Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/02/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Before this goes too far...... and more chime in...... So now Leica will sell you an M8 for $5500, then allow you to spend $2,000 to upgrade it to have a nice fancy sapphire glass ( same as on your watch) on the back and cut the noise by some tiny % and cut your top speed by 1/2,,,,,,, S0 now you can have $7500 into the camera Then they tell us they may ( change that to will for the purposes of this ....) upgrade the camera to a full frame sensor to "protect" your investment. Cost? Unknown, but at least this time they are really giving you something for your money;... say an additional $3000? More? Probably.... You upgraded the first time, but just must have that bigger sensor, so you upgrade again Now you have $10,500 in a camera... when they introduce the new M8+ ( call it an M9, M8A, M10 etc.....) which has a bigger sensor and lower audible noise and that watch grade glass back.....for how much money? Say $8,000 And just what are you spending to upgrade your M8? And why are you doing this? To protect against selling your now almost worthless original M8 for $2000 ( or less) and then buying a brand new M9, M8A, M10 etc for $8000 ( out of pocket cost is now $6000) ......????? Sure. Some will switch over, but most buyers will just go buy the new body. ( Leica buyers are not exactly known for their lack of cash..... or desire to purchase new) But Leica wins because they told you they would upgrade that older M8 body and convinced the buyers to buy that M8 in 2008..... and an M8+ in 2009......which us what the plan was all along..... My message..... don't get too sucked in by this claim of "forever" ( his word, not mine) upgrade path.......It may not be as practical or long lived as it at first looks...... And don't get me started on what happens when they run out of chips to repair your 5 year old broken Leica M8 with modifications............ PS: Forever in electronic consumer language = until we don't want to do it anymore.... Frank Filippone red735i@earthlink.net >>If the M8 turns out to be upgradeable to 24x36 I will buy it. If not I will wait for the M9. I cant imagine I'm alone in this thinking.<< You're not alone. I'm not lacking digital capability.