Would you buy a limited edition digital Leica?

[ptpdprinter]

I suppose if you phrased the question to "Which limited edition digital Leica would you pick if you could choose one as a gift to yourself?" or something along those lines, that would take away the issues of cost, white elephants and resale value.

Why would you exclude those factors?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

No, but I do buy LHSA raffle tickets every year for limited edition this and thats. That probably doesn’t count.

 

[chasdfg]

Why would you exclude those factors?

I guess without these factors you'll think about the limited edition cameras in terms of what appeals to you purely in terms of aesthetics and usability (the colour, finish, leatherette, weight, the lenses that it comes with, for example).

If you take cost into account...well to me the cost of any limited edition is prohibitive. I'm too practical and as a user wouldn't consider them at all. Likewise resale value would definitely be a consideration if i were to pick one to try out for a couple of years and sell. Also some limited editions are made in too low numbers to ever acquire (tied to cost and resale value as well). Removing these factors allows me to focus on what catches my eye and what I would bring out daily...and allows me to fantasise a little.

(Maybe disregarding these factors is not the OP's intent)

 

[Godfrey]

It's about whether individuals here would value certain cosmetic, material or accessory changes that you can't get with an a la carte model. I'd like to know what floats people's boats, and why.
...

Well, cosmetics is the least of why I might pick a particular camera, although a good looking camera is always a nice thing.

I might pick a special edition because I appreciate the intent of the special edition, sometimes despite its cosmetics. For instance, the Rollei 35 Silber Anniversary Edition was, I thought, somewhat ugly with its silver-all-over finish, but it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Rollei 35, which is one of the cameras I have always liked. It was also available only from selected dealers as a special bonus to good customers, so there was a level of exclusivity and 'specialness' to having one. I bought one, enjoyed its 'specialness' for a time, and sold it to a collector a decade later.

My Minox EC Special MHS Edition is another special edition which I liked enough to buy because it was specifically made for Minox Historical Society members in a limited run of 100 cameras. Since I helped found the MHS, back in the day, and I liked the EC as a nice snapshot camera for casual picture taking, I bought one and obtained the number 100 camera, theoretically at least the last Minox EC ever made. I still have that one, it's somewhat special to me although it has no appreciable value as a collectible that I'm aware of. I've even made photographs with it. 😀

The Leica M-D typ 262 appeals to me much the way the Leica M Edition 60 did: It is functionally the most minimal digital camera ever made, and it's even more special to me than the ME60 because it is sans any special finishes and fancy packaging. It is simply and cleanly the essence of a Leica M transported forward in time to being a digital camera. I bought one as soon as they were announced because I knew they would not be in production for very long, and it proves to be functionally and cosmetically exactly what I want in a Leica M: simple, easy to use, only drive mode and AE option other than the traditional exposure and focus settings to use. Absolutely my favorite Leica M now, film or digital. I have used it quite a lot. It may well be my last Leica M, I like it that much.

I've never bought an a la carte model camera. The only reason to buy one of them, for me, might be if they would allow me to option it with only the frame lines that I wanted to use, in order to reduce viewfinder clutter. That was the reason I bought a Leica M4-2 over the M4-P as my last film M: the M4-2's simpler frame line set made it a functionally better choice for me. But, as far as I'm aware, that option isn't available.

G

 

[raid]

A limited edition thing has little to do with something being "classical" or archetypical, or anything like that. Even "collectible" is a question mark.

It simply means that the edition has a limited run for some reason, some intent ... whether to commemorate an event, to honor a particular style or stylist, or because they only intended to make a small number of a particular variant, or whatever.

G

Still, it is in my opinion not suitable to do. Digital camera become outdated.

 

[David Hughes]

I wouldn't buy any digital camera new as there are enough around much cheaper but, on the other hand, if someone was to give me a Hermes Leica in the film version I'd say TVM and run away quickly before they changed their mind...


Regards, David

 

[willie_901]

No, I would not.

If my disposable income was appropriate for purchasing a limited edition digital Leia camera. and if I wanted to own a Leica camera, I would rather donate the difference between the standard and limited edition models to charity.

 

[JeffS7444]

Yes, this:

 

[Huss]

Yes, I'd be interested if the enhancements were of a functional nature, but not solely for special cosmetics.

I dunno. If the cosmetics are as awesome as this, I'm in.

 

[mpaniagua]

No. or maybe yes? 😛 Depend on how heavy my pockets are on the right moment. I don't dislike special/limited sets and may buy one if it appeal to me on the right moment. (example, I got the Bessa 101 anniv special set).

Marcelo

 

[narsuitus]

No !

However, I would buy a limited edition film leica (such as the Leica MP Hammertone LHSA).

 

[MIkhail]

By purchasing something that is "limited edition" you supposedly(?) getting something unique, something that guy next door cannot get?
It is my strong belief that nothing that is mass produced (even a limited run of lets say 300 pieces) is not unique. To me more valuable thing would be camera that used by particular person, worn in a certain unique to him/her way, and carries a character of that person. Mass-engraved signature of, let's say, Ralph Gibson does not make it unique. It's just makes it lesser volume mass production still.
So, of course not.

P.S.
The argument that digital camera is somehow inferior in ability of serving as a heirloom to a film camera just does not hold water.
Makes me want to say: wake up, my friend, this is 21st century. Paradigm shifted 10 times already while you were out testing summicrons 🙂

 

[Emile de Leon]

When Leica goes out of business..they will all be limited editions..every last one of them..lol..

 

[jsrockit]

I don't care if I had "eff you money", I would never buy a limited edition digital Leica. I wouldn't buy any digital Leica, for that matter.

I think I'm with you... but then again I do like the Leica CL (Digital). If I had F U money I might buy one.

 

[MIkhail]

I think I'm with you... but then again I do like the Leica CL (Digital). If I had F U money I might buy one.

Given the excess of money, i would buy Leica Q. Why not, it's a camera just like any other.
I really like the hood on it's lens though.
I wish i could get that hood for Sony lens 🙂 And not for $300 or something.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, regarding your enquiry.

No, never

 

[Takkun]

I really don't care for limited-edition anything for the preciousness of it all. Hell, I don't really like buying anything brand new for fear of that first scratch. I want to use whatever I own, and the cameras I display on the shelf have sentimental value to me from their past use.

After my race bike was stolen a few years ago, my family pitched in to buy me a new SSCXWC commemorative frame (which was sold as a fundraiser for the organization, not a marked up collectible) and it was very, very hard to take it out for its first race. I was devastated when I mangled my chain in the last race of the season. Meanwhile, a friend of mine has the previous year's edition and covered it in stickers as soon as he got it... Just like cameras, it's a tool to be taken good care of, but used nonetheless.

Besides, I feel like most of Leica's limited editions, especially the past film models, are kind of ridiculous. Jag XK 50th Anniversary Edition M6? Why..? There's no personal connection to me. If it were my own customized camera....maybe. But then that gets back to the preciousness aspect. Digital or not. I do have a fountain pen with a custom ground nib, my own little 'limited edition,' that writes a dream, but rarely leaves the house.

 

[nightfly]

I'm glad Leica sells these so they can stay in business and I can keep buying cameras that will actually see use. However, I wouldn't buy one given all the money in the world.

I don't get collectible anything. It takes all my willpower to not turn over a curio cabinet of LLadros when I encounter one. The limited edition Leica's rank about the same. Silly at best, ostentatious displays of disposable income at worst. They feed all the stereotypes of Leica buyers as rich, hobbyist dentists.

 

[Keith]

Still, it is in my opinion not suitable to do. Digital camera become outdated.

I was thinking about this Raid and I've come to the conclusion that in spite of the perception of a digital camera being outdated it's more to do with the constant need for people to have the latest and greatest.

In my opinion sensor performance hasn't changed much in the last ten years and all they offer us now is improvements in the stuff that most photographers don't use. So called faster focusing, moving controls around the camera and adding more of them and a lot of endless pulp that people convince themselves they need.

They did the same with film cameras ... once they realised that the strip of light catching material inside the things had reached it's limitations they started making more complex bodies and we eventually finished up with cameras the likes of the F6 and it's Cannon equivalent.

 

[Takkun]

Keith, I wholeheartedly agree. I used to work at a camera dealer when the current crop of cameras was always 'good enough,' but we all waited for the latest to come out—for full frame, better low light, lower noise, etc. After around the Nikon D3/D700 and that generation of cameras came out, it seemed to me that digital cameras reached an apex of image quality for most users, and those haven't become obsolete in the intervening years: they took good photos then, and still do. Everything since then has been unnecessary niceties—live view (and AF in live view), video, smaller and better mirrorless, etc. Video has been a boon to content creators and amateur filmmakers and looks amazing compared to 1/3" camcorders, but I personally don't use it, and nothing else makes me say 'wow'. So in a nutshell, like you, I don't think digital cameras in the last decade are really functionally obsolete.

All that said, my biggest worry is support and repair. And that goes for later-model film cameras, too, with ICs and miniaturized circuit boards long since discontinued. I've posted a lot about it, but my M8 has had at least two shutter replacements in its life, and the last one was a bit of a gamble if Leica could find the appropriate part (which reminds me, I ought to send my F6 in for a CLA while Nikon's still making them).

I already mentioned my aversion to limited-edition anything, but specifically with regards to digital, it would be even more of a disappointment for something to become non-functioning and unrepairable, especially for a personal-use camera. As a sometimes-professional, my work has shifted away from journalism and commercial work (where a camera is more or less a disposable expense) and I value mostly mechanical, manual cameras where things can be repaired and increase the return on my investment.

but I'm getting away from the topic at hand of collectible digital cameras. Still think collectible anything is kind of pointless, but truth be told, I'd totally buy and use that Sanrio M3 Huss posted.