X100 Kit, $1,299.00 USD

[eleskin]

lets see,

For $1,299 you get the X100, a camera case, an 8GB memory card, a card reader, and a spare NP-95 lithium Ion Battery.

What did I get with my M8 when I bought it new?

What are others getting with their X1?

What are others getting with their M9?

I know Leica does what it does, but they should be ashamed!

By the way, If I had a choice, I would buy the X100 over the X1! Especially for the price!!

When we see an interchangable lens version of this full frame, I will be very excited!!!

 

[jaapv]

With your M8? A superb camera and Capture One LE.With the M9? An even better camera and Lightroom3 Which I prefer over an SD card of which I have large numbers anyway. But the spare battery would have been nice. Compare prices on LR3 and a card reader+card...😉

 

[sper]

Leica reported another quarter of huge growth. Don't expect loswer prices any time soon.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

lets see,

For $1,299 you get the X100, a camera case, an 8GB memory card, a card reader, and a spare NP-95 lithium Ion Battery.

What did I get with my M8 when I bought it new?

What are others getting with their X1?

What are others getting with their M9?

When I bought a Coffeemate coffee maker for $19.99, I got 20 coffee filters and a coffee pitcher.

What did others get with their Nuova Simonelly Espresso machine for $15,000??

I know Leica does what it does, but they should be ashamed!

By the way, If I had a choice, I would buy the X100 over the X1! Especially for the price!!

I know BMW does what it does, but they should be ashamed! If I had a choice, I would buy a Vespa over an F800S!

When we see an interchangable lens version of this full frame, I will be very excited!!!

When I see the DVD player + leather seat mini-van version of a Vespa, I will be very excited!!


:: thumbs up ::

 

[Keyne]

With an M8 you got a Rangefinder. None of your options come with a Rangefinder in the box. Unfortunately that is the reality if a digital RF is what you want. If you don't want an RF there are lots of options for equal or less money. However, I do think its really cool they included all that stuff in the Fuji box... but if its supposed to be for Pro photographers then a lot of that gear is redundant for them. If its for new digital photographers as a "starter" kit then great... but I thought it wasn't for the "beginner" market.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

It is just marketing...you can get spare battery and other stuff from China for bucks 🙂

 

[eleskin]

Jaapv

Yes, I overlooked the software package with my M8, and indeed, it is a superb camera. I just wanted to illustrate dollar for dollar the value issue.

I bought 2 M8's (one new, and one, thank God, used) because I have a huge M lens collection.

I really do not care about the rangefinder camera I am using, wether it is an M or in the future, made by someone else, all I care about are the photos I create thats it. Now, I have a family, and a tight budget, so anytime a company gives us something we can use at a very reasonable price, I get very excited.

I have no doubt there will be an interchangeable lens version of the X100 or by some other camera maker. What I can predict is it will be much cheaper than an M9. It will not be carved out of solid blocks of brass, etc,,, and will have some plastic/carbon shell with metal, etc,,,. It will be more something you use and not keep forever, but will produce excellent photos. For me, I am attracted to this more then very expensive cameras. For me, I could rationalize more buying the new Noctilux more than buying an M9 in that I beleive the lens in the long run is a better investment. I bought a Noctilux 2 years ago for $4,700 (last version of f1.0) and feel I made a terrific investment. More importantly, the photos I have taken with it are astounding!

Anyway, I would rather spend way less on the camera and save the money for really great lenses. If I had to buy another digital M, I would buy a brassed used M9 in a few years. By the way, al of my great M lenses were bought used (many on Ebay), except for my 35 f1.2 Nokton and 15mm Super Wide heliar.

So with all of this, all I have to say is we are seeing a resurgence in classic camera design with 21st century technology at reasonable prices. I know one thing. The value of used M lenses will go up in the coming years as more people realize the advantages to smaller cameras with incredible lenses!

 

[jsrockit]

I just wanted to illustrate dollar for dollar the value issue.

As a Leica user, you should know Leica is not about value... come on! 😀

(However, as a Leica user you also know that they are very comfortable well made cameras that the Fuji will not make you forget)

 

[eleskin]

GSW 690 quality

GSW 690 quality

Not forgetting Leica build quality I am sure I will encounter. However, I also cannot forget the quality of the Fuji GSW 690 that I have used for many years to take some of the most important photographs ever in my professional experience. I do not take Fuji lightly and have great respect for what they can do. This is one of the reasons why I am very excited about the new x100.

 

[jaapv]

Jaapv

Yes, I overlooked the software package with my M8, and indeed, it is a superb camera. I just wanted to illustrate dollar for dollar the value issue.

I bought 2 M8's (one new, and one, thank God, used) because I have a huge M lens collection.

I really do not care about the rangefinder camera I am using, wether it is an M or in the future, made by someone else, all I care about are the photos I create thats it. Now, I have a family, and a tight budget, so anytime a company gives us something we can use at a very reasonable price, I get very excited.

I have no doubt there will be an interchangeable lens version of the X100 or by some other camera maker. What I can predict is it will be much cheaper than an M9. It will not be carved out of solid blocks of brass, etc,,, and will have some plastic/carbon shell with metal, etc,,,. It will be more something you use and not keep forever, but will produce excellent photos. For me, I am attracted to this more then very expensive cameras. For me, I could rationalize more buying the new Noctilux more than buying an M9 in that I beleive the lens in the long run is a better investment. I bought a Noctilux 2 years ago for $4,700 (last version of f1.0) and feel I made a terrific investment. More importantly, the photos I have taken with it are astounding!

Anyway, I would rather spend way less on the camera and save the money for really great lenses. If I had to buy another digital M, I would buy a brassed used M9 in a few years. By the way, al of my great M lenses were bought used (many on Ebay), except for my 35 f1.2 Nokton and 15mm Super Wide heliar.

So with all of this, all I have to say is we are seeing a resurgence in classic camera design with 21st century technology at reasonable prices. I know one thing. The value of used M lenses will go up in the coming years as more people realize the advantages to smaller cameras with incredible lenses!

Yes - but the X100 is not a rangefinder - it just looks like one. It is a P&S with an optical viewfinder and some electronic gimmickry in that viewfinder.
So does it not come within the definition of - dare I say it ?- kitsch?😕

 

[kbg32]

lets see,

For $1,299 you get the X100, a camera case, an 8GB memory card, a card reader, and a spare NP-95 lithium Ion Battery.

What did I get with my M8 when I bought it new?

What are others getting with their X1?

What are others getting with their M9?

I know Leica does what it does, but they should be ashamed!

By the way, If I had a choice, I would buy the X100 over the X1! Especially for the price!!

When we see an interchangable lens version of this full frame, I will be very excited!!!

For $1299, you get a camera fully manufactured in Japan with parts from China and Japan. For $7K, you get a camera fully manufactured in Germany with parts from Japan(?), US, and Germany. Production costs are somewhat lower in Japan.

 

[Keyne]

To be honest I do wish they would come out with a cheaper digital alternative to a Leica M8/9. I know the RD1 exists, but it would be amazing to have a digital RF around the price point of the Fuji X100 (Digital Bessa or Zeiss Ikon would be awesome). This has been talked about at length but I agree that I don't need to buy Leica for Leica but I bought it because it was really the only game in town.

 

[kbg32]

The best option for this would be Panasonic. Leica and Panasonic have had a long relationship.

I wouldn't hold my breath though.......

 

[NickTrop]

Too much money. Chunky, clunky compact DSLRS still offer the best value. Nice camera though... They're gouging over form factor here...

Of course, the other way to look at it is how much does a 24mm f2 lens cost?

 

[Paul T.]

The best option for this would be Panasonic. Leica and Panasonic have had a long relationship.

I wouldn't hold my breath though.......

Well, some people say it was the CL, rather than the M5, that nearly killed Leica - a camera that took as good photos as the M5 or M4, but at a lower pricepoint. Don't think it's going to happen.

 

[kbg32]

CLs outsold M5s and other Ms by a large margin. CLs were compact and an inexpensive way to enter the Leica system. M5s didn't sell too well. They were large and clunky compared to the other Ms at the time. I worked in a large NYC camera store in the late 70's, early 80s, Camera Barn (remember them!?). We couldn't keep enough CLs, both Leitz and Minolta in stock at the time.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes - but the X100 is not a rangefinder - it just looks like one. It is a P&S with an optical viewfinder and some electronic gimmickry in that viewfinder.

Hmmm, so a rangefinder is the only thing that makes a camera not a P&S?

 

[jsrockit]

Too much money. Chunky, clunky compact DSLRS still offer the best value. Nice camera though... They're gouging over form factor here...

Of course, the other way to look at it is how much does a 24mm f2 lens cost?

Value isn't everything... I'll gladly pay extra for the more comfortable tool.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Yes - but the X100 is not a rangefinder - it just looks like one. It is a P&S with an optical viewfinder and some electronic gimmickry in that viewfinder.

Wait wait wait...you mean that comparing avocados to oranges isn't quite kosher? So...comparing the price of a Swiss knife to an Ikea steak knife won't hold water? :bang:

 

[tomtofa]

...Of course, the other way to look at it is how much does a 24mm f2 lens cost?

Well, of course it's hard to find f2 in 24mm. A Leica 24mm 2.8 is about $4K new, 25mm 2.8 is about the same price as the X100. Plus, of course, something to put them on. $2K on an X1, still F2.8.

F2 is OK for OOF and subject isolation, OK for low light if the system has good high ISO performance. An optical finder showing life outside the framelines is more than OK.