M8 (and RD1) niche untouched

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noimmunity

scratch my niche
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A fun time for all with all the new cameras coming out.

One thing I cannot help but notice, however, is the glaring lack of alternatives to the current queens/kings of the sub-$3000 dRF, the M8 and the R-D1.

For those who don't want to sell a kidney or the entirety of their lens collection just to own an M9, MM, or M10, yet want the purity of a mechanical rangefinder in a digital format, there is no other option.

It may never be actualized, but the market price segmentation is definitely leaving the door wide open for an update to the M8/R-D1 class.

In the meantime, both the M8 and the R-D1 continue to enjoy relevance. Plus, they can make really cool images 🙂
 
Funny, somehow I thought one of the new Leica announcements might have been a M8.3 with recent aps-c sensor. It would have made sense. Maybe the rumored M-light evil camera will be close to that. "Various M-derived products" is what Thorsten Overgaard mentioned in his latest article, and I can't imagine something M8-like not to be one of those.
 
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True. At the time of the their release, both the M8 and the R-D1 represented considerable R&D that had to be recuperated.

But nobody today is going to believe the argument that significant R&D costs could still be involved in the design and bringing to market of an updated APS-C model.
 
jsrockit said:
There was never a $3000 M8... it's only that way now because it's so damn old.
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In fact, there was.

Buying my M8 new, while it was still in production and before the release of the M9, I actually paid considerably LESS than US$3000.

I do have a sale receipt to prove it. But then again, there are those who don't believe the President of the United States was native-born even after he publicly disclosed his birth certificate XDDD!
 
Would be nice to see a digital CL. M9 prices leave existing Leica film shooters open to a digital rangefinder with no product options from Leica. I applaud others who play the M8/ R-D1 roulette, but its not for me.
 
damien.murphy said:
Would be nice to see a digital CL. M9 prices leave existing Leica film shooters open to a digital rangefinder with no product options from Leica. I applaud others who play the M8/ R-D1 roulette, but its not for me.
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or a digital CLE maybe? 🙂

doesn't SONY have some leftover know-how from the Minolta guys they took over to come up with a decent digital CLE? combine that with their full frame sensor and we are talking about some competition.
 
damien.murphy said:
Would be nice to see a digital CL. M9 prices leave existing Leica film shooters open to a digital rangefinder with no product options from Leica. I applaud others who play the M8/ R-D1 roulette, but its not for me.
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What M8 roulette? No problems with M8 since 2008. I have it because I'm a big rangefinder fan, so no XPro for me. I'm not a high iso freak so I get wonderful images from it.
 
I think that Fuji's two most recent offerings (X100 and XP1) are fine for people who are in that niche. The niche of those who can't/won't afford M9, M10, etc AND who aren't satisfied with the Fuji rangefinder-esque products is so small as to be--dare I say?--insignificant.

Sorry. There will be no digital CL/CLE either. I'm sorry to say but rangefinders aren't that practical for anyone to make, besides Leica.
 
boomguy57 said:
I think that Fuji's two most recent offerings (X100 and XP1) are fine for people who are in that niche. The niche of those who can't/won't afford M9, M10, etc AND who aren't satisfied with the Fuji rangefinder-esque products is so small as to be--dare I say?--insignificant.

Sorry. There will be no digital CL/CLE either. I'm sorry to say but rangefinders aren't that practical for anyone to make, besides Leica.
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I disagree. The Fuji XPro1 would be a nice camera to have, but it can't replace my M8. And if my M8 dies tomorrow, I'm SOL. I would have no choice by to take the risk of buying used.
 
DRabbit said:
I disagree. The Fuji XPro1 would be a nice camera to have, but it can't replace my M8. And if my M8 dies tomorrow, I'm SOL. I would have no choice by to take the risk of buying used.
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Is that simply because you can't afford an M9, or is there some other reason that makes the M8 unique and better suited to your needs?
 
kmallick said:
or a digital CLE maybe? 🙂
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Indeed 🙂

tom.w.bn said:
What M8 roulette?
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Have read too many user experiences with problems/ sensor replacements/etc, to consider it a risk-free purchase. That is roulette in my book - spin the wheel and take your chances.

boomguy57 said:
I'm sorry to say but rangefinders aren't that practical for anyone to make, besides Leica.
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Didn't Leica have to pull the plug on the CL all those years ago because they were selling too well? Hardly seems like there's no market for a digital version more keenly priced than an M9, especially considering all the M-Mount film users out there who right now are priced out of the digital rangefinder game..
 
boomguy57 said:
Is that simply because you can't afford an M9, or is there some other reason that makes the M8 unique and better suited to your needs?
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Both. Primarily it's price, first and foremost. I do prefer the output of the M8 a bit better, plus its 1/8000 max shutter speed. The 1.3x crop factor doesn't bother me at all and I sometimes wish for Leica to release a digital CL that's a 1.3 or 1.5 crop and CHEAPER. I'm dreaming, I know.

However, regardless, there is really no "affordable" option for a digital rangefinder, unless you're willing to buy used. I find that unfortunate. My daughter's best friend, who is quite serious about photography, LOVES shooting with a rangefinder, but no way she can afford one in the digital realm.
 
DRabbit said:
I disagree. The Fuji XPro1 would be a nice camera to have, but it can't replace my M8. And if my M8 dies tomorrow, I'm SOL. I would have no choice by to take the risk of buying used.
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I have both, and I agree (with your disagreement). The XP1 doesn't replace a camera with a combined mechanical VF/RF. They do make a sweet pair, however, that does things an M9 alone for instance couldn't do.
 
boomguy57 said:
Sorry. There will be no digital CL/CLE either. I'm sorry to say but rangefinders aren't that practical for anyone to make, besides Leica.
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I am a super happy owner of a M9. But I am guilty of daydreaming for more choices as much as any other rangefinder aficionado. I can also be tempted to be as much an armchair analyst. But everyone agrees that Leica needs some competition, be it from Epson, Cosina, Fuji or SONY.
 
Don't get me wrong, I'd love a digital RF. But the prices are way out of whack. Most consumers don't want manual cameras anymore, so it's not practical for a company to invest in the RF game at this point. To me that's just common sense.
 
boomguy57 said:
Don't get me wrong, I'd love a digital RF. But the prices are way out of whack. Most consumers don't want manual cameras anymore, so it's not practical for a company to invest in the RF game at this point. To me that's just common sense.
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You are absolutely correct. But many of us are stuck between accepting this as a fact and the steep price of a Leica digital M. Hence the daydreaming. 🙄
 
kmallick said:
You are absolutely correct. But many of us are stuck between accepting this as a fact and the steep price of a Leica digital M. Hence the daydreaming. 🙄
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But now there are alternatives in the form of Fuji's X100 and XP1. While not technically rangefinders, they provide--in my opinion--a very similar experience at a fraction of the cost. Better ISO performance, equal in IQ and resolution in my opinion (had to put that on before the Leica police get on me)...what's not to like?
 
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