Price increase for Leica USA and M8 Delivery

[Kyle]

Although this is great news, I'm not really interested. I simply can't afford it. I'd have to sell all of my film gear just to buy the body, and then I'd be stuck without lenses! Hopefully in a few years when I'm done with school and if the economy isn't a steaming pile of crap I'll be able to afford an M9 or M10 (depending on how quick they're making replacements). At that point I don't see why the camera wouldn't be what we all want-full frame, good high ISO performance, etc.


BTW, does anybody know how far we are from replaceable and upgradable sensors? Is this just a dream or could it actually be reality in the near future?

 

[Kyle]

Will there be any dedicated lens design for the chop factor?

I believe I've read that Leica is not interested in making crop factor equivalents of lenses. This could have just been internet speculation, though, so hopefully someone can come through with a definitive answer.

 

[MP Guy]

Well, I sold my DMR gear a month or 2 ago cause I needed the dough and in anticipation of the M8. I figured that when the M8 was announced, I would not be able to get as much for the DMR as I could when it was the only Leica option. Having said that, I managed to take care of a few debts and put some aside for the M8.

 

[petermcwerner]

People, we have 2!

We now have 3
I just ordered mine from Tony Rose. It is faster to order in the US and have it sent back to Europe, as the US are served first by Leica. It was the same with the DMR

Peter

 

[Kevin]

Irrelevant, have that anyways. Capable enough for 4000dpi scans, shuld handle a mere 10MPixel very well


No, I burn a CD and throw it in a shoebox which is stored in the cellar together with the shoeboxes full of negatives



When I buy a camera it will be used, there is no resale value left when I'm through with it 🙂

By now you should have realized how naive that sounds.

If you have a resource and you use it for a particular task you must attribute its costs to that task. Like a car, a computer and monitor break down after much use. If you are therefore using said resources to view and manipulate digital images, you have costs to calculate. The computers of digital photographers break down more quickly than those of normal users, especially the hard drives.

You might burn a cd but that takes 5 minutes. Time is money. Most people, however, purchase additional external drives to save their tens of thousands of images. So do you. You said so last year.

Finally, most people will be somewhat concerned about the resale value of a $5000 photographic investment. You are certainly not the norm.

 

[Socke]

By now you should have realized how naive that sounds.

If you have a resource and you use it for a particular task you must attribute its costs to that task. Like a car, a computer and monitor break down after much use. If you are therefore using said resources to view and manipulate digital images, you have costs to calculate. The computers of digital photographers break down more quickly than those of normal users, especially the hard drives.

You might burn a cd but that takes 5 minutes. Time is money. Most people, however, purchase additional external drives to save their tens of thousands of images. So do you. You said so last year.

Finally, most people will be somewhat concerned about the resale value of a $5000 photographic investment. You are certainly not the norm.

Kevin, what about film?
No cost? No time spent developing? No time spent printing?

At least i don't have to agitate a PC every minute while it is burning a CD 🙂

Edit: forgot the storage

I store my negs in binders, as I do with CDs and DVDs. Only difference is slightly more space needed for negs and no offsite backup.
I archive and index both in a database which is backed up daily.

The shoebox was just to illustrate that archiving and indexing is the same for both media.

 

[Harry Lime]

Also the Leica Digital M is now offically called the M8 for $4995.00 Black body only at this time. We are told that we will be receiving our first shipment by the second week in October. If you are interested, we are now taking deposits for our first delivery. At this time there are now seven firm slots in the Que.

Have a great Summer!

TR[/QUOTE]


Very interesting. Any word on how well the body is weather sealed?

thanks,

Harry Lime

 

[Harry Lime]

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

[/QUOTE]


When they come out with a digital camera that has the exposure and tonal range of Tri-X, I'll consider switching.

But I am very happy that the M8 is a soon to be reality, since it certainly improves Leica's chances of long term survival. Also if I need to go a digital for professional reasons, I'll at least be able to get an M style camera. That's a very good thing indeed.

 

[hth]

I think the M8 is great news, though I will not be in the line for it when it hits the market. First I need to find out whether I can live with a full digital workflow, that is, get inkjet printing to my satisfaction (from a quality and cost perspective).

I think I will start saving actually, that way I will be able to afford it about 3 years from now...😉

/Håkan

 

[grantray]

By now you should have realized how naive that sounds.

If you have a resource and you use it for a particular task you must attribute its costs to that task.

Not naive at all. I personally work in advertising design. I have dual 2.5 G5 Mac, twin 21" monitors, a 350gb G-Raid external hard-drive, printer, scanner, and a full set of professional software. None of which can be included as cost towards my personal digital photography processing were I to purchase an M8.

Computers and printers are standard household items for many according to their profession. Your use of attribution is faulty logic, as I had the majority of this equipment, for the purposes of my career, before I bought my D2. That my gear can process and print effortlessly if I choose to buy a digital camera is moot.

If I have the money when the M8 hits displays, I'm definitely buying.

-grant

 

[MP Guy]

Peter welcome to the forum. please be sure to update us on info you hear about the M8 in Europe. You have been a good resource in the past.

Thanks

 

[808]

We now have 3

3 1/2.

I'm on the waiting list at my favourite dealer. It's not a pre-order actually, as the pricing isn't announced yet (at least in Germany).

 

[StuartR]

People asked about lenses...my Leica rep told me that there would be a 15-18-21 tri-elmar. He did not know much about it at the time, other than it was in the works. I am not sure whether it will be digital only, but I think they said they were not interested in digital only, so I would imagine it is for film as well. No word on price.

 

[ghost]

hey, i still haven't heard if this thing has weather sealing or not.

 

[RML]

hey, i still haven't heard if this thing has weather sealing or not.

Weather sealing? Why? I take my R-D1 out in the rain, and I don't think that one has weather sealing. I just shoot the dang thing.

 

[sf]

Weather sealing? Why? I take my R-D1 out in the rain, and I don't think that one has weather sealing. I just shoot the dang thing.

For $5000+, I'd want it to be as built as the M7.

 

[John Camp]

I sent a deposit to Tony Rose a month ago. If I don't get an early version, he better have somebody else start his car in the morning...

A guy who sells a very large number of Leicas (not Tony Rose) told me a month ago that there would be a 17mm lens (not a 15mm or a tri-elmar) released with the camera. Could have been hot air, but he was pretty confident.

JC

 

[StuartR]

As for the weather sealing, I doubt there will be any specific weather sealing. None of the other M's have it, nor do any of the lenses, so it would not do all that much. I think if you are going to shoot in the rain you either have to be a bit careful, and only take it out when you are going to take a shot, or use a rain cover (plastic bag). I will say that it is a lot easier to make a weather sealed camera system when you have auto-focus lenses with internal focusing. The problem with the M lenses and weather sealing is that none are internal focusing, and thus they are pretty much going to be susceptible to leakage from the outside.

 

[RayPA]

What do we call it? "The DigiM8"?

Funny! One for the license plate!

🙂

 

[peter_n]

LOL rover!. Actually you can get two M7s for that. Right now I think I'd rather have the M7s.

May I ask where I can get all those cheap Leicas? I could set up a business buying M7s for $2500 and selling 12% under list at 3000 Euro here.

May I ask where I can get all those cheap Leicas? I could set up a business buying M7s for $2500 and selling 12% under list at 3000 Euro here.

Used, who buys new Leicas?

Volker & Ralph, I was patient and got lucky at the same time. 🙂 First one came from Australia with 3 rolls of film through it and 2 years of a gray market warranty (from HK) at $2350. Second was brand new; a USA Passport sold through eBay for $2250 and a free Leicavit from Leica further lowered the cost. 🙂 Both cams were bought in the second half of last year.

Not exactly a good business model but you can get them comparatively cheap if you are patient and stick to your price ceilings. 😉