Price increase for Leica USA and M8 Delivery

[sf]

I think Stephanie's writings hit some of the main points :

http://mentalexperimental.org/?p=26

particularly the line about obsoletion.

 

[michael.panoff]

has anyone considered the margins on a Leica.. film or digital.. I bet they are enormous. Far larger than Nikon or Canon. Part of the luxury business, any luxury business.. be it watches, cars, clothes, etc.. is the mega margins. A Lecia has always been marketed as a luxury item, the rolex (when rolex used to mean something) of cameras.

You're paying for the workmanship/design.. but more so the brand and all the exclusivity that goes along with it. Besides, it's in their best interest to keep costs down, I bet most of the electronics are out-sourced (from China).. I'd wouldn't be suprised if the margins are even higher on the M8, than previous film bodies. There's probably a lot less human involved calibration and fiddling around with tiny mechanical parts, during final assembly.. probably in Germany. Cheaper labor costs + cheap out-sourced electronics + higher retail price = huge margins

one more point.. at least when you bought a mechanical lecia, you knew some highly trained craftsman assemebled and calibrated the amazing little machine... much less the case with the digital M... look at the flip side, the M8 will probably make a boat-load of money for Leica, and hopefully revive the rangefinder business at large.

 

[Mark Norton]

Definitely more heat than light on this thread.

I am sorry that you think the M8 is overpriced. Here in Europe, as Jaap has said, the price seems quite reasonable and the reason it seems a lot in dollar terms is because of the weakness of the dollar caused by a Government unwilling to sort out the budget and trade deficits.

For me, the M8 is a bargain, I'm buying two, and if they are worth nothing in a year, that's fine, I will have had the use of them during that time and will not have spent my time moaning on this forum about depreciation and obsolescence.

The M8 is - ball park - the same price as the top of the line offerings from Nikon and less than Canon. I expect it to be jewel-like in its construction and an outstanding performer. And if Leica start to make a healthy profit from it, good on them, they deserve to.

 

[NoTx]

Definitely more heat than light on this thread.

I am sorry that you think the M8 is overpriced. Here in Europe, as Jaap has said, the price seems quite reasonable and the reason it seems a lot in dollar terms is because of the weakness of the dollar caused by a Government unwilling to sort out the budget and trade deficits.

Basic economics: a weak dollar means more of what is actually produced in the US is likely to be sold abroad... helping with that trade deficit 😀

In the USA (I am American; BTW), a $5000 camera price is NOT outrageous. The Nikon D2X came out around there, as did the Canon 1D2n (and 1D2). Nothing really surprising for the cost. Every camera has perks... and if the M8 is only 3mm thicker like I keep reading than my M6TTL... then it may just have a place in my gear. Actually the price is a RELIEF. I was worried it was going to be closer to DMR+R9 price ($8000?).

Here are my thoughts. My current wedding kits, film: G2, G1, M6TTL, 7 lenses, all in a Pelican 1450 case with room for another 3 lenses and one body. My digital kit: 2x Olympus E-1 with boosters, 5 lenses all in a 1710 Pelican with room for a VERY sub notebook (shoehorning it in). A 1710 Pelican is the largest carry-on case made and the 1450 is less than half the size. I would love my digital kit to fit in a 1450 case… it would be AWESOME.

In all truth the things I am most looking for in the M8 are simple:

1. Quiet shutter.
2. 16 bit resolution.
3. Negligible size difference from film to digital.
4. Passport warranty.
5. No more than $5000.

Really, that is about it… and I hope it hits all of em. The 16 bit is the biggest deal… and the only one I have real doubts about. But hey, that is pretty much the norm for wishful thinking🙂

 

[SteveRD1]

Price increase...

Price increase...

So when is this price increase happening with the lenses?

 

[Sailor Ted]

Here's a tip for you film guys: the quality of photography depends on the quality of the photographer, but on a technical basis, this camera is going to kick film's ass; this will be like owning a Leica medium format film camera. 😀 JC

This thread six months past is an interesting read today. John Camp I dub thee with the RFf Nostradamus Award for Outstanding Achievements in Clairvoyance!

 

[AusDLK]

>In all truth the things I am most looking for in the M8 are simple:
>
>1. Quiet shutter.

Too bad...

 

[StuartR]

Oh, come on Dave, it may be many things, but loud is not one of them...