Price increase for Leica USA and M8 Delivery

[Bertram2]

I'm going to wait 6 months until the M8 is obsolete and pick one up used for $800

Considering the innovation cycles of Leica I'd say you better forget this plan. Don't know how old you are, if older than 30 it could be you are dead 'til the M9 comes ! 😀 😀

bertram

 

[Bertram2]

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

Photos aren't made with megapixels. So here's a tip for you digi guy : Who kicks which ass will turn out at the earliest ( there also are other deficits left to fix) when the first chip is out with 12 stops dynamic range instead of the poor 8 they still have now. Until then the ass kicking is rather the other way round . 😀

Bertram

 

[Ken Ford]

People asked about lenses...my Leica rep told me that there would be a 15-18-21 tri-elmar...

Now *that's* interesting!

 

[Socke]

Photos aren't made with megapixels. So here's a tip for you digi guy : Who kicks which ass will turn out at the earliest ( there also are other deficits left to fix) when the first chip is out with 12 stops dynamic range instead of the poor 8 they still have now. Until then the ass kicking is rather the other way round . 😀

Bertram

Bertram, the 12 stop colour film capable of ISO1600 has yet to be invented. Don't throw slow B/W into the equation 🙂

My stoneage D60 is much better at ISO800 than every slide film I've ever seen.

 

[sdai]

In fact, Leica has been changed a lot and they're pretty quick now at introducing new products ... I've heard some rumours from Japan that at one time they were even talking about exchange share holdings with Matsushita, I wouldn't be (too) surprised to see (with the help from some Japanese and German gizmo houses) the M9 and R10 in no later than 3 years.

 

[Bertram2]

Bertram, the 12 stop colour film capable of ISO1600 has yet to be invented. Don't throw slow B/W into the equation 🙂

My stoneage D60 is much better at ISO800 than every slide film I've ever seen.

Volker,
colourfilm has 10stops at least , the latest multilayer films even more, up to 12.
You don' t get that with your DSLR, neither at 100 nor at 1600. No chip exceeds the slide range of 7,5 , best case 8,5 stops. Foveon is said to have up to 9.
Your stone age D60 maybe has less grain ( or noise), but not more dynamic range, which soley concerns the darkest and the brightest part of the photo. Nothing else..
Just take the D60 out in the bright sunlight and shoot a scenery with 12 stops contrast, and you will see it.
And why should I leave out B&W ? That is a decisive point for me ! Without B&W it's all nothing. 🙂

bertram

 

[tkluck]

Random thoughts on the Leica Digital M8:
- Five grand is cheap for a bass boat. (finished prints and fish = $1,000/pound)
- Also cheap for a Harley Davidson.
- Ditto a big plasma flat screen tv.
- Just what I need to shoot soft core snaps of my super model mistress perched on the hood of my Porsche.
- Wasn't that long ago that the chief geek at work actually bought a round of drinks, celebrating the fact that he had a gigabyte of storage under his control.
- Paid good money for a digicam. Now my son's cell phone has a better one built in.
- "Where are the pictures?"
- More damn batteries to worry about.
- Would it be as much fun as my Minox?
- Will the Russians make a copy?
- Like muzzle loaders, a separate season for film?
- I'm an old engineer. I can design stuff with a sharp stick and some smooth dirt.
- When some kid asks "Is that a digital?" you can say "Why, yes it is, 10 megapixels!"
- Will you be able to get purple lizzard leather for it?

 

[Will]

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).

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...

We now have, 4 & 1/2

I will post the HK price once I heard it.


John,

Why not start with Tony's horse first?

 

[ch1]

We now have, 4 & 1/2

I will post the HK price once I heard it.


John,

Why not start with Tony's horse first?

Will,

Smart money doesn't speak - it just acts. 😉

 

[fgianni]

15-18-21 tri elmar?
with a 1.3 crop factor is equivalent to 19.5 - 23.4 - 27.3, aren't the focal lenghts a bit close together?
Then what, a 12-13-14 tri elmar?

However it may be a little more useful with my RD-1: 22.5 - 27 - 31.5 equivalent

 

[StuartR]

You forgot the .03...1.33 give you 19.95 (20mm), 23.94 (24mm) and 27.93 (28mm). Essentially exactly the same as the current lens lineup. So close in fact, that you will be able to use the current varifocal viewfinder to give you the FOV of the lens.

 

[rolleistef]

all talking of a camera that does not exist yet and no body has seen... or is there a prototype? I guess they'll release it for the Kina...

 

[fgianni]

You forgot the .03...1.33 give you 19.95 (20mm), 23.94 (24mm) and 27.93 (28mm). Essentially exactly the same as the current lens lineup. So close in fact, that you will be able to use the current varifocal viewfinder to give you the FOV of the lens.

You are right, still the focal lenghts look awfully close to me for a tri-elmar I mean the longest focal lenght is still only 1.4 times the shortest one, the current tri-elmar goes from wide to normal 28-35-50 and that looks a much more useful spread.

 

[Mark Norton]

I think there will be renewed interest in the existing Tri-Elmar - instead of very wide, wide, normal, it will be wide, normal, short tele.

There is a need to go wider than the 21mm which suggests a 15mm to compete with the Zeiss and one to fill the gap, say 18mm, which would then the the 21 and 24 equivalent. All very expensive if you want any speed, and I don't think any of us would want less than f2.8. Just look at the huge leap in cost of the Zeiss 15mm.

 

[StuartR]

I would be surprised if it (the 15-18-21) was any faster than f/4. I would imagine that it would be huge if it were a 2.8. Has anyone seen the Zeiss 15mm? It is a monster. Not very heavy, but quite large.

 

[Patman]

With no specs available what are you all tallking about? I waited to see the digital back for the leica R8/9 and i'm glad i did for as far as i'm concerned it was a failure, and that even gives me more reason to "wait and see" with the M8. I love my M3 and have for 40 years and i love my R8 but Leicas 1st venture into digital has shown me anything, if it can't surpase my film cameras who needs it. I have a high end dslr and it does the job, just not quick enough so i will invest in the new D200 so i can still use the same lenses and use my Kodak for studio use only. My M i still use for street photography, can't beat it with a collapsible lense i go places and shoot where i shouldn't because it just hides under my jacket and no one hears it!

 

[fgianni]

I would be surprised if it (the 15-18-21) was any faster than f/4. I would imagine that it would be huge if it were a 2.8. Has anyone seen the Zeiss 15mm? It is a monster. Not very heavy, but quite large.

At f2.8 it would be a tri-elmarit not a tri-elmar

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

No offense meant but if your style of photography is one where a DSLR is even a consideration I wonder why you would use a RF in the first place. A DSLR has zero attraction for me.

No offense meant, but, zzzzzzz

always always the same blah blah blah I read whenever something about Leica and/or digital vs. film is mentioned.

If you drink water, why even consider drinking milk? If you use a fork, why do you bother buying spoons? If you have a car, why would you consider having a bicycle? If you see blue, why bother seeing purple?

All the signs of short-sightedness. My digital and film rangefinders, SLRs, 35mm, medium format, Graflex, Polaroid, etc. are in good company with me, and I with them.

The world speaks more than one language. There are photographers that have a more enlightened view of photography beyond brand-names and formats.

And back on topic, off the "here's why I don't like what you like" pontificata ad nauseaum. I will do my research very carefully before committing to a $5K deal. The Leica DMR started at about $4K and is now over that, and they did a good job with it, except it was not my cup of tea considering that I'm spoiled by Canon CMOS sensors, when it comes to high ISO noise handling.

If the "M8" can deal with noise at ISO 400-1600 just like Canon has been able to, then it's sold. That's what I have my Leica rangefinder for: available light photography. If they don't meet that criteria, then the crop factor won't even make it to the table.

 

[Vetteran]

It would be nice to see some real specs.

 

[retrocam]

Geez...5k for the digital M/M8 is just too much for me. 🙁

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; something like what the Rebel XT or 30D is to Canon. That way, Leica could get more photo enthusiasts to try their old/new lenses and eventually their whole line. I mean, not all Leicaphiles are pros who are going to get some return on investment from their pics... 🙁

>>==Annie=>