MP Production in '12

[AlexanderR]

I'm sure this has been discussed, but I'm not even sure what thread to search for...so, humor me.

Does anyone know which component the MP production was specifically halted for?

Is it still expected to return to production in '12?

Thanks.

-A.

 

[Livesteamer]

I think it was the slow speed gear train. The company that made it no longer wanted to produce it and another supplier had to be found. Joe

 

[Tom A]

It was not halted because of that. Leica just thought that they had enough inventory to see it through to the end of film. Turns out that they were wrong and demand for film-cameras has picked up. particularly in Asia.
The slow speed movement was a problem as, as stated, the company that made it before did not want to make any more and Leica had to start making it themselves. Both the MP and M7 are back in production now - I dont know how much back order demand is there - but either one should be available shortly.

 

[AlexanderR]

Thanks all.

 

[Keith]

It was not halted because of that. Leica just thought that they had enough inventory to see it through to the end of film. Turns out that they were wrong and demand for film-cameras has picked up. particularly in Asia.
The slow speed movement was a problem as, as stated, the company that made it before did not want to make any more and Leica had to start making it themselves. Both the MP and M7 are back in production now - I dont know how much back order demand is there - but either one should be available shortly.

I don't get it! Demand for Leica film cameras has picked up beyond their expectations but film still seems to be dying a slow death. Not a lot of film is getting put through some of these cameras obviously which indicates to me that a fair few people are buying cameras like the MP for all the wrong reasons!

It makes me want to buy a new MP and run roll after roll through it until it just plain wears out! :gnashing teeth:

 

[hipsterdufus]

I don't get it! Demand for Leica film cameras has picked up beyond their expectations but film still seems to be dying a slow death. Not a lot of film is getting put through some of these cameras obviously which indicates to me that a fair few people are buying cameras like the MP for all the wrong reasons!

It makes me want to buy a new MP and run roll after roll through it until it just plain wears out! :gnashing teeth:

If Leica digital cameras are a niche market, think about how much more their film products are a niche market. At the height of film, you had *millions* of new film cameras being sold per year. Now, that number is in the thousands. Consumers, not enthusiasts, have more monetary clout than us niche photographers. Therefore, most companies are after the average consumer, not the enthusiast. Where that leaves us (in terms of film prodction) is still being decided.

 

[jsrockit]

I don't get it! Demand for Leica film cameras has picked up beyond their expectations but film still seems to be dying a slow death.

Leica film camera demand is nothing compared to what film demand used to be. Leica does small volumes at large prices and it works for them. This cannot work with film.

 

[dave lackey]

Another film is dead thread?

Back to the OP...

Or, we could talk about ourselves being dead in the near future so we might as well chuck it all now. Enjoy life, folks.

 

[mani]

...to see it through to the end of film.

We'll be seeing the end of digital before then, I'd say.
Good luck to ANY of the digital camera manufacturers surviving the erosion caused by phonecams. Film shooters will be going strong long after the last 'full-frame' digicam has been thrown in the local landfill.

 

[John Lawrence]

Another film is dead thread?

Back to the OP...

Or, we could talk about ourselves being dead in the near future so we might as well chuck it all now. Enjoy life, folks.

Well said.

John

 

[Keith]

Another film is dead thread?

Back to the OP...

Or, we could talk about ourselves being dead in the near future so we might as well chuck it all now. Enjoy life, folks.

It just irks me that people will spend huge amounts of cash on one of these things when they'd be better served buying a R3m Bessa and a thousand rolls of Tri-X and actually getting out and taking sh!tloads of photos!

End of rant! 😀

 

[rover]

It just irks me that people will spend huge amounts of cash on one of these things when they'd be better served buying a R3m Bessa and a thousand rolls of Tri-X and actually getting out and taking sh!tloads of photos!

End of rant! 😀

Why should it irk you at all what anyone else does? Sounds like people are buying MP and M7 Leicas to put on a shelf and look at. That in no way effects me or you. It is their wallet. What's the big deal?

 

[jsrockit]

It just irks me that people will spend huge amounts of cash on one of these things when they'd be better served buying a R3m Bessa and a thousand rolls of Tri-X and actually getting out and taking sh!tloads of photos!

End of rant! 😀

You have to remember that not everyone makes the same amount of money. Buying a Leica, for some people, is like you or I buying a hot dog.

 

[rover]

You have to remember that not everyone makes the same amount of money. Buying a Leica, for some people, is like you or I buying a hot dog.

I think that is my opinion too. To me the price of, or how people use them who can afford them doesn't matter. I can't afford it now, I won't be able to, or be willing to spend that much $ on a camera tomorrow, so NEW Leicas are just 100% irrelevant to me.

 

[dogberryjr]

Apologies for straying off topic, but it looks like the OP's question was answered, so let me ask this: As film becomes more of a specialty item, do you foresee vendors treating it as such and really jacking up prices—or manufacturers for that matter? I know that lots of folks say that the price of raw materials (esp. silver) accounts for price increases in B&W stock and I'll go with that, but I also worry that future price increases might be driven by less reasonable forces, e.g. romanticization. Thoughts?

 

[rover]

I think rising prices for film are inevitable. As demand goes down prices will have to go up to allow the manufacturers to retain their margins with lower sales. Demand will need to remain at a level that will support the basic cost of production in the first place. There will be contraction as companies leave the business due to falling demand, and other companies will be able to acquire this existing business, or increase their own due to the changes in the marketplace. Without an acceptable margin though manufactures will stop producing the product.

Just the facts of business.

I am not saying that film is dead, just that changes will continue coming. If we are going to keep shooting film we have be able to accept these changes.

 

[mani]

Sounds like people are buying MP and M7 Leicas to put on a shelf and look at.

What facts lead you to make that derogatory assumption?

Let's say Leica sell two thousand or even five thousand* MPs in 2012 - even if they each had a couple hundred rolls of film through them, how on earth would you be able to judge that within the many many MILLIONS of rolls that are sold each year?


*(figures I just pulled out of my @ss - in case anyone's wondering. Just like the statement quoted)

 

[segedi]

What facts lead you to make that derogatory assumption?

In the new money Asian markets shoppers will go into any luxury brand shop and demand the most expensive item. Leica's are a status symbol for some, a luxury for most. And I think Leica is just "hot" in general now. Demand for all Leica products is outpacing supply.

Admittedly, my MP doesn't see a lot of use as it's currently in rotation with 8 other film cameras, including a Bessa R4A. And the fact that I shoot way more conservatively with film doesn't help in running thousands of feet of film through any of them!

I'd love to have an a la carte MP though.... have to sell off some gear!

 

[mani]

In the new money Asian markets shoppers will go into any luxury brand shop and demand the most expensive item. Leica's are a status symbol for some, a luxury for most. And I think Leica is just "hot" in general now.

I was questioning the "put on a shelf" part.

 

[rover]

What facts lead you to make that derogatory assumption?

Let's say Leica sell two thousand or even five thousand* MPs in 2012 - even if they each had a couple hundred rolls of film through them, how on earth would you be able to judge that within the many many MILLIONS of rolls that are sold each year?


*(figures I just pulled out of my @ss - in case anyone's wondering. Just like the statement quoted)

The comment is not meant to be derogatory at all, nor do I think it is. I don't care what people do with their cameras. I am a collector too, so I have cameras that I don't use, at least they spend most of their time just hanging out on a shelf.

These are just things. They cost a lot, and some folks can afford them for any use they have for them. I don't take any offense at all with or care one bit whatever anyone does with their stuff.


The comment was directed towards Keith's comment,

Not a lot of film is getting put through some of these cameras obviously