Harry Lime
Practitioner
The special editions were what they were. Special editions that were priced at a premium for collectors. They never constitutied the mainstream of their product line.
What is getting people bent out of shape is that ever since Kaufmann took over he has driven prices in to the stratosphere. This is forcing almost all of their old customer base to have to abandon the tool of their choice for their photographic work, because they can no longer even afford a body, let alone most of the newer glass.
The M system has been my main tool for almost 15 years. I have several M bodies, of which almost half were purchased new, along with several lenses. I mostly shoot for myself, but will also do an occasional job.
Here is some of my work
http://elanphotos.com/ElanFotos/contest_01/index.html
I can't afford to go digital, because I don't have $14,000 to buy two M9 bodies and anyone doing this semi professionally or professionally is going to need at least two.
Historically Leica has never been cheap. But, when I purchased my first M body and lens new from a dealer, it also did not cost me the equivalent of a Honda Civic.
Some people will say to just switch to Nikon or Canon. Would you tell a violinist to switch to a tuba, if suddenly the cost for violins spiraled out of control? We're talking about photography here, not making widgets. If you are serious about it, you eventually develop a personal style and signature and the gear you choose is tailored towards allowing you to realize that vision.
Sure I could switch to a DSLR, but that really is not my tool of choice and not how I have worked for all of these years and not how my brain works. I tried it. Twice. With a 5D and D700. No go. I went back to my film Leicas.
No one is asking Leica to not make high end products, but wouldn't it make sense to have a tiered product line like every other camera company on the planet? Nikon does not only make the $6000 D4. They do offer an alternative. Even if Leica offered an viable alternative to the M9, that cost $4000 all would be forgiven. And just for the record the X2 is not a viable alternative, unless you just plan on taking vacation snaps.
Stefan Daniel once said that those who can't afford a new Leica should just go out and buy a used one. Really? That may have made sense with a film body, where the 'sensor' is upgraded by swtiching the film stock, but is that even a rational suggestion with a digital camera? Would you buy a 6 year old computer for several thousand dollars? The M8 is a buggy mess with a sensor that is at least 6 years old now and never was a stellar performer to begin with. We are not talking about buying a used Nikon D3s, which still is a viable tool for many professionals. The ugly truth is that digital cameras have a shelf life. The march of technology is relentless and unless you are shooting in a vacuum, that is a problem.
Leica management loves to point out their heritage and special connection to photographers. The great irony of course is that nearly all of Leica's beloved Magnum photographers could not have afforded an M9 for most of their careers, and even today, buying the minimum of two bodies for serious work would be a financial challenge for most of them. The hypocrisy is downright comical, but very indicative of the 'let them eat cake' attitude that has developed in Solms in recent years.
So, yes. I think there are some very good reasons why more people are pissed off with Leica then ever before and it's not just sour grapes as some may imply.
