Anyone getting the new titanium M-A?

[Huss]

You'd think that with the technology advances of the last seventy years, they could at least improve the flash sync to something faster than 1/60th. That's the real crime on any film Leica.

My Leica R9 uses film and has a higher sync speed. In fact it can use HSTTL

 

[Huss]

It's the sort of camera only my dentist, or plumber could afford.

Pray that the dentist does not have a side gig as a plumber. And vice versa.

 

[Huss]

What!! Twenty $K and no dot!? What a gyp. Don’t matter anyway, already got a camera with a red dot that says ‘Kodak’ on it. As far a prestige recognition the only time a person asked ‘Is that a Leica?’ The answer was, ‘No, it’s a half frame Olympus Pen F‘. When I was actually carrying an M4-2 (now sold off) no one ever commented about it at all.

Did your M4-2 have the red dot?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

My Leica R9 uses film and has a higher sync speed. In fact it can use HSTTL

OK fine- any film-based Leica M. Happy?

 

[ciniframe]

Did your M4-2 have the red dot?

It’s been a few years so my memory is dim but, if I recall it did not. My comments were just silly stuff, was not being serious. As long as it helps keep them in business I have no problem with Leica making these special editions or with the folks with the means to buy them.
The reason the M4-2 was sold is that it made me realize that I’m just not the 35mm RF type. Much prefer SLR viewing and focusing and besides my long owned OM-1 and Pen F film cameras are my goto 98% of the time for my (limited now) 35mm film use.
By the way Huss, your continued contributions to the 16mm/110 film thread are a treat. A homage to the original Leica 35mm ‘miniature camera‘ carry everywhere concept.

 

[Huss]

OK fine- any film-based Leica M. Happy?

Better, thank you. But that proves the point - the high spec R9 was cancelled, while the low spec film Ms are still in demand. So I'm not sure what crime you are talking about as the market has spoken.

 

[Oren Grad]

$20,000? Meh:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/83065...a-gold-plated-m6-kit-expected-to-sell-for-50k

 

[Huss]

It’s been a few years so my memory is dim but, if I recall it did not. My comments were just silly stuff, was not being serious. As long as it helps keep them in business I have no problem with Leica making these special editions or with the folks with the means to buy them.
The reason the M4-2 was sold is that it made me realize that I’m just not the 35mm RF type. Much prefer SLR viewing and focusing and besides my long owned OM-1 and Pen F film cameras are my goto 98% of the time for my (limited now) 35mm film use.
By the way Huss, your continued contributions to the 16mm/110 film thread are a treat. A homage to the original Leica 35mm ‘miniature camera‘ carry everywhere concept.

You are too kind.

 

[Huss]

$20,000? Meh:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/83065...a-gold-plated-m6-kit-expected-to-sell-for-50k

Pretty sure that will not be offered outside the intended market!

 

[benjiboy]

Pray that the dentist does not have a side gig as a plumber. And vice versa.

I understand a good plumber the hourly rates they charge can earn more in a year than a consultant surgeon these days.

 

[AgX]

You'd think that with the technology advances of the last seventy years, they could at least improve the flash sync to something faster than 1/60th. That's the real crime on any film Leica.

You are arguing with practicability. But then you are at the wrong thread.

 

[benjiboy]

$20,000? Meh:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/83065...a-gold-plated-m6-kit-expected-to-sell-for-50k

These cameras are the epitome of bad taste, that I can't imagine what sort of pimp would buy one.

 

[KerrKid]

More power to Leica if they can get people to buy one. Thank goodness there are people around who can drive a market for the finer (material) things in life. Master craftsmen need customers like this.

I'm a simple man and have no use for such things, but I respect those who do and can afford them - as long as they're not forgetting their social obligations to those less fortunate.

 

[Paul Howell]

I think this is the high mark of limited edition cameras, how many S's did Nikon make when it was released? Then there was the Apollo F4? Didn't Pentax make a 35th anaversity LX, not sure if it was a LX, and Konica made a few specials editions bodies. Not in the same league as the new Leica and only 250. Wonder how much they will make, at $20,000 U.S total sale is 5,000,000 wonder that it cost to produce.

 

[AgX]

Why is it just for show? It's a fully functional camera.

But practically with no benefits over a regular model.

 

[Moose22]

But practically with no benefits over a regular model.

You could read up on the theory of positional goods. There are other economic theories relating to value as well, but in sort, value is not directly correlated to utility. It is also informed by the perception of value by certain consumers.

Besides, if I dropped 20K on a camera I'm sure as hell going to use the thing! Regardless of whether or not it has more features than my M3.

 

[Cholentpot]

I make up for it with my other Leicas.

Is that a Hasselblad?

 

[Huss]

Is that a Hasselblad?

No, it's a Rollei.

 

[Huss]

These cameras are the epitome of bad taste, that I can't imagine what sort of pimp would buy one.

It's a cultural thing. Bad taste to 'us' is beautiful to others and vice versa. It's for the Thai market.

 

[AgX]

You could read up on the theory of positional goods. There are other economic theories relating to value as well, but in sort, value is not directly correlated to utility. It is also informed by the perception of value by certain consumers.

Yes of course.
But still... some people as Flying Camera and me, me even hinting him at this, cling to the concept of practicability.


Though... sometimes I leave that path when it comes to esthetics. I can find some designs attractive even being aware of their shortcomings on for instance ergonomics.
But for knowing about a special material for its own sake never attracted me.

 

[faberryman]

I'm a simple man and have no use for such things, but I respect those who do and can afford them - as long as they're not forgetting their social obligations to those less fortunate.

I am sure that Leica requires you to submit a certified list of your charitable contributions for the preceding year when you place your order to make sure you qualify for the privilege of buying this special edition camera.

 

[madNbad]

Leica is still selling a seventy year old design for thousand of dollars, euros or pounds for each new copy. Any time they tinker with the basic M design, M5, M6 TTL, M7, there is much howling about ruining the legacy and this isn’t a real Leica so they give the public what they demand. What would be the response if a new M camera based on a updated M7 was being introduced instead of a collectors piece? The idea behind special editions used to be for trying out upgrades before making changes to regular production items. Now we get a steady diet of increasingly expensive digital rangefinder cameras, the occasional look what we can do, Hermes, Titan and the twenty first century M2-R.

 

[Sean]

Maybe I should offer a Titanium Photrio subscription badge? Ok, we 5 available for $10,000

 

[KerrKid]

I am sure that Leica requires you to submit a certified list of your charitable contributions for the preceding year when you place your order to make sure you qualify for the privilege of buying this special edition camera.

I knew it! Boy, I feel better.

 

[film_man]

I'd love one actually. I like most of those special editions, they generally look really good. They obviously have much less longevity in the digital models (special or not who cares about the M9 today) but in film ones it is good. Leica knows how to make them, how to sell them and make a lot of money out of people.

Someone mentioned supply issues. They don't have supplpy issues. They have enough supply to keep people waiting and paying premium. Also, no red dot? Good. Means that you can calibrate the rangefinder with just a screwdriver and not playing around with logos and tape and glue. Not that anyone is going to use those Ti cameras but hey.

I actually paid a good few hundred £££ to modify my M4 a bit. Maybe I should sell it as a one off for $20k too.