like your M6, you can use it in your spare time, and hope to become the next HCB.

Sneaky way to say only dentists use Leicas? 😀

 

[rluka]

Aren't radiologists got more than dentists ? And they shoot large frame for a living.

I wish Leica would put their prices a little closer to the competition. I'm willing to pay a little more, but not 3 or 4 times more.

Never see any digital full frame (real) rangefinder that would benefit from cost efficient and high volume in the market.

 

[furbs]

If you really want one you'll be able to afford one. It just may take more patience and cost-cutting elsewhere, but such is the price we pay. Currently I'm doing all my own cooking and taking the bus everywhere so I can get my next lens a bit earlier. Not working for money but making it work for you and all that.

 

[Lss]

Now Leica isn't only game in the town.

It is the only game in town, if you want to use a rangefinder camera. The Epson is a great camera, but would need to get a sensor update for more people to take it seriously.

 

[btgc]

It is the only game in town, if you want to use a rangefinder camera.

This way, yes. If you want a car, there are millions of options. If you want a performance car, still plenty of choices. Rear drive car - less options, but still many. Mid engine - not so many anymore. Mid engine full wheel drive - now you are limited to a few.

We have to pay for our choices and preferences.

 

[maddoc]

Well ... why not enjoying your M6 now, save some pennies and buying a digital M-something some time in the future when it could be more reasonable for you ? At the moment it sounds more like a "I have to have it because others have it" to me ... 😀😉

 

[Markus]

Does your camera realy need to be digital? The problem with the new Leica M is, that it is just another digital camera. That means it is in use for about 2 or 3 years an then most digital Ms were found in second hand area. It is clearly visible, that the shelfs at my local dealer get filled with M8s, M8.2s and M9s. Keep in mind, that every Leica M was very expensive and used by professionals. Normal consumer don't buy a Leica. So you can notice, that digital speeds up product cycles and Leica is now in that business too. If you buy a digital M today, I am sure that you won't use it for 10 years like you do with your M6 now. In a period of ten yours will at least have 2 digital Ms. And Leica certainly wants to speed up product cycles. They claim a shutter lifetime of about 500.000 clicks for the new M. But who needs a heavy duty shutter, when you buy every 2 or 3 years a new camera?
For me it doesn't make sense to buy a M.

 

[btgc]

But who needs a heavy duty shutter, when you buy every 2 or 3 years a new camera?
For me it doesn't make sense to buy a M.

Who needs it? Probably people who shoot a lot and don't buy new camera every 2-3 years?

 

[Markus]

In average. Do you shoot digital? How old is your camera?

 

[btgc]

istD and DP1 (original, not Merril). Could jump for K-5 or DP1M, but holding dogs leashed.

 

[Markus]

Ok 😀 The problem with digital is, that there are good reasons to get a new camera. But most times you just want the new sensor with its better IQs. But upgrading the sensor is not possible and so you throw away the mechanical components of your camera like the rangefinder. I am sure that every used digital M works fine, it's just the old sensor that stops people buying them. I wouldn't buy an M8/M8.2 with it's smaller sensor when I can get a M9 or even M(10).

 

[btgc]

I am sure that every used digital M works fine, it's just the old sensor that stops people buying them. I wouldn't buy an M8/M8.2 with it's smaller sensor when I can get a M9 or even M(10).

I'd say price is wrong. People are buying newer camera because they can dump old camera for too much money and get new with a relatively small step-up money. If old cameras would depreciate in value down to nothing people would just use them until camera breaks down instead of cycling through models.

 

[Fraser]

Forget about digital Leicas for work get a couple of Canon 5ds which will do everything you will ever need until you start making money, I've still to meet a working photographer that uses Leicas.
'If you can't reasonably make enough money with photography, to pay for appropriate tools'
I think that is a bit harsh everyone has to start somewhere I dont think digital Leicas have ever been 'appropriate tools'😀

 

[Turtle]

Many astonishingly good (and now famous) photographers did not make enough from their photography to fund it in their early days, so I do not think there is a message the OP should be taking note of. We know nothing of his or her photography, so I am not going to judge.

Re Leica digital M prices, it is painful in the extreme, yes, but the good news is M9 prices will continue to fall and it will be no less of a camera in a year or two than it is now. I waited from the launch of the M9 to a few months ago to buy my first digital M (Monochrom) bu if colour is your thing, you have a lot more to choose from and time kills used digital Leical prices like every other camera 🙂