M9-p, its official now

here's the release in detail:
June 21, 2011

Here comes the LEICA M9-P – unobtrusive, non-slip, hardened


Leica today introduced the LEICA M9-P during an event held in Paris together with Magnum.
The LEICA M9-P is a LEICA M9 as we know it which was optimized for requirements of professional photographers. The changes compared to the LEICA M9 only affect the exterior of the camera – the technology inside wasn’t changed.
The modifications follow the motto „unobtrusive, non-slip, hardened“:
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  • Unobtrusive
    The front engraving “M9″ and the red Leica dot are dropped, in exchange the top cover has a Leica engraving.
  • Non-slip
    Th M9-P has a vulcanite leathering which was also in use with classical Leica MP cameras. It’s intended to improve the handling of the camera.
  • Hardened
    The LEICA M9-P now also features a sapphire crystal cover for the rear LCD screen with anti-reflective coating.

Last but not least: Finally a LEICA M9 is available in silver chrome!
The LEICA M9-P has a price tag too: The recommended retail price in Germany is 5995 €, 500 € more than a LEICA M9.
Here is the full press release:

New: The LEICA M9-P – The quintessence of Leica M photography


Leica Camera AG, Solms, presents a new version of the world’s smallest, full-format, digital system camera: The Leica M9-P. Technologically at the same high level as the successful Leica M9, the new M model offers special characteristics to meet the particular needs of professional photographers. We have therefore created the M9-P as the ideal tool for professional users who demand compact and discreet camera equipment with a long working life and simultaneously appreciate the advantages and benefits of Leica M photography. The ‘P’ in its name, already used in the past for several models, positions the camera in the line of Leica M cameras specially conceived on the basis of the wishes of professional photographers. The Leica M9-P is a complement to the Leica M9. Both models will be marketed together.
Since 1954, the Leica M system has stood for an unmistakable, individual kind of photography and a very conscious photographic style. Because, with a Leica M, the photographer becomes a part of the action in the process of capturing challenging and creative images. The rangefinder frames precisely the shot the photographer envisages while allowing a clear view of what is going on outside the viewfinder frame. This allows the photographer to predict the decisive moment and capture it discreetly and reliably at the right moment – in all fields of photography, from photojournalism and ‘available light’ to the capture of discreet and aesthetic, fine-art images. The functions of the Leica M are consistently constructed for extreme robustness and a long working life. Highest quality materials, elaborate manufacturing processes and painstaking manual assembly guarantee M cameras functional reliability for decades to come. The full system compatibility – almost all lenses of the Leica M range built since 1954 can still be used on the latest M camera models – is an important factor in the enduring value of the M series.
These core values of the Leica M system have been consistently maintained in the new M9-P. The technical features of the Leica M9-P are identical to those of the M9, however, in comparison, the typical Leica M product characteristics, like robustness and discretion, have been further improved.
For instance, the Leica M9-P features an extremely scratch-resistant, sapphire crystal, cover for its LCD screen. This material is so hard that it can only be worked with special diamond cutting tools and is one of the world’s hardest materials. In consequence, the sapphire glass LCD cover is extremely resistant to wear and almost unbreakable. In practical terms, it is so resistant to so many kinds of wear and stresses that the camera is ideally equipped for many years of reliable use. Thanks to an anti-reflective coating on both sides of the cover, image reviewing on the screen of the M9-P in unfavourable lighting conditions is now even better. This provides photographers with an ideal tool for optimum assessment of images both during composition and after capture.
The leathering of the body of the M9-P is also particularly resistant to wear. The vulcanite leathering features a more pronounced structure that lends the camera particularly good grip characteristics. This means that the M9-P feels particularly safe and secure in the hand, a fact that further enhances the already simple handling of the Leica M camera.
A further outstanding feature of the Leica M9-P is its minimalist styling with a focus only on what is really necessary. Many professional photographers who already rely on Leica cameras tend to tape over the Leica red dot to make their cameras as unobtrusive as possible. For this reason, and in favour of absolute discretion, this typical red dot symbol and the M9 lettering on the front of the new professional camera have been omitted. Instead, the top deck is now engraved with the classical script form of the Leica name.
The Leica M9-P is now available in two different finishes from all authorised Leica dealers: in black paint finish or in the traditional silver chrome version
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Unlikely someone would sell their M9 for the "P" version although I would expect that not to be the case for the M8. Used clean M9s usually sell for $6500. Maybe they'd drop by a few $100 more with the introduction of the M9-P.
 
Jerks. The cheap plastic on my LCD screen scratched right away. A Canon screen cover can be bought for 10 dollars, just the cover. The Leica, you have to replace the entire back at a cost of. . . . 700 dollars but I was offered a discount to 450 because of some other problems. Why didn't they, on a 7 thousand dollar camera just give us a cover of quality or one that could be inexpensively replaced?
 
jamato8 said:
Jerks. The cheap plastic on my LCD screen scratched right away. A Canon screen cover can be bought for 10 dollars, just the cover. The Leica, you have to replace the entire back at a cost of. . . . 700 dollars but I was offered a discount to 450 because of some other problems. Why didn't they, on a 7 thousand dollar camera just give us a cover of quality or one that could be inexpensively replaced?
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Simple. Beecause they wanted to do the same as with M8 to M8.2 and get everyone to upgrade to a better setup.
 
tlitody said:
Simple. Beecause they wanted to do the same as with M8 to M8.2 and get everyone to upgrade to a better setup.
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I'm on my second Giotto's LCD cover for mine, and having had the LCD saved by the first one, I'll always have it. Lot cheaper than upgrading to the M9P. What a non-event.
 
the vulcanite/leatherette looks the same, as the M9, right? so apart from the saphyre lcd screen, all the improvements are cosmetic? i'm more likely to spend a few bucks on an lcd cover and some black tape to mask the M9 and red dot than spending $1000 more... that can be used to buy some glass.
 
semilog said:
Good grief, folks. Screen saver film is neither expensive nor challenging to apply.
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I have one now but my Canons, with an older 5D, which spent 1.5 years in China and got hellish use, had none and the screen is in fine shape. The plastic I would think is the same but the Canans just hold up better but if they need replacement, it is 10 dollars not the entire back with dials for 700 dollars. I haven't replaced my screen but do cover it. For the price they could have used a decent cover or just done as Canon did and make it easy to replace.

On the new Leica, I find is silly. Just sales gimmicks, though I admit I would like the better and nonreflective screen. I have used the camera professionally for some time. I guess I should refund. lol I have used Leica since 1969 and admit I much prefer the script on top as they have done with this new release and wondered why they did as they did with the M9.
 
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So basically a few dollars for a protector for the LCD and maybe a new cover along with some black tape and you have an M9-P ... and get to save a thousand dollars?
 
When Nikon came out with the F3P, it had upgraded weather sealing in addition to a shutter speed dial that was easier to use with larger Winter gloves.

So for a cool grand you get no internal upgrades, no weather sealing improvements, the LCD that should have been on the M9 to begin with, read, it was an upgrade for the M8, the absence of a red dot, which could be replaced with the same black dot I have on my M6, no "M9" logo, which could easily be penned out with a sharpie and then cleaned off for resale with rubbing alcohol and black anodized hot shoe rails......?

I bet Seal writes a song about it....
 
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Keith said:
So basically a few dollars for a protector for the LCD and maybe a new cover along with some black tape and you have an M9-P ... and get to save a thousand dollars?
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It's the PLONKER version. That's what the P in M9-P stands for. :D
 
My M9 has a leather half case, an Acmaxx screen protector, and black tape. It has grip, protection and stealth. And I don't need a M9-P.
 
Actually it's good to see that Leica are not just resting on their laurels with the uber successful M9 ... this has moved the camera squarely into the twentieth century! :angel:
 
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