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

[willie_901]

I had to check 'OTHER'.

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."


:angel:🙂:angel:🙂

 

[DNG]

Too expensive...for a person living at 10% above the national poverty level.
My only time to get any photo gear or replace a computer is after I receive my tax return.
And even then I would have to limit my expense to no more than 25% of that.

If, I had the resources.... I'd get the M240 most likely.

 

[Darshan]

For me, it comes down to - Is it worth the expense? for me?
The answer is no.
I can afford all digital M's but can't justify spending thousands on gear, since I only shoot for pleasure.
My digital appetite is easily satisfied by my GF1.
I like shooting and developing film, that's what I have been hoarding.
I have >100 film in my freezer which I intend to use over the next couple of years, I think I am set.

 

[E__WOK]

That being said if M digital bodies were in the $3k range I would probably bite.

M9s can be had on the bay for under 3K.

 

[Lss]

I have the Leica M8, bought it after using the Epson R-D1 for about a year. The Epson was my first rangefinder camera.

I quite happily put my M8 files against my Sony RX1R files. This Sony betters any compact camera out there in image quality, but the Leica files are close in practical use. I have had no reliability problems, I don't find the filters an issue, and I use the camera also in low light at high ISO. It's a great camera as far as feel and usability go, and it's still also a competent digital image maker.

Having said that, I would like to get the improvements and fullframe offered by the new Leica M. The only reason not to buy it is the price. I think this is the major reason anyone who likes this type of the camera is not buying. Of course, many people find another type of camera more suitable and are therefore not interested. Other people do not know they would like such a camera. I was in that camp myself before getting the Epson a few years back.

 

[Joosep]

I have not bought a digital M because film is still available. Easy.

 

[fireblade]

I had to check 'OTHER'.

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."


:angel:🙂:angel:🙂

...............lol.

 

[f16sunshine]

I had to check 'OTHER'.

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."


:angel:🙂:angel:🙂

In other words.... they are pretty sure you're not cut out to be a dentist 😛

 

[peterm1]

"
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"

 

[Chris101]

Yeah, I don't have that kind of money.

 

[GaryLH]

For a lot of people it is all about the rf experience.. Outside of the Epson rd1, only Leica currently has a drf.

For me it was about a light compact camera system that I could use when I really did not want to lug around my slr.

So for me, other digital solutions work for me.. And these days there are lots of light compact digital cameras that fit my needs.

Gary

 

[jaapv]

They are great cameras, but frankly Fuji and to an increasing extent Sony are kicking the crap out of them on the digital rangefinder market. Why pay a premium for a camera that is equalled or often bested by cheaper options?

The problem with digital cameras is that you have to look at them like computers now, as much as cameras -- obsolete in a matter of a few years. To pay such a premium for a camera that is outperformed in a matter of months, sometimes, is just looney.

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

 

[mretina]

A combination:
1. price and depreciation risk
2. not 100% convinced about the product, except monochrom
3. recent disappointment on sensor issue
4. sheer snobism with respect to leica recent marketing and their target customers (no offense intended to a few purits in RFF), for the same reason I do not drive an Audi
5. I shoot a lot of film
6. already own a full frame digital SLR and an X100

So... for this Christmas I have bought an XE-1 for the cost of a Leica ready-case with the purpose of shooting legacy lenses digitally (a gap I felt I had) and have freed up about 6000 euros to increase my stockpile of old equipment and I am very happy about this.

(Hope the XE-1 satisfies me as it is still in its box..)

 

[Dralowid]

I admit to wanting one before the M8 arrived but paying that much was a turn off. After sticking with film for a while I bought a Nex 6 which I am very happy with and being so much cheaper it really wasn't so much of a decision. It has changed the way I take pictures.

 

[jschrader]

Digital Leicas are too expensive for my limited use; if I calculate how much shots I produce that are worth printing the price ofthe camera per print would be rediculous.

The costs of film will never exceed the value erosion of a digital camera, that is good enough (in my opinion).

"I am only using film cameras" is true also but it is not the reason for not having bought a digital M, but a consequence.

 

[Gareth Rees]

Quote by Helenhill_HH

I'm not knocking DIGITAL, just for me I get bored
with film there is always a level of anticipation and suspense while developing

Quite simply I'm envious of you ALL who succeed with creating a beautiful digital file
me, I'm never happy with what I produce
so I go back to what I know and love...Film
😉
__________________
Well said; my feelings perfectly.

 

[agfa100]

Having used Leica film cameras since 1971 it was a hard choice not too. I kept using my film cameras up until 2004 before I got a digital camera to play with. I kept using both film and digital, but digital was no wear as good as film in the beginning, but scanning my neg's was a pain so what was I too do.
I was never happy with the lack of sharpness with the digital vs film, but I saw that digital was the wave of the future, and every time you turned around the cameras were getting better. I almost got a M-8 but it was the price and it really was not a finished product. And the big thing was it was not like buying a film camera, that I could use it for 20 years. The life span of a early digital camera was, what 2 years before they came out with something that was far better.
My first digital camera I was happy with was the Ricoh GXR w/M module that I could finally use my M lenses on, I still really like that camera. Now I have added a Sony RX-1 (used) and that is the first digital camera I am not waiting for the new improved model to come out. I can see myself using this camera for years and be happy with no matter what new and improved camera's come out.
wbill

 

[HHPhoto]

The main reason is:
The price performance ratio / real value of the digital M is much worse compared to the film M cameras.

If you buy a film M new for about 4,000 bucks, you get a camera you can use for 50, 60, 70 or even more years.
You can use it for the rest of your life. And when you pass away, even your children can continue to use it.
Considering its life span, a new film M is indeed one of the cheapest cameras, and one with the best price - long-run performance ratios you can get.

But will you use a digital M for such a lifespan? No, not at all.
Digital cameras are not designed for such long life spans.
In some years, you will not have electronic spare parts if a repair is needed.
And furthermore digital sensors suffer from ageing effects over the years. Their performance decrease with the time:

http://www.harvestimaging.com/pubdocs/090_2005_dec_IEDM_terrestrial_cosmic_rays.pdf

Cheers, Jan

 

[Philip Whiteman]

Having used Leica rangefinder cameras for forty years, I took half a step towards a digital M with an Epson R-D1 and might have bought a now affordable M8 if Fuji hadn't come up with the brilliant X-Pro1. I still love and use film Leicas - I've even had my old IIIC refurbished - but have come to think that the X-Pro is the digital 'rangefinder' camera Leica should have made.

 

[MikeL]

For some reason, the longer I wait, the better (in general) and cheaper (relative to Leica) the alternatives get.

I'll keep waiting with my still functioning M6. 🙂