New film Leica: Leica M-A

[Theo Sulphate]

...
Not everyone wants a Koenigsegg.

Right. I want a Pagani Huayra and the Leica is perfect for that because the engine is German.

 

[conyon]

In a digital era there it is great to see effort put into the production of such a camera. Unlike digital, it will last last a generation(s). An expensive camera, yes, but for me it certainly has charm....

 

[chip j]

If the M-A has the same buttery-smooth shutter release as the classic Ms, it's a winner for me(I lovd the predictability of my M4 shutter, but wouldn't buy an an old M now-the viefinders have aging problems, like the glue separating).

 

[Roger Cole]

What a pathetic and transparent money grab. There are enough old film M's around to satisfy the needs of real photographers for sometime to come. This is a princess camera to be coddled and displayed on a shelf somewhere so people can oh and ah over it. Nothing more than the equivalent of a status car parked in the driveway to insure your neighbours see it.

So what exactly is wrong with that? If someone has the money and wants to buy one of these to preserve it, more power to them. It also helps to keep Leica in business and their employees employed. Any way you slice it, I see the existence of this camera as a better situation than its non-existence would be.

 

[Roger Cole]

But have you really looked at the specs on this? It's more than a spiritual throwback to 1959, it's a mechanical throwback as well... 1/1000th top shutter speed, flash sync at 1/45th or 1/50th or some such? (which isn't specified on their website... it's actually a bit thin on tech specs, which proves this isn't intended to be used, just shelved, fondled, and occasionally worn around the shoulder at Ascot or Henley to garner appropriate compliments from fellow toffs).

So what? Most of my cameras have top speeds of 1/1000 which I seldom use. One (Pentax LX) has a top speed of 1/2000th which I don't think I have EVER used. How many people use flash with a Leica RF and, of those who do, how many people need a faster synch speed for outdoor fill? Indoors that speed is usually fine.

This camera seems fully usable to me if one wants to use it.

EDIT: I see you addressed some of this but still these seem minor points to me. I NEVER need speeds higher than 1/1000th and while daylight fill flash is nice for some things I don't commonly use it either.

 

[analoguey]

Arent the latest Fx digital cameras costing around much the same price(the rung slightly lower than the 10fps ones)? And I have seen enough Chinese and other tourists being able to afford them.
So whats the big deal with Leica pricing? You are buying into the brand as well, arent you?
The digital version looks uber-cool but would've been better as a film camera, I guess (no LCD to chimp).



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[NJH]

A mint Rolleiflex 2.8GX is close on £2.5K here in the UK, a mint condition Leica MP goes for £2K max so the price comparison argument comparing a brand new camera to secondhand 40 year old beaters from another manufacturer is plain silly. Sure you can buy a 40 year old Leica M body for a few hundred notes if you want, that is not what this thread is about.

 

[Xmas]

My M2s are 55 this year...

Chipped volcanite... don't need special tool to adjust rfdr...

 

[baachitraka]

4k is not expensive compare to how much we pay for a car or a motor bike.

Damn, even good bicyles are close to 2k or more.

 

[ericdan]

I think good bicycle frames are starting at 2k in Japan, if you want Italian welding you pay more, and that's only the frame.
But like a Leica they will last forever. If they should ever break... they can always be fixed.
5k for a photo machine that lasts two lifetimes is reasonable I think.

 

[baachitraka]

I have one not so bad bicyle but it need a new chain sprocket on every 10k kilometers.

I personally have to find the time-money balance so I can go out take more photographs.

 

[Roger Cole]

All that's true. I have other hobbies that are more expensive (or had, when I could afford them, and will again one day.)

It's not really that much compared to high end hardware in other hobbies. If you run it through an inflation calculator, it's equal to $1850 in 1981 when I graduated from high school and was our yearbook photographer. That was a chunk of change back then, true enough, but does anyone know what a new Leica cost then? The M6 came out in 1984 but I've been unable to find a reference to the original price.

Now granted, I'm not going to be buying one. I've tried to like rangefinders and just can't seem to get into them. More importantly, even if I could afford one now I don't see any reason to spend that kind of money for one when I can get a good condition M6 for 1/4 as much if I wanted one. But plenty of people can afford to indulge a taste for new, and more power to them.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

All that's true. I have other hobbies that are more expensive (or had, when I could afford them, and will again one day.)

It's not really that much compared to high end hardware in other hobbies. If you run it through an inflation calculator, it's equal to $1850 in 1981 when I graduated from high school and was our yearbook photographer. That was a chunk of change back then, true enough, but does anyone know what a new Leica cost then? The M6 came out in 1984 but I've been unable to find a reference to the original price.

Now granted, I'm not going to be buying one. I've tried to like rangefinders and just can't seem to get into them. More importantly, even if I could afford one now I don't see any reason to spend that kind of money for one when I can get a good condition M6 for 1/4 as much if I wanted one. But plenty of people can afford to indulge a taste for new, and more power to them.

I seem to remember about $1400 for an M4-2 with a Summicron, ca. 1978-79.

 

[analoguey]

How much was a Nikon f5/f4 back in the 90s?

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[miha]

From Pop Photography, Dec. 1990:

Nikon F4 MB-21 2,427
Canon EOS-1 1,800
Pentax LX 1,260
Canon F1 1,280
Leica R6 3,300
Leica R5 3,000
Leica M6 3,525
Olympus OM 4T 1,200
Nikon F3 HP 1,295
Minolta Maxxum 9000 863
USD

 

[analoguey]

By that standard, dollar to dollar, looks like Leica has maintained the price or in other words, reduced it -given inflation, isnt it?

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[ericdan]

Leica M6 was 3.5k in the 90s?!! Inflation adjusted that's gotta be more then what the M-A is today.

 

[analoguey]

Exactly!

The Leica M60th anniversary is upwards of 8,000 though isnt it?

Like the Nikon d4/s are.

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[miha]

3,500 in 1990 is 6,370 today.

 

[ericdan]

... never knew my camera was THAT expensive!

 

[analoguey]

How much did ya get it for?

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[E. von Hoegh]

Leica M6 was 3.5k in the 90s?!! Inflation adjusted that's gotta be more then what the M-A is today.

I wonder though, are those numbers MSRP or 'street' prices?

 

[ericdan]

My M6 was roughly 1000 USD. bought it in Japan so it was actually in yen.

 

[analoguey]

From Pop Photography, Dec. 1990:

Nikon F4 MB-21 2,427
Canon EOS-1 1,800
Pentax LX 1,260
Canon F1 1,280
Leica R6 3,300
Leica R5 3,000
Leica M6 3,525
Olympus OM 4T 1,200
Nikon F3 HP 1,295
Minolta Maxxum 9000 863
USD

Looking at this again... the Leica SLRs have held as much value as seemingly the Nikon F4, F3(F3s a little more, maybe) - deprecation to about 1/9th to say 1/6th original selling price?

 

[ericdan]

I assume there'll be a long wait for the M-A, too.