Upgrade policy revamped

[pizzahut88]

Leica is really getting weird. They want more money for a LCD glass than the most expensive CV M-mount lens (Nokton 35/1.2) costs... that's just ridiculous... but enough retired dentists around to order it, I guess...
Didier

Now I am certain a Nokton 35/1.2 will be of more use.
And dentists, retired or not, are brighter than that save those suffering from dementia.

😀

 

[pizzahut88]

This may be posted elsewhere, but thought I'd post this email from Leica.



Dear LEICA M8 customers,


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT]

No wonder they call us dear.
I would like to say, please don't call me 'dear'.

 

[usayit]

I concede my point may not be valid for others.
Diversity of thought is beneficial in this small world.

Hehehe lol.. I just leaned over to my co-worker (watch fanatic) and asked

"Would you spend $1200 USD on a sapphire crystal upgrade of my camera (showing him my M8 to remind him the size of the LCD)?"

He said... Hell YAH!!! He wishes his Canon had that option. He wouldn't have purchased the Breitling (spelling? no idea .. not familiar with watches) if it did not have it. In fact, he looked perplexed at the notion of spending more money to get a quieter shutter...

hehe lol So yah.. different people.. different tastes.


Oh yeh.. I spent some money at Tiffany's for my wife this past Valentines day... after all... she didn't make a single comment when I came home from work with a Leica M8.




Perhaps Leica thought that the market they were selling the M8 into was the same population that buys Rolex and Breitlings etc..

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

If i ever had the slightest bit of interest in acquiring a Leica digital, it is gone now with this information.

Prices are absurd. Even though i COULD pay them, i'd feel like an idiot for doing so.

 

[Alm3000]

Just a note on the Sapphire Crystal.. They are not completely scatch proof. Im in the jewelry manufacture business and know that for a fact. High end watch makers us them in their watches becuase they are easily polished. For a watch with a stailess steel, gold, or plat bezel, it's a simple task to polish out any blemishes cause you can polish the whole case, but on a camera, i don't think it would be so simple. And cost wise who knows as well. I bring this up because some people realy don't baby their cameras and they become easily dinged, but it could be as simple as rubbing it up against your lens when putting back in the bag.. It's not THAT easily scratch but capable non the less.

 

[jack palmer]

I've had my Rolex Submariner for over 20 years and wear it everyday. I don't work a desk job either. Cabinet/Furniture maker. Cutting, jointing, planing all types of wood., and seldom ever take it off while working. Well about 5 years ago I actually broke the saphire crystal. Sent it back to Rolex for a full CLA for $500.00 They not only replaced the Saphire crystal, they replaced the bezel cleaned and lubed it and polished the case and band. It looked brand new when I got it back.,although I did notice a very tiny spot on the face that looked like it might be oil. Sent it back and they replaced the face. Now why is the Leica charging $1000.00 for the scratch proof crysrtal? Considering what my watch goes through, 5 years now and no scratches on the crystal.

 

[whitecat]

I think it's just too much money. What will the next upgrade cost?

 

[usayit]

Sent it back to Rolex for a full CLA for $500.00 They not only replaced the Saphire crystal, they replaced the bezel cleaned and lubed it and polished the case and band. ....
....
Now why is the Leica charging $1000.00 for the scratch proof crysrtal? Considering what my watch goes through, 5 years now and no scratches on the crystal.

It doesn't sound all too bad considering that the LCD on the back of the M8 is more than twice the size of the Rolex crystal.

 

[Tuolumne]

Is this chimping?

 

[jack palmer]

It doesn't sound all too bad considering that the LCD on the back of the M8 is more than twice the size of the Rolex crystal.

I think a more accurate comparison would be if Leica replaced the crystal gave it a an CLA ,replaced the top plate and repainted it.

 

[nobbylon]

Try this for a comparison, the last time I had my sub serviced was 2/4/2001. I doubt very much that an M8 will go 7 yrs between cla's! I will confess to still having the same saphire crystal it came with 22 years ago though! Used 24hrs a day for the last 22yrs!

 

[jack palmer]

The matter with people is they're getting tired of taking it up the a** from Leica.

 

[Cranialpush]

I still dont see the issue. You dont want it, you dont buy it. Whats the matter with people? This is an option. I would rather have options than not. Some people want the screen and buys it and some want a quieter shutter and buys that. Quit whining about it like little girls. "AHHHHHHH They are giving me options to upgrade(For some people these are upgrades.). *******s". If I had plans on keeping the M8 for the rest of my life I would have bought the screen. I dont care about the screen so I dont buy it.

Hear hear!

Blimey do some of you guys have nothing better and productive to with your days then browse a forum dedicated to a camera you don't own and so obviously dislike? I agree the prices are steep, but that's Leica; and whilst I love my M cameras I'm no fool - if they start to take the piss any more I'll just go elsewhere.

🙄

 

[Speenth]

Considering the cost of a Luigi case for the M8, buying it $1,000 worth of jewelry doesn't seem too excessive, now does it?

Sometimes Sitemistic you just go a little bit too far. I paid 617 Euros for the following Luigi craftsmanship in rally leather: Full case with slide-out top and drop down chimping flap, fitted tripod screw, cutout for my Thumbs Up and the fat built-in grip. My 617 Euros also bought a wide leather strap, a pouch for my spare battery and SD card, a separate, quick release wrist strap and a metal soft release exposure button. Finally my 617 Euros also bought me my name embossed in the leather body and the strap. In addition, I was provided with the embossing device, complete with my name so I can use it for everything from personalising headed paper to security marking the cat. AND, my 617 Euros bought full insurance and UPS delivery.

However, you look at it - that's a bargain for bespoke, handmade leather goods of the highest quality. It is NOT a rip off and you owe Luigi an apology - not least because the product is simply extraordinary. True, old fashioned craftsmanship that will last rather longer than the M8!

 

[etrigan63]

750 Euro (or USD1,100) for a sapphire screen.
For the same money I could get a nice diamond ring for my wife.

It's not a matter of how much for the screen,
but rather it's the comparison.

Mind you I didn't care if the M8 had such other problems,
I turned a blind eye and bought one, but this, this is going too far.

No, the upgrade is not mandatory.
But it's not pretty.

While diamond is more expensive than sapphire, look at the quantity we are talking about here: 2.25" x 1.75" which translates roughly to 2540 sq mm. A 32mm watch crystal (804 sq mm) costs $28 and that is the cheap stuff from China. Leica wouldn't stoop to that so we have to assume they are buying from somewhere in the EU (probably Schott). Then you have the labor involved in disassembling/reassembling the camera, CLA, and a refreshed warranty.

Just my thoughts on the issue...

 

[jack palmer]

I also hear that Leica is supplying the Vasoline whichever upgrade you choose.

 

[Keith]

The M8 forums seem to have become a venue for M8 defenders verses Sitemistic!

I know he doesn't have an M8 and apparently feels very strongly about what he perceives as a technically limited overpriced indulgence being produced by a vision challenged company ... a view shared by many others but not so vocally I might add.

However ... his comments are mainly aimed at the camera or Leica in general I've noticed and are usually not of a personal nature. I find some of the stuff aimed in his direction in this thread a little tasteless to be honest and it's not because I'm defending his actions ... he can say what he likes about my choice of gear or what he thinks of the manufacturer and I won't take it personally ... it's an internet forum after all! 🙄

 

[John Noble]

For some watch lovers, a sapphire crystal is a must... From the "demonstrations" I've seen, I would NEED a sapphire crystal if I spent some cash on a nice watch and use it everyday (I dont' wear jewelry at all). I've also been told that a complete overhaul of a Rolex with the installation of a sapphire crystal will start at around $400 and upwards. Thats not inexpensive either.

If you feel like overpaying for Rolex "quality", sure.

My fancy "Swiss" Hamilton mechanical wind-up watch has a sapphire crystal. I love it: it's absolutely perfect after almost two years' careless treatment.

The watch cost c. $250.00 with shipping.

There was no extra charge for the crystal.

 

[usayit]

I thought Leica said only diamonds are harder than Sapphire. Bummer.

You really should do something about the negativity you spread around here.

If you search... Sapphire glass is not really glass. Its internal structure is organized much like crystals and sapphire stones. Synthetic or natural, it is one of the hardest substances known. BUT... hardest does not mean it does not scratch nor does it mean it is not brittle. In fact, some even report it as much more brittle than regular mineral glass. The example from the site I found used Plexiglass as an example of the opposite in physical properties.... the least durable and not hard at all.. but also the least brittle...the hardest to shatter.

So if you were implying false advertising from the part of Leica... go stick a sock in it. They are right implying that diamonds are one of the few things that harder than sapphire glass... it doesn't mean it is indestructible.

 

[usayit]

If you feel like overpaying for Rolex "quality", sure.
.

Then I must assume you are not Rolex's demographic. I think people pay way too much for BMW and Mercs... My dodge takes me from A to B just as well. So What??? You are making the same mistake in your argument as "pizzahut88".

A is true for me therefore everyone in which claims B is wrong..

Everyone must realize that $$$ is a personal thing and everyone has different ideas on value.

ErikFive is right.... no one is cramming this stuff down your throat. I'm a happy M8 camper... the only thing that ruins the experience is this forum. But for some unknown reason... I keep coming back for more.