Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/01/11

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Subject: [Leica] RE: LUG Digest, Vol 33, Issue 549
From: jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)
Date: Thu Jan 11 21:17:06 2007
References: <011220070434.27672.45A70FED0003C71C00006C18219791332903010CD2079C080C03BF970A9D9F9A0B9D09@mchsi.com>

Gene,
Thats fine. Lets agree to disagree and lay this thread to rest.
Cheers
Jayanand


On 1/12/07, grduprey@mchsi.com <grduprey@mchsi.com> wrote:
>
> Jayanand,
>
> Why is the M8 any more extravagant than the rest of the Leica
> equipment?  It still serves the same purpose, and not really that much more
> expensive than a MP or R9 etc.  It is still less expensive than a Canon 1Ds
> MKII.  You have also put this reasoning on other Leica equipment before, so
> this is not new for you either.  And yes some of my Leica gear has been
> bought new, and I hope to add a M8 and at least one WA lens before I 
> retire.
>
> To the rest of the LUG, sorry for this, and I promise no more.
>
> Gene
>
> -------------- Original message from "Jayanand Govindaraj" <
> jayanand@gmail.com>: --------------
>
>
> > As usual, Gene, you fly off the handle. I only meant it with the M8 with
> its
> > limited lifespan - I have made the point time and again that the
> mechanical
> > Leicas are well worth the money considering the life of the product.
> Also
> > understand that I study companies for a living, and that includes
> marketing
> > strategies, and I have been doing this sort of thing one way or another
> for
> > 30+ years. I still cannot understand how Leica will make money on the M8
> > unless they make it a trendy item to own, like, say, the Ipod. I do not
> > think that many photographers will spend US$5000 on the M8 when a D200
> or a
> > 5D are available at the price they are. I think Leica realise it too and
> > hence their choice of media in which to advertise.
> >
> > By the way, how many Leica items have you bought new, to directly help
> the
> > company?
> >
> > Cheers
> > Jayanand
> >
> >
> >
> > On 1/12/07, grduprey@mchsi.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Jayanand,
> > >
> > > You are the only one here who has equated buying Leias and other items
> of
> > > similar value being extravagant, so I guess you should try to answer
> your
> > > own question. My guess is that the other 90%+ of us buy and use Leicas
> > > because they serve our purpose for photography better than other
> solutions.
> > >
> > > Sorry for the rant Brian,
> > >
> > > Gene
> > >
> > > -------------- Original message from "Jayanand Govindaraj" <
> > > jayanand@gmail.com>: --------------
> > >
> > >
> > > > I do not understand why people equate a Leica with extravagance and
> try
> > > and
> > > > defend their right to buy it - no one denies that you have that
> right. A
> > > M6
> > > > will last you as long as film is available - it is probably a value
> pick
> > > > over the long term. I use pens and mechanical watches which are
> > > expensive,
> > > > but will last a lifetime.
> > > >
> > > > I was talking about the M8 - I would guess that with the life of
> digital
> > > at
> > > > around 3 years, Leica would have to make it trendy to make money
> with
> > > it, as
> > > > I do not think too many photographers will shell out US$5000 for it
> > > (though
> > > > for the good of the company I sincerely hope so). Anyway the jury's
> out
> > > on
> > > > this one. Lets wait and see.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers
> > > > Jayanand
> > > >
> > > > On 1/11/07, Sanjay Nasta wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I just struggled with the decision (whether to buy a car such as
> the
> > > > > Honda Accord or a Porsche). You're right. A Honda is practical,
> > > > > comfortable, safe, and reliable and will get you from point A to
> point
> > > B
> > > > > perfectly and frankly a Honda Element will do it heck of a lot
> more
> > > > > practically than a Porsche--I had a Honda S2000 for 7 years (still
> > > have
> > > > > it but will probably sell it). Although there was a small bit of
> > > > > wanting a car that not everyone else had, it just came down to
> which
> > > car
> > > > > made my heart beat faster; which car made me happier.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'd promised myself a new car 3 years ago when I was in the
> hospital
> > > and
> > > > > the heart surgeon told me that my right artery was blocked and my
> > > > > prognosis was not good (talk about ruining lunch)--fortunately he
> was
> > > > > wrong (that artery was not blocked). After 18 years of running a
> > > > > business I decided to treat myself.
> > > > >
> > > > > Similarly, I bought a Leica M6 because I liked how it felt in my
> hands
> > > > > and how it felt when I put it up to my eye (yep felt, no concrete
> > > > > measure).
> > > > >
> > > > > I think each of us has different reasons for buying the toys we
> do.
> > > > > Heck I'm even willing to concede that there are cameras and cars
> that
> > > > > might perform better (by some measure) than the ones I choose.
> > > > >
> > > > > I truly haven't figured out what "arrived" means I always feel I
> have
> > > > > more to do and learn and frankly feeling that one has "arrived"
> > > > > somewhere seems to indicate that one is done).
> > > > >
> > > > > Oh this is the car that I ended up buying (wife picked the color,
> > > ain't
> > > > > she cool)
> > > > >
> > > > > http://tinyurl.com/yn6v6h
> > > > >
> > > > > (picture's from the Porsche site, I haven't had time to get a
> decent
> > > > > picture of the thing yet).
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Message: 3
> > > > > Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:56:44 +0530
> > > > > From: "Jayanand Govindaraj"
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 Article in LFI
> > > > > To: "Leica Users Group"
> > > > > Message-ID:
> > > > > <3cad89990701102026l4eca6978v35be2e405048790b@mail.gmail.com>
> > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> > > > >
> > > > > Mehrdad,
> > > > > People buy a Rolex/Porsche etc to announce to the world that they
> have
> > > > > arrived. Otherwise they use Timex/Toyota (or whatever). I notice
> that
> > > > > Leica
> > > > > has stepped up advertising for the M8 considerably in magazines
> like
> > > > > GQ/Esquire/Mens Vogue, rather than photography magazines, with
> slick
> > > > > arty
> > > > > ads. Which market do you think they are after?
> > > > > Cheers
> > > > > Jayanand
> > > > >
> > > > > On 1/11/07, mehrdad wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > B.D. i think you are more stuck in the name and in particular
> this
> > > > > > "leica name " every time there is a praise of a leica something
> you
> > > > > > go off thinking that everybody is under some sort spell and the
> > > magic
> > > > > > red dot makes people say good things.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > i shoot with more camera brands and lenses than anybody i know (
> i
> > > > > > love gadgets), and so far i have been very pleased with the
> images
> > > > > > from the M8. i have also been shooting with the pentax k10d and
> some
> > > > > > the pentax prime lenses; oh boy this might be one the best. i
> have
> > > > > > recently bought couple of sigma lenses for in the 4/3 mount and
> the
> > > > > > results have been stunning also.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Price is very deceiving these days, both a $20 times and $20k
> rolex
> > > > > > tell the time and both very accurate, why do some people buy a
> > > rolex?
> > > > > > the same is true about honda element (my favorite car) and a
> Porsche
> > > > > > turbo, both take you place one costs 9 times more. i think price
> > > these
> > > > > > days is more of a differentiator of class and not quality any
> more.
> > > by
> > > > > > the way canon g7 is just awesome and in this list i talk about
> > > mostly
> > > > > > about leica.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 1/10/07, B. D. Colen wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > MicroAssist, Inc.
> > > > > 3420 Executive Center Drive, Suite G100 Austin, TX 78731
> > > > > http://www.microassist.net
> > > > > Phone: (512) 794-8440
> > > > > Fax: (512) 794-8742
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Leica Users Group.
> > > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more
> information
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Leica Users Group.
> > > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Leica Users Group.
> > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>

In reply to: Message from grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey@mchsi.com) ([Leica] RE: LUG Digest, Vol 33, Issue 549)