Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/10/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Leica will have to move with the market like any other company. Depending on how well the M8 sells, they may or may not need to bring out lower-priced models. It also depends on what happens to the price of high-end DSLRs. Yes, I know, RF is a different kind of photography etc., but still that is the relevant frame of reference. If we are to extrapolate current trends, then surely the M8 (or whatever its successor will be called) will not cost $5800 in 3 years, more like $3000 or less. If the M8 sells well, then I would expect to see used ones beginning to appear next year. Especially if Leica succeeds in expanding into new market segments, because this would mean the there would be people who buy it, try it, and decide that it is not for them after all. If it does not sell well, then this will not happen, because the only people who would have bought it are the committed ones (like the members of this list), and they will tend to hang on to their M8s. But then Leica as a company will have big problems... Nathan Leonard Taupier wrote: > Larry, > Tough question. I'm not a betting man but if I was I'd say that if > Leica were to cost reduce the M8, the cost would not be significantly > less then what the M8 is today. (assume at least 3 years to develop > and inflation, by Leica standards, the M8 will cost $5800 3 years > hence.) Used may be hard to find for a couple years. > > Next, do you still shoot film? Is it worth keeping your old gear? Will > your old lenses do justice to an M8? Most of my lenses are fairly new > and include 5 with aspherics. I can't wait to try them on an M8. I > also won't get rid of my film bodies and my older lenses. I like the > way film looks and the look of the older lenses. I also shoot Nikon > digital but prefer the depth and effect a B&W Leica print gives me. I > hope an M8 gives the Leica look. I considered trying a RD-1 but > decided against it. But the guys who have tried it seem to like it. > > You dilemma is probably the same as many Leica users right now. I > can't afford an M8 now but I sure want one. I don't know what to give > up. Tough choice. > > Len > > > > On Oct 23, 2006, at 11:36 AM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote: > >> >> On Oct 23, 2006, at 3:46 AM, Greg wrote: >> >>> I think a fair number of Lug newbies are driven quickly away after >>> they make the mistake of asking a newbie Leica (been asked a time of >>> two before) question and either their question is not answered, >>> answered rather rudely, or they're pounced on. >>> >>> We all need to keep in mind that you only get one chance to make a >>> 1st impression! >>> >>> I also suspect that the new M8 is going to attract some old Leica M >>> users back that may have held on to a favourite body and a lens or >>> two that they couldn't sell but wern't using. This should add some >>> new/old blood to the List. >> >> OK, I'm a digital newbie. So many questions. >> >> Leica has a history of introducing a top of the line camera first, >> then following it a year or two later with a simplified version of >> the same camera. The M3 begat the M2. I understand that the marketing >> strategy is to skim the cream of buyers first with the more expensive >> camera, then introduce a lower priced model to pick up the marginal >> users. Does any knowledgeable Lugger suspect that Leica will follow >> this approach with the M8. My interest is both photographic and >> economic. I have a drawer full of Leica lenses and cameras, all >> vintage. The last new film Leica camera and lens I bought was a CL in >> 1974. >> >> I would like to use the old lenses on a digital camera but the new M8 >> is far too pricey for a marginal photographer's budget. Are the >> lenses good enough to make use of all the capabilities of the new >> camera? Should I wait until Leica introduces a lower priced model? >> Will they ever introduce a lower priced digital Leica? Do I wait >> until the M8 shows up on the used camera marketplace? How about the >> Epson RD-1? Or should I just forget about the whole thing, sell the >> film equipment on the LUG or e-Bay and move to the 4/3rds format. My >> Olympus OM lenses work nicely on my E-500. >> >> Larry Z >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > -- Nathan Wajsman Almere, The Netherlands Opportunistic Image Acquisition General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com and http://www.greatpix.eu Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507 Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog SUPPORT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUY DANISH PRODUCTS!