will the collectors market save leica or kill it?

[Toby]

Just looked at the leica a la carte website. Is this seriously the future of rf? Think of the huge number of iconic photographs that M series and other rangefinders made in the 20th century. Is the modern leica a piece of jewellery or a photographic tool? Where will the great photos of the next century come from? These cameras appeal to the more monied amonst us but where is the leica product for aspiring cartier-bressons? Students will be the life blood of photography in the future but how could they afford new or second hand leicas. If we don't get them young will rf photography collapse. I just saw an Eos 1n with booster for £280 (approx £500) M6's go for £800 ($1200) second hand. I apprieciate that colletors are keeping leica alive at the moment but where are newbies going to come in? Voigtlander are doing a good job but if leica collapse will the whole market go with them? If we don't act now we could all be using *gulp* bridge cameras.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

I think Leica profits on nostalgia and mystique right now, much like bands from the 60's who continue to hang on and bilk the boomers.

I know I picked up my EOS 1VHS for a song, (though I'm wishing i invested that $ in an RF, or oil) before I figured it out. As far as I can see, RF photography is already a niche, and one that grows smaller with digital advancing footsteps. Niches are always expensive.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

They really need a digital Leica M to maintain whatever presence that they had in the professional market. Until then, Leica's will be used by primarily by those of us that love film based photography and using classic equipment. And the bad part for Leica, is that cameras such as the M3 and M2 really appeal to most of us. We have several members here that have done their part to support Leica in the 21st century, and that actually use their cameras. But I suspect that the number of RFF'rs using M2's+M3's outnumber those using MP's+M7's.

Chris: "looking for an affordable interchangeable lens RF", how much money to you regard as affordable? Let's say to build up a basic outfit with camera, 35mm, fast 50, and ~85mm lens.

A Kodak Retina IIIS with 35 F2.8, 50 F1.9, and 85mm F4 will run $225~250.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Oh brother. This is definitively a troll question. Check, please...

Is that you, Frank?

 

[RObert Budding]

The market won't collapse if Leica goes under (though it would be a sad day). There is a new line of M-mount lenses out from Zeiss and the new Zeiss Ikon will ship eventually. And there is a ton of used gear out there.

Robert

 

[Sonnar Brian]

FWIW: We have discussed this before at RFF. It is something that has been discussed on Stephen Gandy's user group as well. At least to me, it is a legitimate question about a company that has been bought by a company that specializes in expensive accessories like hand bags and did not start work on a Digital camera 5 years ago. I would love to have a full-frame digital Leica M. The CCD incompatibility with wide-angle lenses does not matter to me, I use 50mm and 90mm lenses for the most part. The cost of a Digital M would be comparable to monies spent on other cameras.

I personally think Leica will get it together. And my Leica M3's and M2 will be in operation long after I am not.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

FWIW: We have discussed this before at RFF.

I agree Brian. But don't people add on to older, ongoing threads, rather than open a new discussion on something that's already been discussed?

I'm just connecting dots, considering the nature of this user's posts (from the very first few ones), a bit, oh, trollish, don't you think? At least I'm not the only one who's felt that way. IMHO, of course.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

A lot of old thread are pretty buried! I found it amazing that a thread from 2003 just perked back up. We get threads that are on the same topic as the older ones.

Besides, I think if we all work on Toby we can get him to unload all that extra gear that he has accumulated that is interfering with his photography onto our 35mm classified section. He's got a pretty good headstart on guilt.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Besides, I think if we all work on Toby we can get him to unload all that extra gear that he has accumulated that is interfering with his photography onto our 35mm classified section. He's got a pretty good headstart on guilt.

Ahhh...you devil you. Me too dumb to see Master Plan. :bang:

 

[back alley]

maybe trolls are what we make them.

some sites want to take a troll and poke it with a stick until it behaves like the others - i do not believe this works well.
afterwards they go running to the mods to 'fix' this problem, ban this guy, blah blah blah...

i see trolls like pets. they are there for my amusement. i am the master - they are the pet!

but they are still living breathing beings and i would never allow anyone to hurt my pet.

but i might put the pet in a pen for it's own safety.

i just love these little stories...

joe

 

[Fred]

Backalley, neat new avatar 😀

Okay, I'll try not to upset anyone. Think of the main bunch of pro's that used Leica cameras, they used RF machines instead of the sea of SLRs. Some of these will have gone digital, a few may not.

The RF market was lmited anyway. The premium for a Leica was worth it to those who desired and could afford it.

You cannot compare Leica M to the general market because the general market did not include Leica as a mass producer of film cameras. It remains a niche.

If they fold, I for one will be very sad to see another maker of superb photo kit go the way of Bronica (that kit I also have).

It's easy to knock the old 'Ikons' of the film industry, maybe a bit of support for it would not go a miss. Some I dare say woulg like to see it die and then join the large ranks of the what if brigade. I for one will be very sad.

 

[VinceC]

My experience from working around photojournalists is that 10 or 15 years ago they usually had their workhorse SLR cameras but often kept a Leica around their neck as a statement, often with a 21mm.

Today, they've got their workhorse digital SLRs, but I don't often see the Leica's as the third body. As often as not, its the Hasselblad XPan, which is shooting a lot of the panoramas we see in magazines and newspapers.

I think Leica also used to be the camera that well-heeled photo enthusiasts sought. But with the move to digital, those folks have lots of options with every make but Leica.

 

[MacDaddy]

Indeed! Us newbies would LOVE to be able to afford a good second-hand (or better, a NEW Leica M whatever!) camera, but pricing is killing the lust! I "settled" for a new Bessa R3a and 40mm/F1.4 Nokton because I couldn't afford more than $1,000 and wanted to jump into RF photography in that budget range.
I guess I'm an anacronism because I came back from digital to film because digital, even at the mid-level, still isn't "there" yet! My greatest wish would be for Leice to "Live long, and prosper!" so i can have a chance to someday own one with a couple of decent lenses.
Yes, I'd like a digital Leica M (full-frame, please!) but only if it shoots as well as their film cameras. Otherwise, it would be a disaster, IMHO! May film RfFs NEVER die and stay affordable for us all!