Price increase for Leica USA and M8 Delivery

[StuartR]

It's actually the hobbyists who are the ones more likely to spend the money on it. Most pros will probably not be able to justify it from a business perspective, so they will either not buy it, or buy it as a "personal camera". I'd be interested to hear what kind of return Leica will make on each M8 at 4995, because frankly, I don't think it will be a lot at all. The cost of R&D, combined with very high manufacturing costs (low production run, high labor costs, high quality parts), the need to pay other companies (Kodak and Jenoptik) to do part of the design or for parts, along with the pathetically weak dollar suggest to me that they are selling this as inexpensively as they can. Think about it, it only costs 1700 dollars more than a standard M7. For that money they have to be able to put in a 10 megapixel sensor, completely redesign the shutter and advance assembly, put on a large LCD, come up with a completely different battery and power assembly, redo the viewfinder so that the framelines automatically adjust to the sensor crop, add some sort of lens information gathering system in the mount....and that is just what we know about.

The EOS 1DsMkII costs a lot more than 1700 dollars more than the 1vs, and likewise, the Nikon D series cost more than 1700 dollars more than the F6...

 

[ywenz]

Stuart: OT, but I just saw your website and your images are wonderful!

 

[StuartR]

Thanks ywenz! I appreciate that a lot.

 

[Bertram2]

I wish Leica would release a version of the digital M that's targetted for the hobbyist or advanced amateur crowd that'll cost much less;
>>==Annie=>

For those there is the used stuff. THAT is the entry level product idea of the Leica marketing.
Maybe a digital ZI will come closer to your budget.

bertram

 

[einolu]

but there hasnt been ever a whisper of a digital ikon... but I do think that when the m8 drops, getting used rd1s will become a bit cheaper, maybe prices for most used leicas will fall too. at least I hope so, maybe I could get myself a nice christmas present!

 

[Harry Lime]

>It's actually the hobbyists who are the ones more likely to spend the money on it. Most pros will >probably not be able to justify it from a business perspective, so they will either not buy it, or >buy it as a "personal camera"

A lot of hobbyists will buy the M8, but that's always been the case with pro cameras. Many more 'amateurs' bought the Canon 1v, than professionals who are simply out numbered.

That said there is a real need for a high quality digital M camera among professionals. Cameras like the 1D II and 2Dx are huge and attract a lot of attention.

I recently attended a seminar and Gary Knight of the VII agency was telling us how he ended up taking his Leicas instead of his big Canon rigs on a shoot about elephant poaching in Africa. He couldn't get a permit from the government to shoot and wanted to be unobtrusive and look like a tourist. The big SLR screamed journalist, where as most people think the M is a point and shoot.

 

[StuartR]

Actually, I think that niche is largely being filled by prosumer point and shoots or the small digital rebels and d70s. Look at Alex Majoli with the olympus point and shoots...I am not saying that there won't be pros who will use the M8 for this sort of thing (in fact, I think you are right in that there will be some migration back to rangefinders by a certain type of pro), but I don't think the gap is that large, otherwise Canon or Nikon would have filled it by now.

 

[rich815]

but there hasnt been ever a whisper of a digital ikon...

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Not much talk lately but when it first came out there was a bit of speculation put forth that with the re-design of the Zeiss lens from their G-system counter parts it was felt that the reason may have been to work better with digital sensors.

I would not be surprised if we see an announcement of a digital Ikon within the next 6 months or so.

 

[Harry Lime]

Actually, I think that niche is largely being filled by prosumer point and shoots or the small digital rebels and d70s. Look at Alex Majoli with the olympus point and shoots..

Yeah, I read that article, but at the end of the day a Olympus p&s is no Leica M. I know that, that isn't stopping Majoli from winning awards with his Olympus gear, but given the choice I think most people would prefer the Leica.

.I am not saying that there won't be pros who will use the M8 for this sort of thing (in fact, I think you are right in that there will be some migration back to rangefinders by a certain type of pro), but I don't think the gap is that large, otherwise Canon or Nikon would have filled it by now.

I think the market would be too small for Canon/Nikon to care about. I certainly can't imagine Canon even seeing the need for a RF. They are so far down the automated SLR road that they aren't even putting aperture dials on their lenses anymore. There is no connection to their past.

Maybe Nikon would consider it. The SP is a legend among their crowd and heritage is a big deal at the company.

 

[Mark Norton]

And nor are Nikon - putting aperture rings on their lenses. For years, the metering has only worked for many lenses if you set any manual aperture ring to minimum.

 

[DougK]

Interesting announcement and I'm glad to see Leica finally getting their digital RF out. Because the price is still far more than I'm willing to spend on a camera, any camera, I don't think I'll be adding an M8 to the collection. It would give me huge bragging rights amongst the photo buffs at work, though. 😀

 

[boilerdoc2]

Can't get his website to open up! Must be swamped with orders!

 

[MP Guy]

call him. 805-492-6548 🙂

 

[Tony Rose]

Modifications to M lenses for M8

Modifications to M lenses for M8

The news is out!

Go to:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0606/06061001leicamdlenses.asp

TR

 

[MP Guy]

They were a little late with the news 🙂

 

[Bob Ross]

The news is out!

Go to:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0606/06061001leicamdlenses.asp

TR

A comment on the Leica Customer forum said that a Leica rep said this info was to be embargoed until July 1st, but was released early due to the leak out of Europe. The rep also said that the name was most likey going to be MD.
Tony, what is your take on the comment on Photonet, that a UK dealer said that supplies would be short and that those not preordering might have to wait into 2008. This would certainly impact those of us who want to know more about what we are buying, before committing. Wait to see what it is and then commit and wait a year to get it... 🙁 Your opinion as a dealer would be much appreciated.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

95 Euros for the upgrade? I can live with that. 1.33 crop factor? That makes this worth considering, but not 100% sure; in two years many advances could be made in sensor technology, and I'm hoping then there will be an M9 with a 1:1 sensor.

I am watching. The question now is...do I send my dear dear lenses now?

 

[Mark Norton]

Well of course there has already been a Leica MD, even though it was hardly main-stream. Perhaps they want to keep the numbering for film cameras though it's tough to know what a film-only M8 would add to the M7 and how Leica could possibly justify its development.

 

[PaulN]

95 Euros for the upgrade? I can live with that. 1.33 crop factor? That makes this worth considering, but not 100% sure; in two years many advances could be made in sensor technology, and I'm hoping then there will be an M9 with a 1:1 sensor.

I am watching. The question now is...do I send my dear dear lenses now?

But how many years between the M8 and the M9? Does anyone foresee Leica allowing for the M8 to be upgraded in the future, once sensor technologies change? If not, what is the time difference between models? 5 - 10 years, if not longer? I would hope that by 2011 Leica has a full frame sensor in the M9. What is that going to do for the resale value of the M8? 5 years from now, I'm hoping that my MP is still worth some money, unlike my Canon D30 which is now worth 10% of the original price.

-Paul

 

[RML]

I think resale value for digital Liecas will be a thing of the past. Thank g*d! Now we mere mortals can own a digital Leica in a couple of years too. 🙂