Speaking Of Leica Film Bodies ...

[chuckroast]

Leica sold 10 times as many film cameras in 2023 than it did in 2015

Leica’s decision to bring back its classic M6 rangefinder on 2022 looks like it was a good one: the German camera maker ended up selling 10 times as many film cameras in 2023 than it did in 2…

kosmofoto.com

 

[fiddle]

Wow, 5000 bodies made. Didnt expect that number.

 

[Pioneer]

There is no reason that they shouldn't sell a lot more cameras. A good, quality product with virtually no competition. And they have done a very good job of building and protecting their reputation.

 

[Laurent]

If only it could drive the value of the antics one like M4 down...

 

[ic-racer]

But in 2015, we thought about throwing everything away...

Too bad Nikon didn't think twice on the F6. I wonder if Nikon threw everything away.

 

[GregY]

If only it could drive the value of the antics one like M4 down...

As long as new Leica film bodies are $5600 USD/ €5100.... $1500/€ 1350 for a working M4 starts to look like a bargain.....especially considering they keep on working.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

Ha! Forget the F6, Nikon would be killing it with just a remake of the FM-2.

 

[Hassasin]

Well, lots of rich kids around to pump up sales, also so called influencers making it big at the YouTube office, there is plenty of free money to support hyped up and expensive gear. Let's face it, new Leica M is not for most photographers, price wise and for many other reasons. And these numbers have not made a dent in pricing of used Leica M's either. Simply because totally different demographic is buying them.

 

[Chan Tran]

If I were to buy a Leica it would be a film camera. Digital Leica's are nice but after a couple of years it's like having a great camera with expired film in it. Besides they are too fat.

 

[Chan Tran]

Too bad Nikon didn't think twice on the F6. I wonder if Nikon threw everything away.

The F6 isn't a camera that would sell well like the Leica M. It has way too many features. Something like the F3 would be much better but then Nikon also stopped making AI-S lenses.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

"the company is now considering new designs based on pre-M cameras but with M-mounts.” A body like the IIIG with an M mount would definitely interest me. I recall seeing in a book some test IIIG bodies just like that. As I get older, I want a compact kit I can take easily with me wherever I go (sort of like a Rolleiflex is a perfect take-anywhere 120 camera). When I use a 35mm SLR, a Pentax MX or Spotmatic is convenient because the body and lenses are compact.

 

[Paul Howell]

Ha! Forget the F6, Nikon would be killing it with just a remake of the FM-2.

Nikon had released a collectors copy of the S2(?) , from what I recall at the time Nikon had most of the tools and dye in storage. With moving all camera production to Vietnam dont know what Nikon has in storage. My guess is that Nikon is not thinking about a new film body and if they were it would be another collectors model, maybe a F. Pentax is working a new series of K mount bodies, Cosina has of cousre made Leica SM and M bodies, one M42 body, not sure what else.

I had a IIIG, other than having to cut the film leader to load, it was a nice camera.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

"the company is now considering new designs based on pre-M cameras but with M-mounts.” A body like the IIIG with an M mount would definitely interest me. I recall seeing in a book some test IIIG bodies just like that. As I get older, I want a compact kit I can take easily with me wherever I go (sort of like a Rolleiflex is a perfect take-anywhere 120 camera). When I use a 35mm SLR, a Pentax MX or Spotmatic is convenient because the body and lenses are compact.

Don Goldberg had one for sale

Leica lllg/M

DAG Camera Parts

www.dagcamera.com

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Don Goldberg had one for sale

Leica lllg/M

DAG Camera Parts

www.dagcamera.com

Oh, now you have done it. You reminded me that I want to look for a clean IIIG. I know, I know, it won't take "better" or "sharper" pictures, but the viewfinder has framelines compared to my IIIC.

 

[Laurent]

As long as new Leica film bodies are $5600 USD/ €5100.... $1500/€ 1350 for a working M4 starts to look like a bargain.....especially considering they keep on working.

I agree 100%, and my M4 plus a hand held meter suit me fine, but these prices make resisting to GAS too easy

 

[chuckroast]

As long as new Leica film bodies are $5600 USD/ €5100.... $1500/€ 1350 for a working M4 starts to look like a bargain.....especially considering they keep on working.

I would kill for a new Nikon F Photomic

 

[TomR55]

I would kill for a new Nikon F Photomic

Yeah. Now that you mention it, I regret selling that camera in the late 1980's; the Photomic F was quite a workhorse. I put the cash towards the purchase of a Leica M3. I still own and use several Leica film bodies (M4, and two M4-Ps) and some "pre ASPH" glass 28 through 90mm, excluding the 75mm). I also have a Leica M8.2 which I rarely use; I doubt that I'd replace it with another Leica digital camera body when it eventually bricks.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have owned F, F2, F3P and currently have a late model F and F4, of those I have used I would want a new F2, only upgrade would be faster flash sync. But if Nikon did offer a new F, if it was reasonably priced I would go for it as well.

 

[GregY]

I have owned F, F2, F3P and currently have a late model F and F4, of those I have used I would want a new F2, only upgrade would be faster flash sync. But if Nikon did offer a new F, if it was reasonably priced I would go for it as well.

Well my guess is it would be priced for 2024 production....so not reasonably priced. When i use 35mm i use my Leicas, but if i were an SLR guy I'd buy a Nikon F2 Titan.....CLA if necessary, & know it would last indefinitely

 

[chuckroast]

I have owned F, F2, F3P and currently have a late model F and F4, of those I have used I would want a new F2, only upgrade would be faster flash sync. But if Nikon did offer a new F, if it was reasonably priced I would go for it as well.

Well, I've got a real clean chrome F with a plain prism I'd be willing to part with for reasonable money, if you really want one. (I have too many F bodies...)

 

[Arthurwg]

Well, lots of rich kids around to pump up sales, also so called influencers making it big at the YouTube office, there is plenty of free money to support hyped up and expensive gear. Let's face it, new Leica M is not for most photographers, price wise and for many other reasons. And these numbers have not made a dent in pricing of used Leica M's either. Simply because totally different demographic is buying them.

$5000 is the new $1000.

 

[Hassasin]

$5000 is the new $1000.

Sure, just not for everyone. need a lens too, or convert it to pinhole

 

[MarkS]

@Kodachromeguy- there's a nice Leica IIIg for sale at Monument Camera in Tucson. The owner is a friend and an honest businessman, and I'm sure he'd like to sell it.

 

[mshchem]

Simply because totally different demographic is buying them.

Uh, well not exactly

 

[dynachrome]

My FTN is a very late production example. There were more than 800,000 Fs made and nearly as many F2s. We don't really need more of those cameras. We need new meter prisms for them. There are many repairable F and F2 cameras floating around. Making new and more modern but compatible meter prisms would be a lot easier than restarting production of the whole camera, for the F or the F2.