TJV
Well-known
I was just informed, and I'm probably quite behind, but the price of the M8 went up another $1000 here in New Zealand recently. When I bought one of the first two that came into New Zealand I got it for $6500NZ. Now the best price I could get if for from the same place is $7600NZ. In all my time in the camera / photo industry I've never seen a digital product go up in price, let alone go up by over $1000. Then again, the price of milk has doubled here in the last year...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I just checked ... still $6500.00 here in Oz! That's a lot of money and you'd have to want one bad to pay an extra $1000.00! :eek;
naos
23 Skidoo
When I bought an M8 last year in Korea, it cost roughly USD4100. Now it's $5223. I talked to my dealer and he said to expect another $500 increase in the next few weeks. Just what is going on here? Usually digital camera lowers in value as time goes on; but the M8.......It makes me wish I kept it a little longer so I could sell it after it reached $10000!
Will there ever be a time when the M8 comes down to under $3000?
Will there ever be a time when the M8 comes down to under $3000?
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retow
Well-known
As much as I love my M8, such pricing strategy does not make any sense. Especially under consideration of the innovation pace and of what can be had in terms of performance and cost with DSLRs meanwhile. A new 5D with used Leica R primes starts to look like a real bargain in comparison.
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pmu
Well-known
Absolutely ridiculous. I hope Leica would go out of business for good.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
It's bloody criminal for what really is a very simple camera. Come on Zeiss, come on Cosina get your sh*t together ... and I'm not saying this because I don't like the M8 ... I've got nothing but praise for mine!
I'm just stunned that they would increase the price just before 'Photokina' ... it doesn't make sense!
I'm just stunned that they would increase the price just before 'Photokina' ... it doesn't make sense!
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
As soon as the $ goes up to two Euros for the Dollar......
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
retow
Well-known
It's bloody criminal for what really is a very simple camera. Come on Zeiss, come on Cosina get your sh*t together ... and I'm not saying this because I don't like the M8 ... I've got nothing but praise for mine!
I'm just stunned that they would increase the price just before 'Photokina' ... it doesn't make sense!
Maybe to make the price tag of what they are going to announce (R10?) looking less shocking.
Avotius
Some guy
Normally I would back the underdog and support Leica but im afraid I have to agree. If they hike the price up yet again without making some serious alterations to the camera, then it will be a disaster in an already disastrous situation. If it goes down that Leica raises the prices without offering anything else....I think the company deserves to die.
TJV
Well-known
Yeah, I was shocked to hear it too. It's not like the exchange rate here has got any worse since the release. In fact, it got much better for a long time, until recently when it dropped back to normal rates.
It's even more crazy to think that to get any technical repair or service work done on it it would need to be sent back to Europe seeing as no one is qualified to do it here in NZ. If they did have a proper service dept here, or even if it was in Australia, which is close enough to home, it would make me feel a lot better about paying that kind of money.
It's even more crazy to think that to get any technical repair or service work done on it it would need to be sent back to Europe seeing as no one is qualified to do it here in NZ. If they did have a proper service dept here, or even if it was in Australia, which is close enough to home, it would make me feel a lot better about paying that kind of money.
infrequent
Well-known
funny that a few days ago someone was talking about a discount because of dollar appreciation lately. what a laugh!
Ray Nalley
Well-known
Leica seems to have a disconnect with the real world. But, they may know their market isn't at all price sensitive so will pay whatever they charge.
btgc
Veteran
So simple as with gas - if [significant part of] buyers would decline purchases, gas would cost less. Same with M8. But people still pay asked price, so it's.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
I agree with many of the sentiments here but specifically Keith's statement re: cosina/voigtlander/zeiss/nikon
Currently Leica is the only game in town for a current in production digital rangefinder. Yes, the Epson exists but they are usually purchased used and some folks have had issues finding one or two people to repair them when necessary. I'm not saying the Epson camera is a bad one, but it's no longer in production.
So, as with any product, if it's only one company making said product, then they can set the price at whatever the market will bear. And currently it looks like they're reaching to determine if the market is willing to bear the increase in price.
Dave
Currently Leica is the only game in town for a current in production digital rangefinder. Yes, the Epson exists but they are usually purchased used and some folks have had issues finding one or two people to repair them when necessary. I'm not saying the Epson camera is a bad one, but it's no longer in production.
So, as with any product, if it's only one company making said product, then they can set the price at whatever the market will bear. And currently it looks like they're reaching to determine if the market is willing to bear the increase in price.
Dave
naos
23 Skidoo
My Love/Hate Relationship with Leica
My Love/Hate Relationship with Leica
That's because there are so many collectors out there that would rather fondle their cameras and show them behind display cases than actually use them. :bang:
Seriously, If I ever became mega rich, I would buy all the 'anniversary' and 'collector'' set's I could find; use the crap out of 'em, then donate them to up and coming photo students.
It really kills me to see such fine photo instruments being left unused. I was in my local camera district the other day and many of the store clerks almost had a heart attack when they saw my MP around my neck. They couldn't believe I actually used it. They commented on how scratched up and dinged it was (it's actually quite tame compared to most I've seen on this board).
Why doesn't Leica take into account all the real photographers who helped them build their name? What will happen when many of the old timers kick the bucket and there's nothing left but young blood who have no interest in Leica because Canon and Nikon were the only things accessible to them when they were learning about photography?
Leica really needs to get away from the whole 'Luxury Item' Hermes way of thinking and start working on becoming a working man's camera company again. Even working paid pro's on the LUF are commenting on how the rising Leica prices are out of their budgets.
There's no doubt I literally went to hell and back to pay for all my Leica gear, but there's only so much a young man can take. I really do hope the company takes on a new direction. I have a feeling that what happens at Photokina 2008 will either make or break Leica.
My Love/Hate Relationship with Leica
That's because there are so many collectors out there that would rather fondle their cameras and show them behind display cases than actually use them. :bang:
Seriously, If I ever became mega rich, I would buy all the 'anniversary' and 'collector'' set's I could find; use the crap out of 'em, then donate them to up and coming photo students.
It really kills me to see such fine photo instruments being left unused. I was in my local camera district the other day and many of the store clerks almost had a heart attack when they saw my MP around my neck. They couldn't believe I actually used it. They commented on how scratched up and dinged it was (it's actually quite tame compared to most I've seen on this board).
Why doesn't Leica take into account all the real photographers who helped them build their name? What will happen when many of the old timers kick the bucket and there's nothing left but young blood who have no interest in Leica because Canon and Nikon were the only things accessible to them when they were learning about photography?
Leica really needs to get away from the whole 'Luxury Item' Hermes way of thinking and start working on becoming a working man's camera company again. Even working paid pro's on the LUF are commenting on how the rising Leica prices are out of their budgets.
There's no doubt I literally went to hell and back to pay for all my Leica gear, but there's only so much a young man can take. I really do hope the company takes on a new direction. I have a feeling that what happens at Photokina 2008 will either make or break Leica.
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ray*j*gun
Veteran
What a laugh........Leica should be in the Rolex business.
Ray
Ray
Jodorowsky
Well-known
My personal fantasy is that Leica are going to reward those who bought into the M8 with a free full frame sensor within the next year, as a way of apologising for all of mess/ misinformation/ mistakes they generated. It'd be a good way of wiping the slate clean.
Hahahaha!
Hahahaha!
J. Borger
Well-known
Strange.... in Germany there are discount actions with the M8 ....!
Euro 800 money back for your old SLR or RF camera when you buy an m8.....
http://de.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/5819.html
Before that there were lens combi's with sharp discounts.
Must be the strong Euro having it's side effects .......
Euro 800 money back for your old SLR or RF camera when you buy an m8.....
http://de.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/5819.html
Before that there were lens combi's with sharp discounts.
Must be the strong Euro having it's side effects .......
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I also think that Leica must be totally confident that there is not another digital rangefinder about to appear on the market in the near future. We all speculate constantly, hopefully ... I think they know a little more!