Leica ceased production of M7 and MP in 2009, per owner

[Q.G.]

Most companies are not going to say in advance that they will stop producing or selling (one of) their products. It's bad marketing.
So "straight from Leica" is probably not more trustworthy than some rumour on a blog.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Well, I read the blog and then the author's comments below it where he seems to be rather defensive but more balanced than in the original blog entry. In fact, he says that he was aware of some conflicting information surrounding this story but has "weighed the evidence" - which in this case seems to mean report on only one side of the story until conflicting comments force you to concede there is more to it than you originally chose to tell. Good journalism no doubt.

 

[benjiboy]

I'd like to get a new Leica, but I can't afford one. I'd settle for a used one, but I can't afford that either. Thirty years ago I could afford a new one even less. Or a used one even less. My 83-year-old mother told me my late father really, really wanted to buy one in the early 1950s, but he couldn't afford one then or even later in his life. He died being unable to afford one. I will suffer the same fate.

When the inability to purchase something - or even just to dream of purchasing something - becomes a generational thing, it rather softens the "blow" of being told that manufacturing of that thing has ceased. At least my son will not have to suffer a third generation of frustration...

Ken

" It's sometimes better to travel hopefully than to arrive"

 

[2F/2F]

I can compose and focus my M3 faster than you can focus your wonder af camera, guaranteed.

No; you cannot.

 

[BobD]

The following comes from another photo forum, posted yesterday:
=======================================================

This is from "Leica Rumors" a few weeks back:

"I contacted Christian Erhardt (Vice President of Marketing Photographic Division, Leica Camera USA) and this is the answer he gave me:

“Your questions comes timely, in fact just earlier this week I was in our factory where I saw the production of Leica’s M product lines. While we do not have a constant production of certain lenses and cameras, we have the ability to produce batches of those products. For example: Certain exotic lenses & cameras are produced in batches to be able to produce an economically feasible number of products.

In this case the M analog production line is just next to Leica’s M9 production line to which we have shifted our focus to better manage the backlog and reduce the wait for our customers.

As you might be well aware from the past, we have always stated that as long as it makes sense for Leica Camera AG to produce M analog cameras we will do so. At this time we are reaching our targeted numbers for M analog cameras and do well with the offering of Leica M a la Carte cameras. Just recently Leica Camera AG offered a special Leica M7 Hermes Camera. This camera was quickly sold out and is a sought after collectors camera.

At this time I have no indication that the Leica M analog cameras will be taken out of Leica’s product offering.”
__________________
=======================================================

(My emphasis on last line)

 

[Q.G.]

Again, most companies are not going to announce an imminent discontinuation of products. People will stop buying them when they know the line is 'dead'.
So that he is not confirming the rumour alone tells us nothing.

He used a negative phrase - "no indication that [...]" - didn't he?
You do that to keep all possibilities open, i.e. to say nothing. And why would you want to do that if you know that one possibility (the part he has "no indication" for) is not going to happen?

 

[CGW]

They haven't been selling in sufficient quantities to be profitable. What's so astounding about that as cause for discontinuation? Most Leicaholics I know have never popped for a new body; those who have did so looong ago.

 

[__mark__]

It would be a terrible shame if true.

 

[mhcfires]

I have enough stuff on the shelf collecting dust. I want a camera I can use, not collect. I can't afford "collectable" cameras0. If they don't work, I get rid of them, sell them to collectors. It's bad enough that I am a Pack rat, I can't be accused of hoarding something if I am using it.

 

[Colin Corneau]

Hard to believe there aren't any 60 year old dentists or investment brokers buying a new MP to tootle around the cottage with on the weekends...maybe they're busy buying new Harleys.

Anyway, seems like there's nothing to this rumour at the moment. Thanks for the Leica rep quotes, to those who posted them.

 

[Q.G.]

Hard to believe there aren't any 60 year old dentists or investment brokers buying a new MP to tootle around the cottage with on the weekends...maybe they're busy buying new Harleys.

They're doing the obvious: buy a new digital M leica.

Anyway, seems like there's nothing to this rumour at the moment.

How do you know?

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

"It's sometimes better to travel hopefully than to arrive."

Well, if that's truly the case then for members of my family tree, "Hope springs eternal..."



Ken

 

[Tony Egan]

No; you cannot.

You beat me to it. I do a lot of gig photography and manual focus does not cut it compared to even a slow old Nikon F4 AF. I have tried using a Leica M6 a few times and the results were dismal. At the risk of lighting another flame, the Leica 90mm lens I have wide open is also no match for the Nikon lens' in this situation. And, lets not get into changing film squeezed up against the barrier with jostling fans all around. I am lucky enough to have been able to buy many different cameras over the years and it's horses for courses as they say. I think it's a bit silly to claim one brand or design is "best" or "better" than the rest, although if I had to choose only one 35mm camera forever, it would not be a Leica.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Wish I could afford to buy an MP right now

 

[Colin Corneau]

How do you know?

Because the quotes from the company rep, on the record, are conclusive enough to say so.

They may not be conclusive *enough* for some, but that's not the issue. If nothing else, it will focus attention on the Leica film line which is at least good marketing.

 

[MaximusM3]

I always love these arguments for the entertainment factor
I love my Leicas but I am always the first to say that GEAR MEANS NOTHING AND IT IS NOTHING BUT A CHOICE. It is your choice to shoot the cameras and lenses you love based on a multitude of factors, ie: budget, speed, quality, lenses, durability, weight, taste, etc. I have seen absolutely shit images taken with $20K worth of gear (digital and analog) and stunning ones taken with an Holga or a Contax T2...or an iPhone!. Leica aficionados seem to be always very passionate people but, I must say, for the most part, very few can back it up with decent images. They get too wrapped up in the "Rangefinder Lifestyle", the lenses, the talk, and forget that, without paying attention to one's surroundings, lighting, geometry, a moment, all we have is a crappy photograph taken with an expensive piece of gear.
I love my Ms for most everything for a variety of reasons but I could do the same with my FM3A, which I do use as well. I bet that very few, if any, would be able to tell the differences in print, or on a screen, unless doing an Erwin Puts test, charts, you name it. Again, it's simply my choice to shoot most of my work with a Leica, with some of the quirkiness and drawbacks. To each his own, as always.
So, yes, manual focus is slower than AF (depends on who you talk to) and some Nikon lenses are better than Leica or the other way around. At the end of the day, do your images reflect the effort you devote to choosing a piece of gear?

 

[cfclark]

To call an intrinsic element or characteristic of a design a "design fault" makes no sense. These days a lot of people would say that a camera that needs film has a "design fault".

Well said. We shouldn't confuse a design limitation with a design fault.

I think there will always be plenty of film cameras to go around, as long as there are people willing to use them, have them maintained and repaired, and find the parts to keep them going. Somewhat like the situation with American cars in Cuba.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can compose and focus my M3 faster than you can focus your wonder af camera, guaranteed.

Not true! Pat, I am going to start wearing hip boots if you continue posting non-sense like this.

Steve

 

[Q.G.]

Because the quotes from the company rep, on the record, are conclusive enough to say so.

They may not be conclusive *enough* for some, but that's not the issue. If nothing else, it will focus attention on the Leica film line which is at least good marketing.

How did you get that from him saying he didn't know?

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Ken, it doesn't have to be like that. last year, I started a coin jar, and filled that baby up a few times. every time I skipped a coffee, or a meal out, I dropped a few buck in the jar.

just got an M6 in the mail last week....
now for a lens...

Pat, quite true. In my case, I figured I might as well go with the R series. Got an R4 for $100 in working condition, and a 50/2 Summicron-R for $200. Both items bought locally at Camera Clinic in Shoreline, WA.

-J

 

[patrickjames]

Not true! Pat, I am going to start wearing hip boots if you continue posting non-sense like this.

Steve

I don't know about you guys sometimes!

To focus a Leica without even looking through the viewfinder is possible with certain lenses. You don't need your hip boots for that!

I have used just about every uber auto focus film and digital camera in my life, and it is true, I assure you.

Most people that use a rangefinder "fish" back and forth when they are trying to focus. All you have to do to be fast is set the lens on infinity each time you remove the camera from your eye. Then on your next image, you only have one way to go. It is incredibly fast to do it this way, and there is nothing wishy washy about it. With practice you can have the lens focussed by feel before you even look through the viewfinder.

If we ever meet Steve, I challenge you to a quickdraw! Old west style!

Just remember I am not a Leica worshipper, but what I have stated above is true, although hard to believe I admit.

 

[wblynch]

AF may focus fast, but on WHAT? That's always the mystery.

 

[2F/2F]

You beat me to it. I do a lot of gig photography and manual focus does not cut it compared to even a slow old Nikon F4 AF. I have tried using a Leica M6 a few times and the results were dismal. At the risk of lighting another flame, the Leica 90mm lens I have wide open is also no match for the Nikon lens' in this situation. And, lets not get into changing film squeezed up against the barrier with jostling fans all around. I am lucky enough to have been able to buy many different cameras over the years and it's horses for courses as they say. I think it's a bit silly to claim one brand or design is "best" or "better" than the rest, although if I had to choose only one 35mm camera forever, it would not be a Leica.

Well, I really meant my comments to refer to SLRs vs. rangefinders, not autofocus vs. manual focus.

 

[Bateleur]

Nothing to see here, it’s just a rumour. Now let’s get out there and make photographs with the camera’s we enjoy using and feel comfortable with, irrespective of design, and speed of use.

 

[tboysen]

Why is this rumor so hard to believe? Yes, the cameras are legendary, but business is business. Just looking at the market today, I can certainly believe that they have or will stop film camera design and production. There is just no profit in it anymore. They stated that they sold out of their last run, but that was a limited edition collectors camera. Can this last? I don't think so, but you may. If not now, it won't be long before they stop.

I love the M series, but the writing is on the wall....