Would you buy a limited edition digital Leica?

[Archiver]

Let's just suppose you were able to easily afford a limited edition digital Leica, like the Hermes M9-P, the Neiman Marcus M9, or a titanium M whatever. Put cost aside and just think of the camera and its accessories like matching Summilux and Summicron lenses as the case may be.

I'm not looking for 'if I could afford it, I'd buy a 35K limited edition then sell it ten years down the track'. This is about the camera, the cosmetics and materials, and accompanying pieces. Would you buy one? And if so, which one?

 

[RObert Budding]

No, it's too much trouble finding shoes and a belt to match.

 

[Keith]

Sorry but for me there is no logical answer to this question ... but I'll keep thinking! 😕

😛😛😛

 

[Archiver]

There are a few that I'd consider, if I put money aside and just thought of the cosmetics, materials and accessories.


- the 'Your Mark' Monochrom 246, which has black Horween leather covering, black paint finish, and black paint vintage style 35mm Summicron. Not some daft 'pre-brassed' camera, but a camera that will brass with your own wear. I think that's pretty cool, and would probably buy it if I could easily afford it.


- the M-P titanium set - the camera is milled from titanium and coated with a clear lacquer finish, and it comes with a APO Summicron 50 and Summicron 28. It looks amazing, and isn't something you could have made a la carte because of the titanium parts.


- cosmetically, I quite like the Neiman Marcus M9, which had a silver chrome top plate and brown ostrich covering. The didn't come with a silver chrome top plate until the M9-P came out, so it would be unique in having the M9 engraving and red dot. It's very attractive, although I'm not sure I'd buy it. Would rather get a stock silver-chrome M9-P and put brown ostrich on it.

 

[raid]

There is nothing classical about a digital camera. I view such cameras as practical solutions.

 

[Rob-F]

I might like an edition that meant something to me, like an LHSA edition, or an anniversary one. But Hermes would mean nothing to me.

 

[Godfrey]

I own a "limited edition" Leica M: the M-D typ 262.
Why? Because I like it. Others may not.

Same goes for any other limited edition thing. A group of people like them, collect them, and pay a premium price for them. Others do not. And not all limited edition things are valued the same to all folks who like a limited edition something.

I have a few other limited edition things. I bought them because I liked them, I liked the intent of the limited edition, felt the limited edition added value to the base model for some reason, etc. I felt they were worth the price premium to me.

What was the point of the question?

G

 

[farlymac]

The Titanium M-P set, but only if it was bargain priced. Old habits die hard. Besides, I plan on using it.


PF

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not me, I own cameras to make images, and a limited edition digital Leica won't make any better images than the base model it's created from. Wouldn't waste the money, even if I had it.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Godfrey]

There is nothing classical about a digital camera. I view such cameras as practical solutions.

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

 

[Huss]

I bought the limited edition Leica M100 M240. Fantastic kamera and the feature set over the pedestrian common and garden variety Leica make it worth every penny.

 

[aizan]

Only if it looked like this:

One day, they'll get it right...

 

[barnwulf]

No. - jim

 

[Phil_F_NM]

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.

Phil Forrest

 

[Archiver]

What was the point of the question?

G

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.

The M-P titanium is the closest I'd come to 'yes, I'd buy it' because it's a fully functional M-P 240, but made of titanium. It's lighter than the stock M240, looks beautiful, and comes with matching 50 APO Summicron and 28 Summicron. And yeah, I'd use it.

By the same token, I'd buy a titanium or anthracite MP if I could easily afford it. I've seen the anthracite MP on two or three occasions and it's incredibly attractive. You can't get that as an a la carte option, either. But my question revolves around digital Leicas because there are a few here and on LUF who have bought limited edition film bodies like the aforementioned anthracite MP, but I haven't seen anyone who has bought, say, a titanium M9 from way back.

 

[Huss]

My favourite limited edition Leicas are the ones with the Hammertime finish.
Can't touch those. (uh oh, uh oh)

Seriously, those are 2 legit 2 quit.

 

[Doug]

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

 

[Dogman]

I'm a user, not a collector...more an accumulator. I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't use.
If the price was low enough and the camera could fit within my uses, yeah I'd buy it.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

These days any digital Leica is special edition. Any Leica is self priced to be out from regular cameras sales. It is boutique style product. I was getting my M-E from special location with mostly boutique stores. Something like luxury shopping center in prestige part of Moscow.

On top of it I'm not aware of any special edition which will give me as photographer some additional and useful functions.
To be honest, modern digital special editions demonstrate excentic taste and nothing else. They are all White Russians to me.

 

[chasdfg]

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.

I'd choose something I would use. You mentioned the Titanium M-P. I'd definitely have that on my list also because of the lenses it comes with. It isn't a flashy colour and the lighter weight is welcome. I haven't been able to verify this myself in person but I've read the Titanium M9 is under 400g. That is quite impressive.

Any limited edition with a 35mm summilux would appeal to me - the Titanium M9, the M60, the M10 Zagato all have pretty cool variants of the 35 summilux FLE, which is my go-to travel and street lens.

The M Monochrom Your Mark and the M Monochrom Stealth edition are also pretty appealing..but there are places that can do that finish for you on film (and digital) leica and lenses, so there's less appeal there. You could also re-skin the regular versions.

And definitely no faux brassing. I almost bought an M Monochrom (M9) last year but the deal fell through due to issues with shipping. It was well worn with a gunmetal look...a beautiful camera. Makes me wonder what could have been. My M240 is pretty brassed up now too because it's been my only (primary) camera for 4 years. I think even the standard editions can look really really good. And if you wear them "authentically", that's the truest limited edition. I can't stop looking at my M240 when I bring it out (I suppose I have issues).

If i could choose one limited edition digital Leica...I got to think about this. Titanium M9 or M-P 240 probably.