Tar and Feather edition

[Pickett Wilson]

Keeping a white camera clean would be a full time job. Would look pretty tacky with fingerprints and dirt all over it.

 

[jaapv]

Jaapv,

Am I hearing this right?

You cant be serious. I was driving my car and I was thinking why I still loved the rangefinder despite auto focus SLR designs (I have one). Nothing out there allows you to look directly at the subject. SLR's focus on a piece of glass/plastic, and that can get between you and the subject, especially with lenses of high speed. Why does an artist have many types of brushes? Why does choosing to use the rangefinder way of looking at a subject less professional than the SLR design? And the lenses, would we call Leica glass amateur?

I have a Fuji GSW 690 which has the words PROFESSIONAL printed on the front of it. The M8 is like having a mini version of that great camera. I am a pro, and I love rangefinders, and your argument makes no sense to me .

I am sure you love it and put it to good use, but I am convinced that Leica is aware as anybody that their target customer base is not the professional photographic community any more. That that does not stop them from making a superb tool that is a joy to use for professionals as well is a bonus.

 

[Sparrow]

Your all missing the point, it’s a security feature! less likely to get stolen looking like that




😀

 

[Rui Morais de Sousa]

Hello Martee,

THE COLOR is certainly not the real problem...

The problem is THE PHILOSOPHY behind it!

If they would sell those "colored" cameras with a normal list price, than that would be only an option for the consumer.
You are probably right in one point: cameras don't need to be exclusively black or chrome...

What I dislike is the limited edition idea behind it, and it's higher price and the temptation of trying to imply higher sophistication through such gimmicks.

If I see that made on a cheap russian camera, I don't care much. As a matter of fact, I could very well think about buying a black Kiev, although most certainly it didn't leave the factory in that condition.
Or I even laugh about that colorful golden ones, with blue, red or green leather that even call themselves "Leica"...
They are at least cheaper than Leicas.
(Please don't misunderstand me: I respect FSU cameras, I am even thinking about buying one or two...).

Leica has an IMPORTANT HERITAGE to honor and respect!
They are not selling cars, or refrigerators, or toasters.

They should not try to make their bucks with false sophistication.

It's hard for me to explain in english what I want to mean, but I do hope you get an idea...

Buy or paint your cameras the color you want, it is your right to make your decision.

I have the right of not agreeing with the philosophy and ideals Leica is serving us.

I start longing for the old Leitz company...

I also don't understand why some people think that pros can't use rangefinders!

Why not?

I am a pro and I use rangefinders, SLR's, view cameras, shift cameras, etc., etc.

I pick them up according to the task I have to acomplish. Some are just better suited for certain situations than others.

For some types of photography there is nothing better than a rangefinder. Why not use it? Who says that? Who cares about the camera? Who asks which camera took a photograph?
(Ok, WE do...).

Take the opportunity of the weekend, look at some books by such great photographers as Bresson, Jeanloup Sieff, Josef Koudelka, Lee Friedlander, Robert Frank, William Klein, Elliott Erwitt, Ralph Gibson, etc., etc. The list could go on...

All of them (also) rangefinder users!

Then, people, please tell me that we can't make professional quality photographs with a rangefinder...

The use of a rangefinder helps developing a certain kind of photographic language. That's why I love them!

Cheers,

Rui

AL-MOST-LY PHOTOGRAPHY

 

[maddoc]

"Leave the Spielereien behind" ... 😀

If these "Spielereien" help the company (Leica) to survive and build up some capital to design new cameras for professional use I have no problem with white, pink or any other fancy colored Leica. I just don't want to see the photographic world ruled by Nikon or Canon as the only company making cameras ...

Of course just my two cent ... 🙂

Cheers,

Gabor

 

[bean_counter]

why can't folks just be at liberty to buy/sell/use what they please? it's not as if they are injuring anyone or engaging in addictive behavior

unless you consider GAS to be addictive 😀

 

[jaapv]

I start longing for the old Leitz company...


AL-MOST-LY PHOTOGRAPHY

You mean the company that gave us
The gold and lizard skin Leica I
The gold and kid skin Leica I
The gold and snakeskin R3
The 50-years M4,R3 and Cl
The gold and snakeskin M4-P
and many, many more "specials"...
🙄

 

[Uwe_Nds]

Actually, the more I think about it - I could imagine a Tar & Feather-Edition would actually look quite interesting.
IMHO at least less tacky than the Pentax k-m Swarovski Edition.

Cheers,
Uwe

 

[Isca]

Jaap has made some good points, Leica are good at selling tacky cameras and I have to give them credit. They have responded to two market niches; one is for a quality rangefinder camera that I think most if not all will agree is top of its class in its category.

Secondly, there are a butt load of collectors out there who collect Leica gear. Good for them. I can't even criticize them for having more money than sense because quite frankly, I like cameras. Don't get me wrong, I like photos but I like cameras too.

People collect watches. George Clooney has one left wrist but a multitude of very expensive watches. Nobody criticizes him or any other watch collector for their "excesses".

Thank you to everybody who buys a white Leica so that Leica can continue to enrich the world of photography.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Maybe take a clue from the U.S. Mint and come out with fifty comemoratives for the fifty states? The Canadian provinces. Members of the European Union? Real Leicas shaped like Kievs for FSU countries? Give the collectors something to collect! How about matched pairs with consecutive serial numbers, one made in Germany, the other in Canada? Official Leica kid gloves for proper fondling in a choice of black or brown to match your neckstrap and your shoes.

 

[clicker]

????????????????

 

[tbarker13]

Hey, if it makes the company money, more power to Leica. I hope they can find a market for this stuff.

I do find it a little odd and amusing to see a digital camera offered as a limited edition aimed at collectors. It's sort of like seeing a "limited edition" cereal box or a can of Coke. We are, after all, talking about a product that's essentially disposable.
Twenty years from now, there won't be much of a market for an M8 (or any other current production digital camera) regardless of how pretty or special it looks.

 

[Isca]

Hey, if it makes the company money, more power to Leica. I hope they can find a market for this stuff.

I do find it a little odd and amusing to see a digital camera offered as a limited edition aimed at collectors. It's sort of like seeing a "limited edition" cereal box or a can of Coke. We are, after all, talking about a product that's essentially disposable.
Twenty years from now, there won't be much of a market for an M8 (or any other current production digital camera) regardless of how pretty or special it looks.

They probably said that about phonographs and motor cars though Tim. Who knows, not trying to be argumentative although sounding a lot like I am 🙂