celluloidprop
Well-known
Going to say no one in the 35mm/APS/etc. market. Leica can do it because they'll sell as status goods no matter what. No one else has that cachet.
seanbonner
Established
I agree the price is insane, and I'm sorry to say that but when you buy a digital camera you know that cash is basically gone and 5-10 years from now that camera will be a paperweight. So you can always argue about cost. Which isn't what I was asking. If you look at the press surrounding the M9M release, it's clear that at least some people think there is merit to this idea, and for whatever reason - to use, to collect, whatever - Leica will sell some of these.
So, with positive press and some sales for a $8K camera, my question is not so much if, but who will be the first digital camera company to do that math. There's lots of interest from people who won't spent $8K on a digital camera, and if it's just changing out a sensor on an existing product then the cost to produce isn't that much. A company already making and selling digital cameras should reasonably be able to release a monochrome version of any of their cameras for about the same price point as whatever they are already selling theirs for.
I mean, really, if Fuji or Ricoh released a digicam with a monochrom sensor for under $1K plenty of people would pick it up out of curiosity alone.
So, with positive press and some sales for a $8K camera, my question is not so much if, but who will be the first digital camera company to do that math. There's lots of interest from people who won't spent $8K on a digital camera, and if it's just changing out a sensor on an existing product then the cost to produce isn't that much. A company already making and selling digital cameras should reasonably be able to release a monochrome version of any of their cameras for about the same price point as whatever they are already selling theirs for.
I mean, really, if Fuji or Ricoh released a digicam with a monochrom sensor for under $1K plenty of people would pick it up out of curiosity alone.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Who's holding their breath untill there's an answer to this question?
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
135format
Established
No one, only Leica buyers could be convinced it's a good idea 
seanbonner
Established
No one, only Leica buyers could be convinced it's a good idea
That's actually why I'm thinking about this, I've never seen *so much* discussion about a Leica camera by non-Leica buyers. This move, right or wrong, just got a ton of attention from people who will never buy a Leica, I'd guess another company will see that as a potential market.
Archlich
Well-known
Refer to the monochrome Kodak DSLRs for past reference.
As sensor technology progress no one need that anymore, except "Leica users"...which is a term I'm too lazy to care about proper defining.
As sensor technology progress no one need that anymore, except "Leica users"...which is a term I'm too lazy to care about proper defining.