Why did you decide NOT to buy a digital Leica M?

[leicapixie]

The M8 debacle placed me out of the "Circle of Trust".
One so called reviewer whose site I no longer even visit,
saw the magenta problem, remained silent!
Strangely Kodachrome gave me similar headaches in Studio..
I had to use Ektachrome to solve one Brown not green coat.
Firing Mr Lee was compounded by ending the M8.
There is nothing wrong with ASP C format.
Digital keeps evolving, the cameras, the PC's, updating all the time!
I needed Digital for pro. work back in 2005.
That's a long time in Digital..
I bought a Pentax Optio (fit in an Altoids box).
A Point and shoot that successfully made my transition.
Sort of!
Never saw reason for a Monster DSLR.
I have Film cameras, M's, Nikon Awesome Rig, Canon Rig, Pentax lots rig, seeing no point in selling at these prices!
Many were gifts, others bought for less than a cup of coffee..
I Love Film.
I do my own B/W film, thinking of re-starting my wet dark place.
I prefer the "look" of older lenses.

 

[robbeiflex]

Remonds me of the joke about the gear head who goes into a Rolls Royce dealership and asks: "how much horsepower does she have?" The Salesman calmly responds: "Sir, power is sufficient."

"
When the M8 first came out I sent a letter to Leica expressing my interest, requesting a brochure, and some questions regarding how to obtain a place in the delivery queue.

Weeks later I received a succinct reply.

"After reading your letter of October 17, 2006 and examining your work from the links provided therein, Leica Camera AG prefers you refrain from ordering the M8.

We realize our decision will initially be a source of disappointment. Please understand Leica Camera AG firmly believes we are saving you from needlessly wasting financial resources on the pedestrian, derivative work your limited creative talents are doomed to produce until you die. We are confident that eventually your disappointment will turn into gratitude.

We have forwarded copies of your letter to Nikon Americas | USA and Canon USA Inc. Both companies offer photographic equipment that are commensurate with your you potential."

Reminds me somewhat of the old story about a Rolls Royce salesman when asked by a prospective customer about the price of a new Rolls "motor".

He replied "If Sir must ask how much it costs, then be assured that Sir cannot afford it"

 

[robert blu]

Interesting question, interesting answers for someone like me on the fence to buy one.
I voted "other" and i would like to specify.
Price is important, I can afford it (Due to age and family reasons I'm selling my sales boat and part of this could finance a digital M). Having an M7 I already have the lenses I need. Ok, they should be coded and eventually calibrated but this is not the main problem.
The main problem is the low level of customer care: I can stand to have the camera serviced let's say once a year but if this takes more than 2 or 3 weeks is too much for me.
My M7 rangefinder needs calibration at least once a year but this can be done locally in a couple of weeks. If service from Solms requires more time I could accept this only if I could have the option to have a substituted body for that time, even paying a (reasonable) price for this.
Size and weight compared to a M film body are also a negative point, but I guess this could be overcome.
There is another minor problem: my wife and me oft travel and sleep in small hotels, B&B or other places where there is no safe and sometimes we would like to go out without a camera with us, just to enjoy a meal or a theater and leaving a 6.000 Eur camera in a room is not so nice...
Sorry for the long post, now if I'll buy one or not is not yet decided...
robert

 

[daveleo]

'Daveleo', Did I hear 'FIRE'.... :angel:

No No ! .... I meant that as a generic comment on what I see on the internet - people shooting (IMO) mediocre images with very expensive equipment.
Definitely not meant as a "cheap shot" at Leica.
I am sincere - the technical output of even average digital cameras far exceeds the talent level of the average picture maker, IMO. (I include myself in that lot 🙂 ). I simply came to that realization - most pictures made aren't worth $10,000 worth of gear.

Okay .... I am gone for a week, so count me out of any further brawls on this 😀

 

[zuiko85]

It has never entered my mind to spend that much on any single photographic instrument. The most I have ever spent on a single camera was indeed a Leica, an M4-2 body for about $900 (in current dollars). That was a 'hold your breath moment' for me, I questioned my own sanity for spending that much.

So, I guess I could have checked the "It is too expensive" box, but really, such expenditures are not considered and then rejected, they are never considered at all.

 

[KM-25]

In the end, both film photography and digital photography can be enjoyed if you just look at each the right way.

Given the personal and pretty straightforward answers you have recieved, I'm not sure of the value of this statement. As a pro who has used digital for over 20 years, seen the problems it has caused in photography in general, the right way for me to look at it is to avoid it at all costs.

The right way to look at it will vary from individual to individual....

 

[raid]

Yes, it varies from person to person how digital photography is viewed.
I am not trying to downplay such personal views.

 

[OurManInTangier]

No No ! .... I meant that as a generic comment on what I see on the internet - people shooting (IMO) mediocre images with very expensive equipment.
Definitely not meant as a "cheap shot" at Leica.
I am sincere - the technical output of even average digital cameras far exceeds the talent level of the average picture maker, IMO. (I include myself in that lot 🙂 ). I simply came to that realization - most pictures made aren't worth $10,000 worth of gear.

Okay .... I am gone for a week, so count me out of any further brawls on this 😀

This probably sums up my reason for selling my digital M bodies. I use digital for work so the high expense of top end CaNikon gear pays for itself easily over the course of their lifespans. Unfortunately I couldn't say the same for my M8 and M9 as these were used 99% of the time for personal/hobby pursuits and so it was a simple decision based upon my financial situation and alternative options. I can now use two XPro bodies and a clutch of lenses for some of my work (reportage style weddings) and hobby pursuits for the price of one new digital M. Plus I have enough spare cash to indulge my enjoyment of film with an old M6 and Hexar AF.

I did love my M9, no issues with it whatsoever thankfully, but for the use it was getting I felt I had more money tied up in it than I could reasonably justify. I'm glad I had the opportunity to own one for a while though.

 

[Shac]

Besides price I was discouraged by the problems that were reported with most models. For M's I stuck with film and for digital I went elsewhere

 

[Pete B]

Bought an M8 actually and after two months traded it towards an M6 0.85 non-TTL and cash. I hated that M8.

Not buying M9, Monochrom, M240 because of:
Price
Ruggedness (lacking)
Price
Price

My D700 almost suffices, a Fuji X-T1 would be a nice addition, but: price...

Pretty much the same experience for me. I actually bought 2 M9Ps but, well, they just weren't film Ms. I traded them in and got my perfect a la carte Film MPs on which to use my many M lenses. I guess I'm just not interested in digital photography, and certainly not at that price. If I want to use digital for some reason, I have some Ricoh GXR units that are more than adequate for the rare times I feel the need.
That said, if I had to give up film, the Leica M240 is the only digital camera I would consider to use on a daily basis.
Pete

 

[Colin Corneau]

Sorry, but what digital rangefinders are Sony and Fuji offering?😕

Pedantry...I forgot about the pedantry that surrounds so much of the Leica experience.

For the nitpickers in the audience: Fuji and Sony offer cameras that are small, quiet and are *comparable* to an actual rangefinder...the fact that Fuji's X series is growing leaps and bounds attests to its appeal.
I forgot to add the growing array of mirrorless options, too. Prestige is Leica's marketing tack, and it's been smartly and adeptly gained -- however, there's a gap between what you pay for and what you actually get, IMHO...having sensors that fall apart underlines that pretty starkly, I'd say.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Wait a minute: I decided not to buy a digital Leica M? I'm going to have to get back to you on that, don't know what this M8 is doing here 😉

 

[Michael Markey]

Pedantry...I forgot about the pedantry that surrounds so much of the Leica experience.

For the nitpickers in the audience: Fuji and Sony offer cameras that are small, quiet and are *comparable* to an actual rangefinder...

Not really pedantry is it ...most shoot rangefinders because they have a rangefinder .
They also happen to be on the small side (although that comparison isn`t what is was) and are quite (but so are other cameras I agree).

Non of the others have a rangefinder though.

As for me ...I`ve been on the fence for a while about a digital Leica but they aren`t cost effective from perspective .

I prefer the output from my Merrills anyway even though they are a dog of a camera in many respects.

The latest sensor debacle has put paid to any lingering thoughts which I may have been lurking at the back of my mind.

Just don`t make any sense for me so I`m sticking with my film M bodies.

 

[nobbylon]

Reliability and price.
Sadly I dont think the digi M's will ever be reliable or be backed up by the Leica manufacturer sufficiently for me to throw away money on them. I'd rather buy Nikon.
Film M's on the other hand will always be one of my choices.

 

[Shac]

That's great and I'm pleased for you. I just can't afford them or the associated risk

I have has absolutely no problems with my MM (knock on wood) 30K + and 2 years. I already had problems with all 4 of my Canon digital bodies by now.

 

[burancap]

Sadly I dont think the digi M's will ever be reliable or be backed up by the Leica manufacturer sufficiently for me to throw away money on them.

But, but, but! Leica will stand behind digital M's INDEFINITELY ... by some accounts!

 

[nobbylon]

But, but, but! Leica will stand behind digital M's INDEFINITELY ... by some accounts!

I know Jeff, amazing. With their current track record for camera support, DMR, M8, how many rationally thinking people believe that b@@@@cks? It would seem more than I thought but I'm actually relieved that there are plenty of others who are sceptical 😉

 

[Michael Markey]

That's great and I'm pleased for you. I just can't afford them or the associated risk

Yep ... bring the price down or reduce the risk ...either will do.

 

[gilgsn]

Like most people, price, and digital rot, which Leicas are not exempt from. I do love Leicas and the film bodies have a well deserved reputation. The digital ones however are a different beast. There are simply too many other cameras just as good for a fraction of the price. I bought a Fuji X100S instead. My favorite is still my M2, with the X100S a close second. I would not spend $7K on any digital camera when not making a living with it, and even then... Leicas are a bit of a cult, nothing wrong with that, but I try to cling to some remnant of objectivity when spending that much money...

Gil.

 

[raid]

I corrected them, in future just PM a mod.

Good advice. Thanks!